The Great Pretender
I just cannot get the lyrics’ of “The Great Pretender” by the Platters out of my head. Do you remember how it begins?
Oh-oh, yes, I’m the great pretenderPretending that I’m doing wellMy need is such, I pretend too muchI’m lonely, but no one can tell
A friend in the hospitality arena told me that many people take the opportunity to reinvent themselves when they move away from their homeland to another country. While I found this rather crazy I have learned that it is so true. Sometimes, reinventing yourself is good and they have learned from past mistakes and now taking the high road. I have personally met good folks that have spent time in prison and openly talk about what happened and now are not ashamed. But then there are others that pretend so much that I think they start to believe it is true.
In my previous position one of my jobs was to check the credentials of applicants. So my MO is always rather suspicious of stories that just to not match the person. But even I can be fooled. The following is just some of the categories I use:
The Halleluiah’s: folks that boast a religious background but their actions just do not match their story.
The Thief: steals from friends when given the opportunity. Their friends have shown them nothing but generosity and kindness. So very disappointing.
The mutton dressed as lamb: in this case an older woman that dresses like she is still young. Doesn’t she realize that she is making a fool of herself and cannot compete with the real lambs.
The Medical Person: they may have actually had some medical experience but the credentials that they boast about just do not seem creditable.
The Real-Estate Tycoon: these folks boast about all the real estate they own world wide and granted this could be true. However, my friend in the hospitality arena just rolls his eyes. Maybe it is the boasting that makes one wonder?
The Celebrities’ : this can really be legit and I do know for a fact that this is true regarding one person I know. However, there are others that boast about their status in the entertainment field that does make you question.
The Want A Be: this is a sad person because they just try to compete with others and really have nothing to show for it materially. They try to dress very nice and flaunt that they are better than others. But just look behind the mask.
So, does it really matter if someone reinvents themself and pretends to be something else as long as no harm occurs? I guess it does not matter but does point out insecurity in their real self behind that mask that they wear. Honestly, if my friend in the hospitality arena had not pointed it out I could have been easily fooled. He has lived here a long time and has seen it time and time again. Funny to watch him roll his eyes when the discussion comes up.
So have you encountered a “Great Pretender”? Just have fun with it and never be mean spirited since these folks enjoy wearing their mask. You never know until you walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.
