I have in my short stay with Sulekha come across numerous blogs and comments on why we blog,but,it was only yesterday while watching "The Mask" on HBO that I finally think  I have understood as to why most of seem to feel the need to blog.

The "Mask" is a metaphor for it enables Stanley Ipkiss to live out his life's dreams as the "Mask"-- showing his true inner person; one with a zanny sense of humour,zest for life,over the top attitude,devlish dancer wooing the emerald of Coco Bongo and the honest 'joe next door' , that resides within him.This is something that Stan Ipkiss is unable to do in real life,whether it is confronting his crabby landlady,his aggressive boss or expressing his love for the deliciously beautiful cameron diaz.

The Mask provides Stan the chance to release his pent up emotions and to indulge his fantastical yet repressed imagination,resulting in actions some undoubtedly illegal yet with a sense of panache.This behaviour is something he definately could not have indulged  while being the proverbial grey man lost in the vastness of the city.The pinpricks on his psyche cause him emotional turmoil and incite him to rebel,yet, he lacks the courage to stand up to the establishment.The "Mask" therefore acts as a curtain that seperates the inner voice from the social face.

Insofar , blogging is concerned,the characters we choose for ourselves,the degree to which we reveal ourselves.. whether overtly or covertly,allows a shadow between who we are and who we seem on the dashboard!Thus, our lives though running parallel are on two plains,enabling us to put forth our thoughts, emotions, views,logic and rationale on issues that appeal to our hearts.

The free lien to creativity imparts a feel good factor, the non judgemental egalitarianism of the blog world allows an individual to indulge his imagination without fear that his thoughts may be interpreted as whimsy,flim flam or fantastical.The icing on the cake is when he or she gets feedback (positive/negative/or/polite indifferance). The importance of feedback lies in the fact that the blogger connects on a mental plain with another,andthat is the essence of expression!!

In the movie,Stanley Ipkiss visits a consultant who is an author of a book on masks,referring to the psychological aspects of duality in our basic nature.During the course of the conversation,the consultant who is fairly conviced that Stan Ipkiss requires counselling says"Mr Ipkiss I think that you in the mask and you yourself are both equally wonderful persons!!"

Which is fairly true for our blogging inputs,I mean<those of us who are light hearted tend to generally post fun blogs,while those of a more serious bent  post fairly serious blogs consistently,and, the vast majority who are blessed in equal measure reflect that portion of their psyche,which appeals to them most when they sit down in front of the keyboard ,crack their fingers and press Enter.

Now then,what about the Stanley Ipkiss within Me?Well ,if what I have written has any truth in it,then I'm part of the vast majority writing what takes my fancy, at times charging windmills.. a 'la Don Quixote, at times just melancholy,or humorous,analytical,romantic or running to my own rythm ....

Either way , I ask you whats your take on why we blog?