I hate labels

dennis22554dennis22554
in General

I hate labels! I know at times they are a necessary evil but I really dislike them. My disdain towards labels is partially related to the fact that even when unintentional,--they can drive hatred! More importantly---they wipe away individuality. Especially notable recently is that when a person is "labeled," it is automatically assumed that they assume all the negative qualities of the label---and that's amazing given that everyone is a unique individual with unique personalities, and core beliefs. Most upsetting is when one group pushes itself as morally superior to another! I assume people use labels because it's easier than taking the time to really get to know the person behind the curtain. I'm ashamed to admit that I have been guilty of avoiding people based on the negative connotations associated with certain ones only later to discover what a "wonderful human being they truly were" after taking the time to get to know them. is a wonderful sanctuary as in PROs do an excellent job of treating clients as individuals. It is a wonderful sanctuary. I hate labels but love when I am judged as an individual!

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Comments

  • pmvinespmvines

    Not sure what labels you're referring to. But often times a label means your community or what you identity as. It can mean a sense of belonging and pride for the person who claims that label. So it's not always necessarily a bad thing.

  • dennis22554dennis22554

    true--agree

  • lovingspoonfulllovingspoonfull

    I think to state things a different way, labels are always incomplete. They never fully describe a person, and while they can be a source of identity and affirmation, they can just as easily be used as tools to reduce an individual to the single facet the label describes, and make it easier to treat them as less.

    In my mind labels are not bad, they’re just descriptors. It’s lazy or dismissive thinking that’s a problem.

  • dennis22554dennis22554

    well said

  • IronicMaidenIronicMaiden

    Last time you talked about this, I agreed and gave a real-world example, which apparently displeased you. Which labels in particular are you thinking of?

  • dennis22554dennis22554

    any label that categorizes people belonging to a group as of having identical beliefs------everyone is unique

  • IronicMaidenIronicMaiden

    Ok, so this is specific to labels about beliefs, not other traits such as autism.

    The problem is that one can choose one's beliefs, and choose whether to associate with other people of those beliefs. Some beliefs are harmful. Some beliefs are all about hurting other people. Association with a belief is voluntary. If someone chooses to associate themself with a harmful belief, it is reasonable to assume they are a harmful person.

  • dennis22554dennis22554

    sure------but son't assume what a person believes based on a label

  • IronicMaidenIronicMaiden

    Are you trying to say that just because someone follows a harmful belief doesn't mean they believe the harmful belief? Even if that were true, the fact that they're willing to associate themself with a harmful belief says a lot about them and makes them a harmful person.

  • dennis22554dennis22554

    It's not uncommon for a person to read an article they nay not agree with to better understand the indivifual...it doesn't mean they agree with the beliefs...

    Im simply saying I hate labels

  • Carrie_AnneCarrie_Anne

    @dennis22554
    💯 I’m with you on this, I understand what you mean.
    I believe it can be divisive but maybe it feels safe to some people to categorize others.

  • dennis22554dennis22554

    People should be judged as individuals

  • IronicMaidenIronicMaiden

    It's not uncommon for a person to read an article they nay not agree with to better understand the indivifual

    Reading an article is no no way applying a label to one's self. Not even close.

    It seems to me that you're saying not to judge people by labels they choose to apply to themselves. I disagree. The labels one chooses says a lot about a person.

    I could be entirely off-base with what you're saying. It's too vague to be clear on anything. An example would help.

  • dennis22554dennis22554

    Thank youg.w..l.w

  • dennis22554dennis22554

    Im not talking about people who self label..please read the post

  • IronicMaidenIronicMaiden

    any label that categorizes people belonging to a group as of having identical beliefs

    You're talking about beliefs, which are chosen. This is what you said when I asked for clarification or examples.

    I'm sorry I can't understand something as vague as what you posted, but that's why I keep asking for examples. Examples would make it clear. Examples would help me understand. But for some reason, you refuse to provide any examples. In the absence of examples, I have to assume you're talking about what you said, people's beliefs. And you can definitely judge someone by the beliefs they've chosen.

  • dennis22554dennis22554

    You are always free to igmore..I think it's time for a beer drats..now I am a drunk

  • IronicMaidenIronicMaiden

    I apologize for trying to understand what you were saying. I can only assume the point of this post was to excuse your own harmful beliefs. I wish you luck with that.

  • IronicMaidenIronicMaiden

    But you can take heart that I haven't judged you by any labels. :)

  • dennis22554dennis22554

    I m glad that you agree treating people as I mdivifuals..not labeling..fhen..is the most respectful approach...have a nice evening97

  • IronicMaidenIronicMaiden

    Yup. People should be judged for who they are, including the labels they choose to apply to themselves.

    You not only refuse to explain what you mean, you also try to change what I said. Curious, that.

  • IneedahugortwoIneedahugortwo

    @dennis22554 I also agree with you 💯!!

  • dennis22554dennis22554

    Thank you...its been a long long time..hope all is going well

  • [Deleted User]WriterGF (deleted user)

    Seems to me that if someone says, for example, "I believe in the ideals of the Ku Klux Klan," it's pretty safe to make a judgment about them based on that.

  • Vocalist100Vocalist100

    I'm in a meetup group for philosophical and intellectual discussions, and at the beginning of each meeting we all introduce ourselves and state our "worldview" (e.g., some say Christian, some say agnostic, etc.). For quite some time I've chosen to identify myself as a "label anarchist" for precisely that reason. I may be agnostic in some things but that comes nowhere near to describing who I am, nor that I am not agnostic about other things.

  • [Deleted User]CharlesGrove (deleted user)

    I am a meat popsicle!

  • IronicMaidenIronicMaiden

    I've thought of a real world example.

    I'm a mod on a neurodivergent discord server. We have a high LGBT population. If someone uses a label which indicates they affiliate with a group known for being anti-LGBT, they get banned. The person might not be anti-LGBT, but at best they support people who are anti-LGBT. So for the safety and wellbeing of server members, they can't be allowed to stay.

    If being judged for that self-chosen label bothers them, perhaps they shouldn't choose that label.

    You see how examples help clarify things. :smile:

  • dennis22554dennis22554

    Labels applied to indivuals can be discriminatory when broadly applied...therefore care should be taken when using them...better yet..why use them at all

  • dennis22554dennis22554

    Especially when comparing two different labeled groups and the automatic assumption that the negative characteristics automatically apply

  • theHugAlchemisttheHugAlchemist

    The worst label is the word "I".

    The delusion of having a separate self is really where all the problems begin.

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