Topic:
Nowadays nothing is private: our culture has become too confessional and self-expressive.
People think that to hide one’s thoughts or feelings is to pretend not to have those thoughts
or feelings. They assume that honesty requires one to express every inclination and impulse.
-Adapted from J. David Velleman, “The Genesis of Shame”
Assignment:
Should people make more of an effort to keep some things private? Plan and write an essay in which you
develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from
your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
Essay:
People today are said to be to open with their thoughts and feelings, and there maybe a truth to that. Today our purpose is to look at whether you are better off being an open or closed person. Being open or closed has both their benefits and drawbacks, let us delve into the pros and cons of each.
Being an open person can be very beneficial in that you will be very well liked by most people because those around you won’t have to guess at what you are thinking or feeling. These kinds of people are often referred to as wearing their emotions on their sleeve. However these people can often be rather insecure about their personal image, leading to the openness, and suppression of choice thoughts or feelings. In history these people have been able to be very well respected, however their lives have also been left to very heavy criticism for their lack of confidentiality in personal and business affairs. Just ponder about having people know every detail of your personal life.
On the flip side of this are people that are clouded in a haze of mystery because you can never tell how they are feeling. Think of those kids from your high school days. Where they very liked? Did many people associate with them? No, at least not in my days of high school. If you look back to the revolutionary war at America’s most notorious traitor, Benedict Arnold. He was known to have issues with the promotions of generals around him, Chiefly, Horatio Gates, however he never raised these concerns with George Washington which ultimately lead to his demise and fall to the British. If he had peaked his concern with General Washington and had his own promotion, would he have fallen to the British ranks?
The third option in this debate is to be a mixed person. Someone who is open with their thoughts and feelings, yet not so open so as to reveal them self entirely to everyone they meet. This is the way I have found to work best for myself. I am well liked by many and respected by most. No one has to guess my feelings yet I keep my strongest opinions to myself until the correct opportunity presents itself for discussion. I find this to lead to an open, respectable lifestyle that is just private enough to feel comfortable about.
So being to open can result in being well liked, however highly insecure and suppressing of certain feelings. While on the other side is being a closed person who feels trapped and unnoticed. I believe that the best choice is to be open with most thoughts and feelings while keeping certain ones to yourself until you decide the moment is right to reveal them, not to hide these feelings entirely so as to lose yourself in the process.