"Stop labeling stuff, just be free, etc."

DonZabu

Who says labeling has to automatically be a bad thing? My Pandora playlist isn't going to sort itself.

In seriousness, though, I don't think labels themselves are bad. It's the asshole who abuses and misassigns them that's the problem, and I think the title phrase has become a cliche at this point.

(moving to philosophy category. ~GMH)

glennmagusharvey

I think the human mind automatically categorizes things in order to make sense of information through associative patterns.

It's just a matter of whether you keep an open mind that things in said categorizations may or may not be typical of things you know are in that category.

Malkavian

I'm really just not big on political labels because I feel they're restrictive and put expectations on you to unilaterally agree with a certain mindset.

Really I think the only labels that are good are the ones you give yourself.

ninjaclown

The labels get to the point where people who like labels have to assemble all labels that describe themselves, like calling themselves anarchist-libertarian-whateverist.

 

You want an example of how bad this can get? Just ask tnu.

InsanityAddict

^^Counterpoint: Deadpan Snarker.

captainbrass

Ninjaclown - That's been going for a long time. There was one late 19th century anarchist writer who claimed she was "simply anarchist" because at the time all the others were claiming to be "anarcho-syndicalists" and "anarchist-communists" and so on.

I'd agree that the labels you choose are preferable to the ones other people  apply to  you.

Naas_Human

I'm really just not big on political labels because I feel they're restrictive and put expectations on you to unilaterally agree with a certain mindset.

I can see what you're getting at here.

Really I think the only labels that are good are the ones you give yourself.

Although, I don't completely agree with this part, considering...

The labels get to the point where people who like labels have to assemble all labels that describe themselves, like calling themselves anarchist-libertarian-whateverist.

^^Counterpoint: Deadpan Snarker.

 

Kraken

Things are what things are, and we never really truly know everything that things are. 

MadassAlex

label1.Text("I think I missed the point of this thread.")

glennmagusharvey

I did too, because I categorized it, and not as a joke.

LouieW

I feel like one problem with labels is that it is tough to control what meanings people attribute to them. I mean, you might self-label and use a certain term as a point of pride and then see other people using the same label engage in behaviors you dislike. I also think using labels for people can make it pretty easy to stereotype and speak for other people when you really lack the authority to do so (e.g., speaking on behalf of all women, liberals, Muslims, athletes etc.).      

I agree that labels do serve some legitimate purposes, but maybe it is better to say stuff like "a person who is conservative" instead of "a conservative person", in order to emphasize the individuality of people instead of the labels that might fit them.

glennmagusharvey

Yeah, labels are used for many things, including:

* stereotyping others

* identifying yourself with a group

* identifying yourself as separate from a group

* making assumptions about people you expect to be part of a group but otherwise don't know

* mocking people

* team spirit

* and much more!

Icalasari

Labels keep me from mixing up, say, vinegar with water