Neurodivergent people feel this
"Just be yourself" is not socially acceptable.
this post was submitted on 22 Feb 2025
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Eh.. If I need to pretend to be something I'm not just to be "accepted" then I'll rather not be. In most cases when people are changing their behavior to meet the expectations of others it's actually their own imagined expectations they're trying to meet rather than that of other people. As long as you're not causing harm to anyone, most simply don't care if you're a bit weird.
Some people dislike musicals because they are unrealistic...nobody they know just bursts into song and dance all the time.
I think those people need to find new friends.
It is ALWAYS bad advice. "Be yourself" is the most pointless thing to say to anyone. It doesn't help the recipient at all. Same for "be a better person". You could say "be genuine" and that would be slightly more helpful.
From my background in education: under-performers tend to be poor judges of their position, tend to have no idea what good performance looks like or how to get there, and tend to surround themselves with similar under-performers. So someone who is underperforming in a social role (making friends, fitting into their work place, dating, etc) needs a lot more focused and good quality feedback.
It's because it's incomplete advice.
It shouldn't just be "Be Yourself"
It's missing two important words, in the middle.
Be confident in yourself.
It works fine for people who are Neurotypical. However, chances are you don't need to give social advise to a neurotypical person.
you don't need to give social advise to a neurotypical person
Supremely disagree.
Here's a podcast episode I've heard today to illustrate the example of just how bad most "neurotypical" can be with simple social interactions:
Hidden Brain: We Need to Talk
Episode webpage: https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/we-need-to-talk/
Honestly, sometimes I wonder how much of neurotypicality is just a myth. I don't know many neurotypical people, and the ones I do know don't have their shit together any more than I do.
Be the best version of yourself. We are all a product of our environment and opportunities. We are all animals. We are all evil under certain circumstances. All any of us can do is be the best version of ourselves.
I've settled for a mediocre version of myself. Much better ROI.
Sounds like your just optimizing for efficiency over peak performance. That a form of "best self".
Nah, i rather be with an honest piece of shit than someone how "pretends" to be a good person.
"Be yourself", so i can judge if i want to be with you or not.
People are highly judgmental and will reject people who are different. It isn't something you can control since it happens at a subconscious layer.
Agree
The advice is/can be used in a ton of different situations, you seem to only think it's for a very narrow and small part of those. And even then, it's not always the best thing, someone can be themselves 99.99% of the time but sometimes it's better to hold it back. Even something as simple as if they're meeting your parents for the first time and you know there will be problems if you don't tell them to not mention something, act like they think differently about something etc.
This very much isn't just about a possible partner for you and all the time. I don't understand how you thought that was the only thing. It's like if someone said a common feature of cars might not be worth keeping on all the time and you read that as only a specific line of Volvo cars, in very specific situations and like you can't turn it on and off. See how weird and dumb that is?
Pal, the only one thinking about "partners" here is you. I was referinng to human interaction as a whole, friends, coworkers, family, etc. "Be yourself" is and advice to seek your place among other that likes how you are, whether you're a piece of shit or a saint.
Although, I'll grant you that there are instance where is "safer" to "not be yourself", like if you're a Queer folk in a conservative environment.
Nah, i rather be with an honest piece of shit than someone how “pretends” to be a good person.
On the other hand, someone who "pretends" to be a good person all of the time is essentially indistinguishable from an actual good person.
If you pretends "all the time" then i don't think you're pretending.
Is like those people with Imposter syndrome who "pretend" to be capable by being actually capable.
Focus on the wisdom instead of the semantics
This is good advice. Ignore your reptilian hind brain and act like the person you want to be.
Yeah, sometimes you'll need to stop and think about your options before making a decision, but you'll be better for it.
Running back and forth while flapping my hands is not acceptable in today's world. Autistic people need to mask if they want to be successful. It is just the reality we live in.
I know a guy who started seig heiling all tesla drivers that he saw in the streets. I think there's something poetic about that.
So many of us are compromised or undeveloped in some ways that this advice can almost be arrogant in tone deafness.
what if you is a petdaughter
..........why is the modern age full of new words that didn't exist 20 years ago? I'm afraid to ask what it is.....
I tried looking it up but only found TikTok links, so whatever it means shall remain a mystery. Suffice it to say, though, that the term is probably about 14 hours old.