Don't oil the machine, there's plenty in the Gulf

I really enjoyed the topic of our conversation this morning. The concept of "wearing masks" and the death of the individual has been at the forefront of my thought for the last couple of years. I spent my first few years in adulthood in the service (such a misnomer, I need to stop using it), which certainly encourages one's thought on heirarchies and one's role in the world and such. The short explanation is that I hate masks. I have no time to try to "get to know people", as it were. That's not to say I don't want to, quite the opposite. I want to really get to know everyone I meet and I think that requires openess and honesty from the get go. I don't really understand the idea of the "wall" some think needs to be put up. I'm not convinced we will do some sort of social, irreparable damage by saying how we feel in less familiar group settings. I'm a vocal person. Whether or not that has a negative connotation, people not liking you for it is an inevitability. To me, honesty and vulnerability are synonymous. I think being thin skinned is a virtue. And hopefully that won't be understood as having people get to you, but more so, allowing them to. I believe the next step towards social evolution can be found exploring this idea. It is imperitive that a new system be realized where we can all live comfortably as ourselves even in a "professional" environment.