There are 16 choices, 28 votes for Glamorous' debate

Why do we label people?

Why do we always label people geeks, jocks, goths, etc. Why can’t we just be who we are?


  • It's the way we're wired.

    It’s how we make sense of things. We separate the world into categories so we can understand it more easily. We’re also usually trying to be a part of a group or reject a group or both which means we’ll allow ourselves to fall into one of the categories you’ve listed above.

    21%  Voted for by Mmm Parrot, dauer, newmiracle87, MySilentInsanity, mbbg0. (6 total)
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  • because..

    we catoragize everything. from chemicals to produce. remember when you were little, the shape sorters? its human instinct, to group things with what they are most similar and name them as a whole.

    14%  Voted for by Mmm Parrot, mbbg0, raven shadow 13, Lady Soldier.
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  • We label ourselves

    It is what we do to better understand ourselves. During adolesence we spend a good precentage of our time trying to figure out who we are. And the labels that emmerge during highschool prove as models for us to try ourselves as. We find a group that is similar to ourselves, and thrust ourselves upon it. This method doesn't always prove to be benificial...it can be very destructive. (a side note: Labels make it easier for us to develope...it's like training wheels or starter kits...but eventually one needs to move on)

    Whether we be geek, jock, goth, emo, punk, rocker...etc it is of no real concequence...chances are, we/you/they chose to be labeled as such...and many spend most of their time in highschool trying to find a label to label themselves as...

    10%  Voted for by wayward cry, Eye-Beam, Lady Soldier.
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  • We Have Language

    We have language and we label everything. Some things many times over: tramp, son of a bitch, bastard, scoundral, man, boy, cheat, crook, etc. All describe a man. I decided to pick on the guys for a change. Jesus called money changers(men who bought and sold at the temple) “VIPERS!!!” It’s not a new thing. WWJD? Apparently what the rest of us do.

    Andy

    7%  Voted for by Andy Stephenson, Lady Soldier.
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  • most people

    categorize others. When we are young we have the preps, the jocks, the skaters etc. When we get older there are other names, but we still categorize. ie. liberals and conservatives; tree huggers and on and on… I think it is human nature. And I think that if you are aware you are doing it, you should try to stop. Nobody likes being put in a category.

    7%  Voted for by Mythtress, Lady Soldier.
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  • Conceptual Mind

    I believe that everyone’s mind, or psyche or whatever you want to call it is made up of three individual but equal minds. There is the True mind, the mind that sees everything as one and one as everything. The emotional mind. The mind that balances the other two to keep one from completely overriding the other. And the Conceptual mind. The conceptual mind is what discerns one solid object from another at its most basic form, but often, in almost everyone in fact, the conceptual mind seeks to override the true and emotional minds and it discerns objects/people too much, defining them instead of just accepting them. It begins to label things as good or bad, and starts sorting them into catagories or discriminating agaisnt them.

    7%  Voted for by SuperMoose, Lady Soldier.
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  • to belong

    people claim that labeling is a bad thing , but people have the need belong. there for we label so that you have some where to belong and sociolise with others of your label.

    Voted for by catseyes2468.
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  • to..

    make our selves feel better. We put each other down to build ourselves up.

    Voted for by MURDER she screamed.
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  • To be clear.

    Labeling means naming. Things almost always have to be named to be known. The human mind is aware of many things, some of which are more similar than different and others that are more different than similar. To make sense of these things an intelligent person assigns them to categories based on similarities. These categories are usually given names. This is what labeling people means. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Not all labels are negative. Not all of it involves dehumanizing or objectifying others. And not all objectification is bad either. Sometimes these categories are not very intelligently designed. Crude categories and hasty generalizations are problems with organized human life. Yet it would be impossible to think without them. If you could live without thinking of categories of things you would probably not be able to think of very much. It is best to accept these limitations of your mind and try to be aware of them. Also try to be open to people who are different from the types you know and recognise that individuality is real too.

    Voted for by Eye-Beam.
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  • It is a Tool

    It is a tool for simplifying reality. Like when I say 'liberals suck', I say it knowing full well people are much more than just their present political persuasion, and use it as a tool of simplification. Should we act on such simplifications? To the point where we can reverse it if we decide we were wrong. For instance, killing someone is beyond reversal at the present...

    Voted for by wbiro.
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  • To protect one's self

    Perhaps we label others to make sure we don't end up in their shoes. I mean, any1 here that still goes to school, how many times have you seen a 'cheerleader' trip a 'nerd'? I think the only reason others label is so that they can pick on others, therefore not be the ones to be picked on. If you were new to the school, and you wanted to be friends with someone lower on the social chain, you would go down automatically. Therefore, the labels ensure security for all the bullies and 'cool' people, and make sure that the 'nerds', 'geeks', and 'loners' have nothing to do with being liked and appreciated.

    Voted for by hypergrl.
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  • reference

    Even peoples names are labels, we use them to mark diferences ,and to keep strait our oppinions of these diferences

    Voted for by Dwn.
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  • It's the children and teens

    People label each other because they feel the need to fit certain people into certain groups.. it's like having thousands of outcasts. I can't stand labeling people, but if you're a complete jackass, that's your label for me.. We aren't protecting ourselves by labeling others, what kind of crap is that? Now people are ignoring, killing, fighting with, and hurting people who aren't 'in' their label. 'All goths wear black' First of all, goth is a music and it's a type of window, building, etc. How can someone be a type of window? 'All cheerleaders are preps' Prep is a type of school where everything is orderly. I can't stand any label.. and PUNK is the worst one, yet. I see little fourth graders walking down the street dressed in all black, thinking they are cool because they have 8 different colours in their hair and they are blasting GREEN DAY, what the hell? Green Day is pop, let's just say that. And kids these days are just getting dumber by the minute. YOU DON'T HAVE TO LABEL TO BE HAPPY

    Voted for by Gosh I Love You.
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  • in the ranks

    in the world, there are three types of people. highest class (that want to maintain their position), middle class (that want to move up in the classes), and lower class (that want everyone to be equal). labeling people is just another way that the classes attempt to make themselvs feel better

    Voted for by mangledDawn.
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  • my thoughts

    most people lable others because they are self conscious about themselves or think the ones around them are so they kall them geek,goth,freak,nerd,prep,dirty mexican, and other ridiculous names(sorry if i offended anyone)any ways another reason some one might lable another is tobe kewl they figure everone else is callin people wearin all black goths or emos so they should too or people are wearing aeropastel or abracombe(however its spelled)and are being called preps so they pick up on that and every thing else soon enough everyone in the school is labled and hang out with “their people” or “group”

    Voted for by TheHolySinner.
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  • To keep social order

    Its what kids do to separate themselves.

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