Yeah, but I meant masking as wiki/Masking_(behavior):

In psychology and sociology, masking, also known as social camouflaging, is a defensive behavior in which an individual conceals their natural personality or behavior in response to social pressure, abuse, or harassment. Masking can be strongly influenced by environmental factors such as authoritarian parents, social rejection, and emotional, physical, or sexual abuse.

It's the thing that we all use to an extent as a means to even be able to communicate - eg I might make eye contract & some hand gestures bcs that facilities a conversation, bcs if I don't do that ppl will add to their understanding of our conversation that I am being dishonest (and not merely a bit less neurotypical).

It's "skills" we develop growing up bcs we were told or deduced from environment that certain things should be a certain way in order to even communicate. Some things might be ez, some take a huge toll.

If you mean masks like direct lying or manipulation beyond facilitating a convo (an exchange of ideas), that is not what I meant.
It's like getting to speak the same language basically, a set of basic prerequisites.

Normal masking helps you have, sustain, and help a relationship, we have a bit different needs & preferences. It's not about hiding stuff, I directly tell ppl I'm faking eye contract, but ppl still need it anyway.

Lying, eg telling (core conversational) stuff that isn't true, is different, that is just shitty. And yes, you can tell what the underlying personality wants to get out of that manipulation. (And yes, that is humanity.)

But if I can't have a normal conversation with a new friend or eg someone I need to interact with (eg a store employee) than I just get left out of society & need help.