I think that (virtually) everyone is roleplaying. But they aren't consciously aware of it. It's automatic. Their personality is an outward role they have become habituated to playing. They could decide at any time to stop playing that compulsive role...but they aren't aware that they're playing it! They think they ARE it. So they continue playing it in a very predictable and unconscious way. And that is the personality they present to others and run around constantly bolstering inside their own mind, thinking: "This is who I am. I must defend it and assert it. Therein lies my survival."

And that is the source of all the endless bitching and arguing and intolerance to others that goes on on Mudcat, on the Internet, and in life in general. People are vociferously defending the role they are unconsciously playing...their chosen personal identity, as they see it.

When they encounter another personality (role player) whose outward identity differs from their own on various key trigger points, it really bothers them. They react by going into an attack or defense mode. That causes the other person to likewise react in an attack or defense mode....and the shit starts to fly.

Just like on this thread. It becomes a feedback loop.

If one were to wake up one day and stringently question one's habitual role that one has been playing all these many years and look within...rather than looking all around with an eagle eye for the different other roles out there to dispute with.........what might happen then?

It might be worth trying. You might find something much more agreeable and peaceful than the role you have long been playing....which is your present personality matrix with all its fears, resentments, criticisms, phobias, pretensions, pride, possessions, beliefs, habits, causes, grudges, wants, and apparent needs.

You might find something....Or you might not. ;-) The average personality would rather die than consider giving up its habitual role! It would rather do almost anything than look calmly within and cease attacking and judging other roles and defending its own. And its reaction to any suggestion of doing so would be to hurl some choice epithet like "Rubbish!" or "Bollocks!"

So go right ahead. ;-) Play the role a bit longer. Only an unendurable amount of pain can make the average ego relinquish its accustomed role.

When it does, though, it will stop arguing. For most of us, that only happens finally when we die, because we just won't let go until we have NO choice about it any longer.

And that's when that little role ends. It would be quite an accomplishment to find peace prior to that event, wouldn't it?