If I think someone’s idea is stupid, I don’t think I’m making the world a better place by representing my true mental state. Every day at work, there’s a colleague who grates on me slightly. Accurately representing my mental state to him every time would be disastrous. There are dozens of instances every day where accurately representing myself would make the world a worse place for myself and the people around me.
I only think this is a problem if “accurately presenting your mental state” is something relevant to whatever it is you’re doing. Which mostly amounts to friendships and relationships—establishing close emotional bonds with people.
The people didn’t come to the presentation to form a close bond with you or get an accurate map of your personality—they came to see a presentation.
When you are first meeting a girl, you’re not immediately establishing a deep, personal connection (not usually anyway). The initial few minutes are about establishing that you two are both interesting people and it’s worth the two of your time to get to know each other. Trust and personal connection comes later (possibly soon afterwards, but it’s not part of the first few minutes).
Don’t put a false version of yourself forward. But do put the best version of yourself forward.
If I think someone’s idea is stupid, I don’t think I’m making the world a better place by representing my true mental state. Every day at work, there’s a colleague who grates on me slightly. Accurately representing my mental state to him every time would be disastrous. There are dozens of instances every day where accurately representing myself would make the world a worse place for myself and the people around me.
I only think this is a problem if “accurately presenting your mental state” is something relevant to whatever it is you’re doing. Which mostly amounts to friendships and relationships—establishing close emotional bonds with people.
The people didn’t come to the presentation to form a close bond with you or get an accurate map of your personality—they came to see a presentation.
When you are first meeting a girl, you’re not immediately establishing a deep, personal connection (not usually anyway). The initial few minutes are about establishing that you two are both interesting people and it’s worth the two of your time to get to know each other. Trust and personal connection comes later (possibly soon afterwards, but it’s not part of the first few minutes).
Don’t put a false version of yourself forward. But do put the best version of yourself forward.