~ Labels ~

Labels.... they’re everywhere, on everything. They are used to give us information about the object they reside upon. We rely on that information to educate ourselves as to the value of the product for ourselves. Why is it human nature to want to apply labels to one another? Is it that we're trying to identify those who we find compatible with our existence and eliminate those who aren't? Do they help us to place these individuals in a mold of sorts so that they are easily identifiable to us?

Everyone is given a name at birth, which identifies him or her. Within family and friend, business and social acquaintances, we learn those names and use them. We do sometimes apply a label of our own to them, which separates them in favor, disdain, or some personal value system, but they remain part of our inner circle. These labels would be termed nicknames.

For those we don't know, our observations determine how we categorize them. When we speak of them to another, since we don't know their names, we refer to them based on the observation. The observations however are often tinged with personal opinion, feeling, or prejudice formed from life experience. In other words, if you met me and didn't know my name, when trying to describe me to someone else the words you'd choose would determine what image of me the other person formed in his mind. That is all well and good if you use enough characteristics to form a valid image. The problem comes in when people choose to describe using limited words. However, when it comes down to it, it is wrong. I've take away that person's individuality and allowed him to become just another nonentity. Every person living on this planet is an individual and to take away that individuality shows nothing more than a lack of respect for that person and for myself.

In seeing someone as being lumped into a category we don't really see that person at all. When we fail to see the individual, it encourages misconceptions and furthers prejudice. We allow our opinions to remain biased and shortsighted. As well but they're usually born of the person's own actions. If I call someone an idiot, it's usually because they've done something idiotic. That is a just observation based on their actions. Still again it's an idiotic action based on my own perceptions and opinions of what is correct behavior.

So, labels based on personal knowledge of the individual....are they any better than those applied so callously to those we don't know?

Labels.... they’re everywhere, on everything. They are used to give us information about the object they reside upon. We rely on that information to educate ourselves as to the value of the product for ourselves. Why is it human nature to want to apply labels to one another? Is it that we're trying to identify those who we find compatible with our existence and eliminate those who aren't? Do they help us to place these individuals in a mold of sorts so that they are easily identifiable to us? Everyone is given a name at birth, which identifies him or her. Within family and friend, business and social acquaintances, we learn those names and use them. We do sometimes apply a label of our own to them, which separates them in favor, disdain, or some personal value system, but they remain part of our inner circle. These labels would be termed nicknames. For those we don't know, our observations determine how we categorize them. When we speak of them to another, since we don't know their names, we refer to them based on the observation. The observations however are often tinged with personal opinion, feeling, or prejudice formed from life experience. In other words, if you met me and didn't know my name, when trying to describe me to someone else the words you'd choose would determine what image of me the other person formed in his mind. That is all well and good if you use enough characteristics to form a valid image. The problem comes in when people choose to describe using limited words. However, when it comes down to it, it is wrong. I've take away that person's individuality and allowed him to become just another nonentity. Every person living on this planet is an individual and to take away that individuality shows nothing more than a lack of respect for that person and for myself. In seeing someone as being lumped into a category we don't really see that person at all. When we fail to see the individual, it encourages misconceptions and furthers prejudice. We allow our opinions to remain biased and shortsighted. As well but they're usually born of the person's own actions. If I call someone an idiot, it's usually because they've done something idiotic. That is a just observation based on their actions. Still again it's an idiotic action based on my own perceptions and opinions of what is correct behavior.

So, labels based on personal knowledge of the individual....are they any better than those applied so callously to those we don't know?