Everyday Philosophy Should I Hide My Wild Past From My Parents

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I was really taken with this question because I’ve experienced the same thing, but in reverse. I asked my dad three years ago to write an autobiography — an in-house thing for Thomsons to read down the generations. He took to the idea and took to writing. A week later, he called me up and said, “Jonny, I’ve had to stop.

I’m worried about what you and others might think of what I’ve done.”Now, my dad is a gentle, kind, and squeaky-clean kind of retiree. He’s an ex-headmaster and psychologist who likes science fiction and golf. He’s not Keith Richards, climbing up a palm tree, high on amphetamines. My dad is so open about everything that I can’t imagine he even has a closet, let alone any skeletons in there.

But he clearly thinks so. He cares about his legacy and his reputation. So, if I may, I’m going to make this question a bit broader. I’m going to make it about authenticity and honesty. Let’s consider the question: Should we ever live a lie to protect a meaningful relationship? To answer that question, we are going to explore Erving Goffman’s dramaturgical concept that “there is no self” outside of our relationships….Story continues…

By:Jonny Thomson

Source: Everyday Philosophy: “Should I hide my wild past from my parents?”- Big Think

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