I had a conversation today, about our
“Online/Real life” personas that we project.
Online, those we interact with rarely know
Anything more than we've allowed to escape
To be noticed, or, more importantly,
They only PERCEIVE what they want to see
Of those things we've allowed to escape.
Now,
Which of those is the real me?

In “real life” you can be 'upfront' with people
(as far as they know), so that they will trust you,
^{(or you them)}
Then STAB YOU IN THE BACK, whether
You were looking or not!
So,
Where does this leave us? Can anyone of us
Trust anyone of us, to do anything?

The prospect is bleak, I must say.

So are these
"Electronic Shadows" of ourselves that we project
The REAL us, or are
These “Snaptwits” and “Face-craps” that we
Show the world our real selves?

Who is it we portray?
I post a lot about my family, my personal
Journey through my past, my present and
^{"WHO KNOWS?}
My future?

That is the point isn't it?
WHO KNOWS?

I for one trust in-person interactions
FAR more, as I have this innate sense of
Who to TRUST, and who is deceiving me,
Or trying to at any rate.
What do YOU Think?

“Electronic Shadows”

^by
Jerry E Smith
^©12/24/2020
(Christmas Eve)


^{These .gifs were created for me by @coquiunlimited; many thanks**}

^{Self Portrait from about 1978}