Funny story by Rachel Dodes in the Wall Street Journal the other day about the shapewear industry and its challenge to make women look and feel their best without constricting or constraining them to the point they can't perform certain biological functions easily.  What's particularly interesting is the dilemma women who wear shapewear face when they realize that they have achieved the goal of getting the guy to notice them and now he's ready for a closer look.  

First, there's the issue of how to get down to their "real" selves without hurting themselves or the guy in the process.  Second, there's the issue of him seeing that they aren't exactly the shape they appear to be. Talk about bait and switch.  Were we wrong to put our "best" self forward?

This brings to mind another interesting phenomenon regarding social media sites like Facebook and MySpace.  People tend to use these to put their "best" self forward for friends and family to see.  Think about it, most of the photos are either flattering or funny.  The activities are enviable.  The quotes are witty, or at least attention grabbing.   The scores and promotions and badges and on and on always point to someone who has it going on.  Who wouldn't want to be your friend?  But is the you that shows up on Facebook the same one that would show up at my front door on a Sunday morning?  I'm not so sure.

Reality is, a lot of young people are facing the dilemma of being one way online and another offline by turning to drugs and alcohol to make them more at ease in real-life settings where they have to try and live up to their online reputation.  I wonder how many adults are doing the same.

What do you think?  What is the line we walk between trying to be at our best all the time yet trying to be authentic?  Are you two different people online and off?   Dressed and undressed?  Is that good or bad?