Authenticity

officerripley

officerripley

Well-known Member
Location
Porlock, Calif
What do the words "authentic" or "authenticity" mean to you? I keep hearing those words more and more, in fact I heard it was Facebook's motto, "Be your authentic self" or something like that. Reason I'm asking, I was reading an article this morning about how to be more likable and it said one of the best ways to be more likable was to "be more authentic." The explanation for that said for instance, if someone complimented you on the clothes you were wearing, don't brag about them costing more than they really did, in other words, don't brag. Um, 'k; I remember hearing as a kid that honesty is the best policy. (You don't hear that much anymore; seems like you hear more about "don't be a loser.") So I guess when they tell ya, be your authentic self, they mean be more honest? Maybe? (Of course, don't be honest if it's gonna bore them, they say, nobody likes boring people.) IDK; what do you think?
 

I would think it would mean live with no pretense. Don't try to pretend you're smarter, more beautiful, more clever, wealthier,
more refined, more holy, sweeter, more affluent, more well-traveled, BETTER than anyone else. be who you are!
and yes, be honest! Who cares if they like you or not? Be happy with yourself! Anyway, That's what I think it means.
 

An amusing update: I just finished an article that said the best way to make friends is to be charming. 'K, so instead of being authentic, I should instead try to be charming...but, but, I'm not authentically charming, I'm just not. Shows how you need to keep skepticism in mind about a lotta this advice. 😄
 
"Be your authentic self", yes of course, but now-a-days it's just another one of those trending phrases based on "self awareness", "self discovery", "self realization", "self renewal". "self-help", "self love"...self self self...and may as well throw "selfies" in there too. The over-the-top focus on "self" seems to be 'self-absorption" to me.

Well, if you're needy for self help then I get it. But I prefer our main focus to be on an awareness of others, loving others, discovering others, renewing or helping others.
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officerripley said:
An amusing update: I just finished an article that said the best way to make friends is to be charming. 'K, so instead of being authentic, I should instead try to be charming...but, but, I'm not authentically charming, I'm just not. Shows how you need to keep skepticism in mind about a lotta this advice. 😄
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Some people have just "got it" when it comes to charm, self confidence, and all those things that tend to make people appear appealing, and you just have to take your hat off to them. :)

If we can learn and gain a little of their charm, then great, though we should admit, if we have to, "you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear", (hope you're following these colloquialisms!?).
 
Lara said:
"Be your authentic self", yes of course, but now-a-days it's just another one of those trending phrases based on "self awareness", "self discovery", "self realization", "self renewal". "self-help", "self love"...self self self...and may as well throw "selfies" in there too. The over-the-top focus on "self" seems to be 'self-absorption" to me.

Well, if you're needy for self help then I get it. But I prefer our main focus to be on an awareness of others, loving others, discovering others, renewing or helping others.
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GREAT answer! ME ME ME ME ME!
Entertain me, feed me, enjoy me, buy me, do me ,make me, like me, I want, I want! Gimmy! Gimmy! Gimmy! hahaha!
 
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Yeah, it's me, me, me, me. Let's face it, you aren't going fulfill my every need. Well, are you? We are selfish, because we have to survive. And most of us are kind, giving people, but up to a point. I think the term "authentic" refers to a realistic image, more than a crafted illusion of oneself. It's the difference of saying you own a home based business, and that's where they send my unemployment check.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
Yeah, it's me, me, me, me. Let's face it, you aren't going fulfill my every need. Well, are you? We are selfish, because we have to survive. And most of us are kind, giving people, but up to a point. I think the term "authentic" refers to a realistic image, more than a crafted illusion of oneself. It's the difference of saying you own a home based business, and that's where they send my unemployment check.
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It seems that somewhere around the nineties some influential person gave people the impression that it takes another person to "make you happy". First of all, no one can make another person be happy. And second of all, just No. You have to find your own happiness. You're totally on your own in that department.
 
I am much more "authentic" here then I would be elsewhere. Mostly I try not to hurt someone with my words just because they should hear it (which translates to my opinion) and if they don't like my opinion; well, they are welcome to state why. Who knows, maybe they can convince me. I don't think honesty would bore me, I would respect their opinion as everyone should have their say - just be careful WHO you say it to. And my mother always said, "if you can't say something nice, then don't say it at all".
 
officerripley said:
What do the words "authentic" or "authenticity" mean to you? I keep hearing those words more and more, in fact I heard it was Facebook's motto, "Be your authentic self" or something like that. Reason I'm asking, I was reading an article this morning about how to be more likable and it said one of the best ways to be more likable was to "be more authentic." The explanation for that said for instance, if someone complimented you on the clothes you were wearing, don't brag about them costing more than they really did, in other words, don't brag. Um, 'k; I remember hearing as a kid that honesty is the best policy. (You don't hear that much anymore; seems like you hear more about "don't be a loser.") So I guess when they tell ya, be your authentic self, they mean be more honest? Maybe? (Of course, don't be honest if it's gonna bore them, they say, nobody likes boring people.) IDK; what do you think?
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When you sit at a computer screen you can be anyone you want to be, but if you do make up tall tales to impress, it's best to keep a record of it, chapter & verse, otherwise you might find that someone will say: "I thought you said:..................."
Leaving the boaster, hoisted by their own petard.

Having one-upmanship can be posted as fun without boasting, it all depends on how it's described. If, for example, you were to live in the sort of mansion that's exclusive to lottery winners, but described it as a far cry from your lowly and humble beginnings, that would gain far more kudos than if you posted multiple photos of your stately home.

Authentic can have more than one meaning. By the way, the expression "Hoist with his own petard" is a phrase from a speech in William Shakespeare's play: "Hamlet," that has become proverbial. The phrase's meaning is literally that a bomb-maker is lifted off the ground with his own bomb, a petard is "a small explosive device and indicates an ironic reversal, or poetic justice.

The phrase occurs in a central speech in the play in which Hamlet has discovered a plot on his life by Claudius and resolves to respond to it by letting the plotter be "Hoist with his own petard." Although the now-proverbial phrase is the best known part of the speech, it and the later sea voyage and pirate attack are central to critical arguments regarding the play.
 
Murrmurr said:
It seems that somewhere around the nineties some influential person gave people the impression that it takes another person to "make you happy". First of all, no one can make another person be happy. And second of all, just No. You have to find your own happiness. You're totally on your own in that department.
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I'm sure you dont mean it as you've appeared to put it, (that "no one can make another person be happy"), as contact with my daughter certainly made me very happy once upon a time, and enriched my life more than I can say. :unsure:
 
grahamg said:
I'm sure you dont mean it as you've appeared to put it, (that "no one can make another person be happy"), as contact with my daughter certainly made me very happy once upon a time, and enriched my life more than I can say. :unsure:
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The reason I wrote the word "make" in italics is because I meant it as to force or to compel.

Yes, I too get a great deal of happiness out of spending time with my kids and grandkids.
 
"My rare 1652 coin has a certificate of authenticity". The real it.

Do not put on airs to keep up with the Jones family. Be what you are and feel true to yourself. No double/secret life, no fake persona/facade. Don't be a forgery.

Criminal simulation (in part): (If you create a forgery, it is not authentic).

(1) Make or alter any object so that it appears to have value because of antiquity, rarity, curiosity, source, or authorship, which it does not in fact possess;
 
oldpop said:
For me to be authentic means to be my true self but I have to know who I am before I can.
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Well, if you don't know yourself by now, you never will.

I suppose I am still learning some new things about myself but I have a pretty good idea of who I am and who I am not. Freedom is allowing other to see the real you without having to hide some parts of your personality, character or history.

In reality, we hide behind masks. The comedian often hides his melancholy from everyone and we are totally surprised when he commits suicide. We hide our feelings of shame, sometimes by being conspicuously virtuous and so on. We do this because we fear being rejected but when we take off the mask and let people see our authentic self, we usually find that it makes no difference. We have been fooling ourselves but no-one else. They already have a pretty good idea of who we are and all about our character flaws.

Freedom starts when we relax and just be ourselves.
 
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I know a lot of people in the 60's and 70's spent a good amount of money trying to find out who they are....o_O
 

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