A Mask For The Masses.

You see it when you're headed to the office. If you commute, you see it when you're inside a bus, or on the MRT. You see it when you're walking on the street. You probably don't even realize it's there, but it's been there for ages.

The no-nonsense, "in the city" look on people's faces. You know that look, it's the face that you put on when you leave the house. The mask that we wear to a dance routine that we practice and perform every day, not counting hermits who never leave the house.

There must be some form of unspoken rule about this, as we all put in these identical expressions, regardless of age, class, gender, etc. Perhaps its hard coded into us, somehow.

This is even more evident when we see someone in a crowded area, (lets' say, the MRT) who smiles, or laughs at something or nothing in particular. Said person would illicit thoughts from nearby folk at the mental instability of said person, or perhaps just warrant a nonchalant glance at what the fuss is about.

When I put this face on, it's usually a hit or miss affair. I stumble with it. I fidget at public places. If I see something interesting I look at it intently, forgetting that doing so will make me look like a tourist, something most people uniformly dread. I fail miserably at avoiding eye contact. I blink far too often than is necessary.

Looks like I got my work cut out for me. Lets see if I can do better, at tomorrow's commute.