Label me

Published on January 30, 2006 By BlueDev In Misc

White male.

For many people, that label alone is enough them to hate me. Sticking a label on someone, placing them in a box, and reducing them to less than human makes the antipathy much easier to swallow. Sadly, I speak from personal experience, having been guilty on more than one occasion of reducing a human to a simple label. I felt much better about hating them.

Fortunately, we are each multi-faceted beings. So if one label doesn't fit, we can use others. I have many myself:

Conservative
Religious
Mormon
American (thanks to BakerStreet!)
Closed-minded
Married
Husband
Heterosexual
Father
Breeder
Educated
Arrogant

Those are just a few of the many that easily apply to me. Each person could do the same, reducing who they are to a list of buzz words.

The truth is, of course, much more complex. But complexity requires effort and we are often loathe to expend that energy. And while I have abused labels, I have also been fortunate enough to see past some labels. Those times I have, more frequently than not, I have discovered some of my most rewarding relationships.

Comments (Page 1)

JillUser

on Jan 30, 2006

Is closed minded a label that has been given to you by others or a label you agree fits you?

BlueDev

on Jan 30, 2006

Is closed minded a label that has been given to you by others or a label you agree fits you?

Both.

I am the first to admit that I am closed minded. There are things I think are right, there are things I think are wrong. Period. There are things I believe to be true, there are things I believe to be false. Period.

That doesn't mean I condemn or reject someone who disagrees with me. I can accept people whose beliefs and morals are different from mine, but that doesn't mean I will accept those things as right or true.

I hope I made sense.

dynamaso

on Jan 30, 2006

Personally, I can't stand labels but I guess that makes me 'anti-label'

But seriously, the very idea of categorising individuals is, IMHO, assumptive and presumes a single template of behaviour, mindset or temperament is enough to 'know' how people think and what they believe. We are all individuals capable of change and growth at any point in our lives.

JillUser

on Jan 30, 2006

No, it didn't make sense......just kiddin'

I think most people are more close minded than they will admit. I think by the time you become an adult you have already formed a lot of solid beliefs that you simply won't stray from. That doesn't mean that something that happens some day couldn't change your mind and prove otherwise. It just means you believe you are right until proven wrong. I can respect that.

BlueDev

on Jan 30, 2006

Personally, I can't stand labels but I guess that makes me 'anti-label'

I do too, which was, I suppose, the impetus for writing this article. Getting past the labels we toss around so easily is much more rewarding.

I think most people are more close minded than they will admit

I think you are right. I know I am.

JillUser

on Jan 30, 2006

Personally, I can't stand labels but I guess that makes me 'anti-label'

I think labels and stereotypes are unavoidable. They are tools used to generalize and are often very accurate for large numbers. Obviously they don't apply to all. Self proclaimed labels are useful also. They can serve as a warning to others. If I say I am a breeder (to use one of BlueDev's labels), than someone who believes that it is wrong to bring children into a world in the state that ours is in wouldn't waste my time or there's on courting me. You get into trouble when labeling others without getting to know them.

BlueDev

on Jan 30, 2006

If I say I am a breeder (to use one of BlueDev's labels),

I can't claim that one. That one was applied to me by another here. But hey, I fit the bill.

dynamaso

on Jan 30, 2006

You get into trouble when labeling others without getting to know them.

Absolutely, which is why I would rather not use any, even for myself. Labels, like appearances, can be completely deceiving.

Stanton

on Jan 30, 2006

Arrogant?? I don't think that word could ever be applied to you. Nobody who's truly arrogant would call themselves arrogant - it'd be a Catch-22

ParaTed2k

on Jan 31, 2006

Like everything else, labels have two sides.

You did a great job of covering the negative side of labels, but there is also a positive side. We often feel a kinship with those we share a label or two. We are both married, heterosexual males, which almost automatically means we can take off to a concert or something without our wives getting suspicious. We are both Mormon, which means that we have some basic spiritual and lifestyle standards in common.

While the labels can be the sides of the box, they can also be the flaps that open.

(((((( To paraphrase Frank Zappa: A mind is like a parachute, it doesn't work if it's not open... But it is worthless if it is always open. ))))) ;~D

bakerstreet

on Jan 31, 2006

You forgot American...

BlueDev

on Jan 31, 2006

Arrogant?? I don't think that word could ever be applied to you.

Thanks man. Actually, someone here called me arrogant just the other day, so I thought it fitting. . .

While the labels can be the sides of the box, they can also be the flaps that open.

Excellent point Ted. Thanks for contributing. I agree that labels can be helpful in some ways.

You forgot American...

I was writing this on my PocketPC in a conference this morning (real boring one!), so there are probably others I missed as well. Thanks for reminding me, I am actually going to edit the article and add that one in.

Dr Guy

on Jan 31, 2006

Actually, someone here called me arrogant just the other day, so I thought it fitting. . .

I wonder who that was (walks away whistling).

BlueDev

on Jan 31, 2006

I wonder who that was (walks away whistling).

I can't imagine Doc. It made me chuckle. I couldn't help but think of an old saying. Something about a pot and a kettle. . .

foreverserenity

on Jan 31, 2006

Well said Maso! Well said - especially that last sentence!

It is unfortunate however that some people are carved from one "single template of behaviour" and "mindset" because it is all they know. Some don't want to be bothered with learning or aquiring new anything. It's their way, it's what they've been doing for upteenth years and it's all they know, and nothing you say will change their minds.

wonder who that was (walks away whistling).

I can't imagine Doc. It made me chuckle. I couldn't help but think of an old saying. Something about a pot and a kettle. .

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