As hectic as I thought this year might be, being my first year at University, I’ve had a surprisingly extensive amount of free time for pondering over my thoughts about the world… There’s one thought I can’t seem to get off my mind. It’s this idea of genuineness versus decorum. In essence, they exist in a dichotomous sphere. We all abide by codes and conventions in an attempt to establish a harmonious co-existence with our own species, however, at what point does social decorum override genuineness? Is there even a point where it should abrogate it? Everyday you meet people from all walks of life: people who are friendly, people who are rude, people who simply don’t care… the list is infinite. When, in reality or any kind of media, we are faced with the kind of people we may perceive as inappropriate or offensive, we develop an immediate reflex in which we retreat and silently judge as they negate the basis of social etiquette and the universal conception of human kindness. This is where I recognize a problem. We’re bombarded with ideas of being genuine, the motto that is to “be yourself”. However, when people are truly themselves, others reject their authenticity in favor of social decorum. I’m not suggesting people ought to act upon all their base instincts and treat others in a destructive way because that is a ‘genuine’ expression of their inner feelings. What I’m pointing out is the contradiction. No wonder it’s so difficult for people to have a strong grasp on who they are…

I guess I’m leaning towards the conclusion that society needs to stop hammering this idea of genuineness into our minds when, in all reality, such sincerity is dwindled by the unspoken rules of social decorum that dictate our co-existent nature as humans.