Common courtesy and civilizations norms often call for us to spin little white lies of flattery in order to bring about a self-perpetuated equilibrium. In layman's terms, praising others is necessary, and often essential in various social settings in today's society. Flattery is most often used to either mask an ugly truth, impress or appease an otherwise irreconcilable neighbor, or just to make the already good seem great.
To define the existence and use of flattery, the most proverbial intention must be acknowledged. The stereotypical wife putting on that dress just to ask her husband if it makes "[her] butt look big" is a perfect example. The husband has no choice but to say the four infamous words that have been branded into our brains for the last decade, "No, you look great". American society has always brought us to never shed light on the perverse and unadulterated realities of our world but to instead stack them up and hide them in the attic of our minds so long as it serves a greater purpose. The sad truth of it all is that we no longer wish to be told the truth; We'd rather bathe in our fountain of neatly spun little white lies. The philosophy: To achieve 'true' happiness.
To get a promotion these days, the job description always seems to scream Asskissing Advisory. So much so that flattery in the workplace nowadays seems to come hand in hand with a lack of a backbone. Remember when job promotions meant hard work, determination, and standing up for what you believe in? Well, all that's been thrown out the window and all that's left is: a loss of integrity, lots of coffee, and sore knees.
Saving the best for last, we look at flattery in its most honest of intentions. The best way to describe this occurrence is to look at the king of all grandiose exaggerations: Hollywood. In particular, let's look at the inspirational, tear-jerking film known only as "The Blindside". The movie talks of a young man born and raised is an environmentally disadvantaged neighborhood. Despite his disadvantages, the boy is able to turn his life around, rise to the top, and play ball with greatest of the elite. The best part is, that it's based on a true story. Now this story unaltered and told page by page would be a miracle upon itself but the producers at Warner Bros. studios thought "The truth and nothing but the truth" was a little overrated. The sad part is, they're right. The pure chaste story of Michael Oher would have been a good one but it would not have been great. The American audience doesn't want the good, they want the impossible. What we really want to see is the unachievable somehow achieved and plastered on the silver screen for our visual enjoyment.
In conclusion, we are all conditioned to only accept the best even when the best is not necessarily true. That is where all flattery lies.
One of teh Best
- August 30, 2011
- Ikno2love
- No Comments
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