One of the best known, perhaps apochryphal, mother statements is that you shouldn't leave the house wearing torn underwear because you might be in an accident and you don't want people to see you laying in the street that way. Once again, however, though I've somehow absorbed this statement into my arsenal of childhood memories, I have no recollection of my mother saying it. The gist of this statement is, of course, that we have to be constantly conscious of the image we project, even to the point of being prepared for unforseeable circumstances. Having undergone extensive childhood training in keeping up our images (and who doesn't have a mother?), brushing up our web personae before we make them public comes rather naturally. I'm at home in the Boidem, but if I'm inviting friends over to visit, I should at least clean up a bit and make a good impression.
Did your mother say these things to you? Can you vouch for their accuracy?
Are you familiar with different versions of these same statements? Let
me know.