The Man with Many Faces 10/30/2006 04:30:00 PM

As a fiction freak, there are two types of character that I dislike in general: the super perfect and pure evil characters. Fortunately, no good writer ever portrays such character in their stories (those who did, didn’t have a good story to begin with and therefore isn’t worth to read anyway). Considering the fact, I should’ve been suspicious when encountering the super perfect Syaoran in Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle (his bratty self from Card Captor Sakura was nowhere to be found). There must’ve been something “wrong” with the guy, which (un)surprisingly was the case; but it’s not to be mentioned here.

In terms of enjoyment of reading, super perfect and pure evil characters are boring; which is why I don’t like them. A character who laughs manically as he destroys anything for no particular reason throughout the story is so annoying that you want him to be got rid of as soon as possible. On the contrary, the perfect guy who smiles all the way as he saves a damsel in distress (or whoever it might be) makes you want to puke that you want the story to end immediately.

Personal sentiment aside, there’s a reason why those type of characters are so unappealing. I’ve realized some time ago that it’s always the story which I can relate to that I like best. The same rationale is applied to any characters found in them. There’s no such thing as super perfect or pure evil person. A person would always have some flaws in him, no matter how good he is; and if a person is “bad”, there must’ve been something that led him to become the way he is.

Super perfect and pure evil characters are unrealistic (not unrealistic per se; but it would be too complicated to discuss it here) and it’s difficult to relate them with real life characters (because they didn’t exist in real life); that’s why I dislike them.

Human is too complex to be categorized into two distinctive classification of good and evil. Someone might do things we perceive as “evil” or “bad”, but it doesn’t automatically make them a bad person. What is undoubtedly evil is the deed, not the person himself.

My psychology teacher once said that everyone has many faces and masks. Encountering different circumstances, we wear different masks. Along with the different masks, come different “personalities” to wear. To make it simple, consider this. Would you act differently or the same in front of your family and your long-time crush? The answer most likely be no, I’m sure. In front of your long-time crush, you’d probably act all nice and sweet, and very cautious not to show any of the qualities which you bear in mind as flaws. I don’t think that kind of awareness is present when you’re among family members or close friends, though.

In the end of the day, probably none of us is (purely) good or evil. Indeed, it’s not just those who have split personalities that have many faces. We all are.

(The Lack of) Separation Anxiety 10/14/2006 11:12:00 AM

As the title suggests, this piece shares somewhat similar theme with my previous post. How uncreative I am! However, since it’s the only thing that constantly hung over my head these days--it just has to suffice. For now.

In the aftermath of our class gathering two days ago, a friend of mine pointed out the sadness she felt when contemplating about our togetherness due to the fact that we’ll soon no longer be together; because we’re about to go separate ways. Normal response anyone would show under the circumstances.

Here’s the “funny” part. I don’t even feel remotely sad about either remembering the past, or separating.

It’s probably because I’ll still be around (campus) until the end of the year. With that in mind, it’s very likely that I (subconsciously) don’t consider myself being separated from my friends at all. You know, because the campus is a physical representation of many fond memories (and because some of my friends will still be spending some time in the campus as well).

On the other hand, I’ve been away from them (most of them, at least) for the last year; maybe not physically, but mentally and emotionally. So, being physically distant shouldn’t be a big of a deal because it will only be an extension of what has been.

Plus the realization that separation (and its’ consequences) is inevitable makes it useless brood over it anyway.

Of course, there’s also the possibility that the above explanations are total crap and I’m just a cold-hearted person to begin with. You decide.

Drifted Apart 10/02/2006 01:32:00 PM

Some time ago, I “met” an old friend from junior high on the net. She was one of just a few friends that I had, so it was great to finally find her after seven years of separation. Soon after the encounter, we planned a chat on Yahoo!Messenger to catch up with each other. This friend of mine was a kind and considerate person who always mingled with everyone, including a teenage reject like myself, but we hadn’t been THAT close to begin with. Despite that, we could always find a thing or two to talk about most of the time. So, when I realized that the “connection” we once had was gone the time we finally chatted, I couldn’t help feeling sad. I realized that we’d been drifted apart and I knew she realized it too.

It’s always sad when you have to separate from friends after so many things you’ve been together. But the realization that things will be different the next time you meet again is more heartbreaking. Each and every one of us will walk different paths in life. We’ll meet new people, encounter various experiences, put forth new priorities in life; in short, everyone changes.

Call me gloomy, but I’m only being rational here. That time with my friend just one of many examples, showing the inevitability of our drifting apart from those we once considered as friends. The next time you meet again, you may not find the same “connection” as it was. Despite that, it’s worthy to keep in mind that all the moments you’d shared with them were real (God, I sounded like Kinomoto Touya, didn’t I?). And the memory of those moments my friend; it sure is priceless.