fais-toi plus belle

the strength of my endorsement for this book grows as i read it. i would make quicker progress through it if i weren't seized by the need to put it down and reflect on what i just read, then my reflection becomes more and more oblique, and next i'm looking at recipes and theories for making brownies, aves passeriformes de tamaño grande, que suelen...

Goffman's ideas incorporate my tendencies to model social interactions on feedback loops:

"To manifest signs of boredom is an inconsiderate thing. But in a certain way he who does so assures the others that he is not affecting something that is not felt; they at least know where they stand with him. To suppress these signs completely is suspect, for this prevents others from obtaining the benefit of feed-back cues that might tell them what the situation really is. Thus, while there is one obligation to affect involvement, there is another one inducing the individual not to affect it too well. It is an interesting fact that when the self of the boring individual is deeply committed to the proceedings, as it may be, for example, during leave-takings and avowals of affection, then the bored individual is likely to feel a strong compunction to conceal signs of alienation and thoroughly affect involvement. It is thus at the most poignant and crucial moments of life that the individual is often forced to be the most contriving; these too, will be the times when the boring individual will be in greatest need of candor from others and least able to bear receiving it."

E. Goffman, Alienation from Interaction