oh my. the last day or two have been reminders that there is often more than meets the eye [especially on the internet]. and i'm not even talking about transformers... cool toys, though.

here at unleashed, i am basically accused of being pompous because... well, i don't know. because i use big words? i think that was it. whatever... i don't mind. i suppose if i didn't know me [what?] i might think this unleashed mdog was trying to "look smart". perception, or reality? i think those who know me know better than that. and those who don't know me can't be expected to know that. you know?

on a certain message board i frequent, it's been a busy day. accusations, misunderstandings, all kinds of good stuff. why? because we've never seen each other. it's hard enough to communicate when you can't see someone's expression and mannerisms... even harder when you've never seen the person. ah, the beauty of the internet... the sense of anonymity reigns supreme.

internet miscommunications aside, it already seems a challenge to discern perception versus reality in our own lives. the gap between what i see and what others see -- in my life and their own -- is often astounding to me. the most amazing people i know claim that they are too this, not enough that, their bodies aren't something, they're terrible at some such thing, etc.... and i want to scream, "why? why do you think this? why can't you see in you what i see in you?!" and of course, the reverse is true if i proceed to point out my own perceived shortcomings... either that or i have very dishonest friends. [just kidding.] funny how that works: clearly, others are living in denial, but me? oh, no. i've got my own self-perception down pat.

all for now. art thou intrigued by mine swill?