Don't Label Me...

[Jennifer5]

I think that's a book or something, I don't know, I sounded familiar... anyway...

I keep thinking 'Don't Label Me' has potential... maybe be a group at some point. If you think about it, that could be great for anyone... kind of like a 'celebrate diversity' type thing. Because when you think about we're always being labeled in some way... gay/straight white/black male/female christian/not christian rich/poor... to me it just sounded like at least for people in there teens and twenties that could get a huge group and end up doing a lot of different things.

I don't really know what I'm trying to say with this... any thoughts?

[tdogg]

When society quits using labeling adjectives in casual conversation - "that black man at work," "the lesbian across the street," "this gay boy at the grocery store," and "that short girl at school" etc etc. - then I think we as a human race will have made some real progress. Why can't we just say the man at work, the woman across the street, the boy at the store, the girl at school - what difference do the adjectives make anyway?

If we must label, then do it in a positive light using nothing but uplifting and generous adjectives - smart man, cool woman, excellent grocery clerk, straight A student - it would certainly be more gratifying to those we are labeling.

Well, eating lunch and skimming thru SF with no real time to devote to complex reponses - but my thoughts so far. This could be an interesting thread Jen! :)

[awediot]

Hi Jen,

You could be the AntiLabelists;) ...

Its a good thought, but impossible. Don't try to get away from labels, try to get people to see through them... Categories, stereotypes, groups and generalities help us compartmentalize and organize the world and our thoughts so we don't get buried in the details. Unfortunately, many like to forget the details and the picture that pops in our head when the word "gay" or "black" or "old" or "AntiLabelist", tends to stick, and all the other facets that make people unique get pushed aside... Yes I'm a forty year old gay male, and alot of what that implies is true, but I'm alot more than that too...

Hope your doing great... back to school...Heh heh heh:lol:

[Jennifer5]

Thanks both of you very good points!

*yeah this year I don't go back to school until the 5th!

[tdogg]

Oh good Jen, then we expect to see a lot of posts between now and then. After the 5th, we'll ask you if your home work is done!! ;)

[Zerbie]

Oh good Jen, then we expect to see a lot of posts between now and then. After the 5th, we'll ask you if your home work is done!! ;)

Gah! T-Dawg!! Ya gotta be askin' me that, too. . .classes started Monday and I think I :eek: bit off a tad more than I can chew! :lol:
I think I'm already behind. . .:p

[Daniel]

Labels can be very useful. As such, they are often used in meditation practice. One practices 'labeling' not as a means to 'stop' thoughts as such, but as a way to learn to stay with the flow, that is, in the present moment. A fearful thought gets labled "fear', a loving thought 'loving' and so forth. Practice of this sort reveals where ones head and heart is at. Or course, we all think we'd be pretty good at this sort of thing- that is until one tries to practice it- what one thinks is going on is not always what is seems to be. And how can one change what one is not aware of?

But this is a whole different matter as far as 'discursive' thought is concerned. I agree with Awe regarding this: one learns to see through the meaning of words to the content beyond.

[Jennifer5]

Oh no, I have all of you treating me like your kids now... not that that's all bad...:rolleyes: I know I have to keep up though.. it's never been a problem but I'm concerned that they suggest starting with like 3 classes and when it comes down to it I have like 7 classes...I'm thinking that was a really stupid thing to do.. oh well.

That's good point Daniel, I see what you mean.:)

[tdogg]

Wow, Zerb and Jen - sounds like you are both going to be really busy with school!!!

Tdogg: Jen, have you finished your homework assignment?
Jen: Yes, it's all done now
T: Zerbie, is all your homework done for the evening?
Z: It sure is and it was a lot!
J: And I've studied for that upcoming exam too, studied hard!
T: Zerb, did you study for your test yet?
Z: Sure did, and gave myself a spot quiz and passed 100%!
T: Then get to posting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D

Not going to school, but I am going to join the Assoc of Certified Fraud Examiners, purchase the curriculum and exam package which will require LOTS of reading and studying, then taking an exam I hear is similar to taking the CPA exam in order to be a certified fraud examiner. This is going to happen soon and take up a lot of my spare time away from work. So, we will have that in common - please feel free to ask me if I've done my studying for the evening!!!

I agree with Awe - labels tend to make us forget that a person is unique and owns a lot of wonderful characteristics and talents. Once one starts labeling, the desire to learn more about a person is diminished. When one can throw the label out, get to know someone without 'boxing' them into a perceived group or 'label' then we can truly see a person for who they really are.

[Jennifer5]

Good luck with you're work to Tdogg!:)

[Vanessa White]

I am just getting up to speed on this thread. First of all: Tdogg, Zerbie, and Jen, have you completed all of your homework today? Did you do it before you signed on to post? Did you study? Okay, then......

Labelling is quite interesting to me. As much as many of use see the essential need to be treated, and to treat others, as individuals, no matter what groups they are members of, there are also many others that feel the need to find others that think like they do. So, sometimes I think it is part of how we learn about our social relationships that creates the tendency to label, or generalize, or stereotype, persons or groups of people. I mean, in a way, couldn't it be a comfort to believe, for me as a lesbian person, that most or all lesbians are pretty liberal in their political beliefs, since I am in mine? At least, I could see more clearly where I fit in with a group of people. Now, I don't really view groups of persons in that way, but maybe part of the tendency to label is based in that. I like Daniel's description also of acknowledging outright what it is we are experiencing in order to release it. I know, when I acknowledge, even if only to myself, those thoughts or emotions that tend to frighten me the most- anger, falling in love- once I admit it openly, even if only to myself, I take away its power and it tends to consume me less. Agreed though, that it is difficult if you cannot easily identify what it is you are experiencing, been there, done that too!

[Mia14]

I'm currently a bit confused about how I stand on labels. I've been thinking about how wonderful it would be if appearance and sexuality and such things were all seen as potentially flexible and changeable. This led me to think that labeling wasn't a good thing because it created expectations for descriptions, actions, etc. However, since coming out, I have taken lots of support from identifying as a lesbian woman and reading about other lesbian women and their struggles because it gives me hope. Without the labels of lesbian or woman, I wouldn't have these other situations as easily and might not have been able to benefit from the hope.


So.... I don't know if I like labels yet or not. I'll have to think some more about that.

[tdogg]

Vanessa, I've been bad! Have my work laptop here to work on a presentation I'm giving next month - haven't touched it all weekend! Haven't started studying for the CFE yet, that will come this fall/winter. But yikes, the power point needs to be revised soon!!!

I've been trying - not always successful - to give at least one compliment a day to someone. I think the more we compliment and use empowering and kind 'labels' - the more love will be spread around and hate will be diminished. Remember I said "try" though - I'm a work in progress!

I don't necessarily think labels are bad, only depending on how they are used. We can label people in kind, loving and respectful ways that uplift and encourage them. I think it's more the 'stereotyping' that is harmful in general. When I'm labeled "lesbian", "gay", etc., I have come to feel proud that at being out, being myself. I know of at least one instance (at work) where my being out and proud has helped another lesbian friend - not that she was in the closet, but she wasn't necessarily 'out'. Now we can stand proud together! So cool!