Do You Ever Get A Second Chance... To Make A First Impression?

As this is my first blog post here, I wanted to make a good first impression with some clever, well-thought-out words and a couple of stunning photos thrown in. And then I realized something. No matter what I say — from this point on — YOU have already made up your mind about me.

For fuck's sake... seriously?

Yeah, seriously. According to all the experts — including that 'dandy' Oscar Wilde who originated this conclusion — it took you less than a minute to judge me. No matter what I do or say now, your impression of me has already been hardened.

In fewer than ten seconds, you've glanced at my profile picture, read a few words here and determined if I'm —attractive, likeable, competent, aggressive and trustworthy. It's actually amazing to realize the human mind can process visual stimuli that quickly. Some of us can even do it in under 1/10th of a second.

So, regardless of how flamboyant, witty, stylish or humorous I have yet to demonstrate, your impressions of me have been solidified faster than quick-drying cement. Whether you are right is of little consequence to anyone but me. Do I have a chance at redemption?

The two immovable — and most quickly resolved — traits are if I am attractive and trustworthy. And supposedly, I have no chance of changing your mind about any of those other qualities either. Experts in psychology claim that it may take years to sway anyone, or I may never succeed. But I disagree with those 'supposed' specialists. 

They conducted all of their studies based on photographs they showed their test subjects. I'll simply change my profile picture to something more suitable. Oh crap, there goes my trustworthiness... out the window. Well, at least — hopefully — I'm still likeable.

I believe in second chances: they have to exist. (Or I'll start claiming my camera is broken on my next Zoom date.) In any case, it's way too fricken cold here today for any type of damn cement to coagulate.

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As a side note, I'd like to thank everyone who popped in here for their patience. I expect to figure out what all these buttons and levers are for by the next time we meet.