Are you a poser? Or a mannequin?

I just opened up a very interesting email from "a dear friend" It declared, "Glinda, are you a poser?" Intrigued, I threw caution to the wind as I opened the message. It was just an email asking me if I would like to purchase illegal prescription medications overseas with a valid credit card number and a whole lotta desperation. I declined the offer. But it got me thinking. What is a poser? Who are these supposed "posers", have I ever been one? If the shoe fit, would I admit that I had worn it? If I was a poser, did people who walked by me on the street think that I was just a mannequin? Any thoughts are welcome and encouraged. Are you a poser? What position are you in, by the way....?

Interesting question. What is a poser? I'd guess that it's someone who's not authentic, but is putting on a front to be socially acceptable? Posing as someone they're not? Yeah, I used to be, for several decades. I felt the "real me" wasn't acceptable, so I had to create a persona that would fit in. But now, I've come to realize that being the real me is the most important thing in the world. I believe that when it comes down to the bottom line, we're alone. And if we don't have ourselves, our REAL selves, we have nothing. So my struggle is to be who I really am, consequences be damned. All my strength comes from within me, not from outside me. I may be alone, but at least I'm ME!!!!

Amen to that! Well said! If you are not being yourself, then who is there to replace the you that you were supposed to be? There was only one of you to begin with!!! Great insight! <3 Glinda Gail

I agree, we somehow feel our authentic selves are either not unique enough or too unique. We conform to some socially prescribed 'style' or way of behavior. I was a poser when I was a teenager, yep. I would often talk a certain way to impress friends, dress a certain way, even sacrifice my own taste in music to listen to what was considered 'cool.' These days I feel pretty somewhat consistent across the board; aside from having to put on a 'professional work face.'
I think a poser is when we try to present ourselves to world differently than who we are, and we're cheating ourselves. Our authentic selves are just as lovable, unique and special as our poser selves. Our poser selves tend to be the boring ones.

Im gunna respond to this thread on a more superficial level at first - to me a 'poser' usually refers to how you present yourself/appear in photos etc. I have to strike a certain 'pose' in photos because the camera doesn't love me and i only end up hating the camera unless i put a little bit of effort into it. On a deeper level, my sense of self is usually highly disturbed by the disorder i have - i used to wear identities like hats growing up...i was the Madonna of high school. I feel much more settled now - i suppose a lot of it has do with age as well. In terms of people im usually reserved and occasionally abrupt with those i don't know but can go the complete opposite with those i know well i.e. very hyper and talkative. I guess i don't present an image of myself that im not because in truth i don't quite know who i am - at least not fully. Sorry if this response wasn't quite what you were looking for.

Great input guys. I'm impressed. I think I can safely rule out the possibility of my currently being a poser. I should reply to that message and simply say, "No, but are you?" lol Yall are rocks stars and you know it.

I am neither. The question makes no sense to me.

I think very few of us truly know who we are deep down until life has put us in every possible situation.

very true. thx.