Bigthink - Idea Comments Feed

Comment on: Is it possible to have more than one identity?

Bigthink — Wed, 14 May 2008 01:30:34 +0100

As long as there are many things that identify us, yes, it is possible to have more than one identity.

Comment on: Is it possible to have more than one identity?

Bigthink — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:55:45 +0100

I think yes, we do. I know this first-hand. Yes, we're overall the same person, and there are just different aspects of ourselves that we present to other people; but in the end those different aspects can mean two different people or 'identity'. Have you ever heard the term "friends define you"? Depending on who you're surrounded with, who you're sharing your company with, depends on which 'aspect' of you shows and which stays hidden.

Some people don't share anything of their personal life with 'friends'. They still have a sense of humor, views on politics, and tastes in entertainment. However, that person that doesn't share with friends, shares with family. Their family knows their personal history, and therefor knows a different person than the friends do. Yes, it's a different part or side of that person, but if the friends and family got together and started talking of the said person, I don't think they'd know they were speaking of the same person.

For example, my mother started dating a few years ago, again. She'd be a completely different person with/without her boyfriend at the time. My sister and I wouldn't recognize her, even her high-school/college friend didn't know who she was. She'd change when in the presence of the boyfriend, enough to where we didn't like that person. Granted, this is just a different side of her. But people group this as the "boyfriend person" or the "friend/family person" - two different identities. Another example, an addict. The high/intoxicated, punch-throwing, argument-starting person is a completely different one from the sober, movie quoting, joke-telling person. Two different identities.

Yes, one person. But two very different sides that are unrecognizable from each other.

Comment on: Is it possible to have more than one identity?

Bigthink — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:14:44 +0100

I believe that there are two aspects to this question. Yes, people do present themselves in different ways according to social and cultural ideals. One may act quite different when addressing a close friend than say a respected colleague. On the other hand there are people who live with true multiple personalities who experience themselves as completely different identities. Even in that category I believe that the same rules can apply but perhaps not as evolved as in a individual without that condition. We must all evolve if we are to survive. As Carl Sagan once said "Extinction is the rule, survival is the exception." I believe that as a survival mechanism in an ever growing global community we must utilize these gifts of adaptation and embrace them.

Comment on: Is it possible to have more than one identity?

Bigthink — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 06:04:16 +0100

No... we have one identity that we present to people we meet according to our desires, preferences and goals. That identity is not fixed but changes over time with our experiences and changes in those desires, preferences and goals.