Why do we always label people geeks, jocks, goths, etc. Why can’t we just be who we are?
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It's the way we're wired.17% Voted for by Mmm Parrot, dauer, newmiracle87, MySilentInsanity, mbbgo. (7 total)
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.
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because..10% Voted for by Mmm Parrot, mbbgo, raven shadow 13, Lady Soldier.
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.
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Conceptual Mind7% Voted for by SuperMoose, Lady Soldier, Afterrhythmia.
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.
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We label ourselves7% Voted for by wayward cry, Eye-Beam, Lady Soldier.
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...
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We Have Language7% Voted for by Andy Stephenson, Lady Soldier, Afterrhythmia.
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
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To be clear.5% Voted for by Eye-Beam, Afterrhythmia.
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.
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most people5% Voted for by Mythtress, Lady Soldier.
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.
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reference5% Voted for by Dwn, Afterrhythmia.
Even peoples names are labels, we use them to mark diferences ,and to keep strait our oppinions of these diferences
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It's the children and teens5% Voted for by Gosh I Love You, Afterrhythmia.
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
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Must Be Understood + AcceptedI believe the problem isn't labeling itself. Labeling is necessary it is how we communicate ourselves with others. No two people are the same so with every difference a label can exist...labels are inevitable. I think the issue with labels is when they are wrongly placed on individuals without them understanding or accepting them. No one can tell you who you are, except you. An individual is born with disability that he and his parents are unaware of. Our society would say that once the child is assessed and diagnosed he is to be labeled as having that disability. I believe that it is up to that individual to understand and accept the disability before taking on any label. A kid who dresses in all black clothes comes to school and is called a goth. That child might not even like goth music or be familiar with the style, but likes to dress that way. It is up to him/her to take on that label. Common sense.5% Voted for by zacharyreichardt, Afterrhythmia.
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to..5% Voted for by MURDER she screamed, Afterrhythmia.
make our selves feel better. We put each other down to build ourselves up.
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my thoughtsVoted for by TheHolySinner.
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”
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To protect one's selfVoted for by hypergrl.
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.
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in the ranksVoted for by mangledDawn.
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
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to belongVoted for by catseyes2468.
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.
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CauseVoted for by Katrina S. McCoy.
The world is sadly filled with jerks, and even I act like one too. It's a sad fact, but I think a true one. -
Its a choicethis may be a really old thread but I dont really care.Voted for by singer4lyfe.
Labeling is wrong...it falls right in line with judging other people. I am currently writing a speech on this for my communications class and it is a rough topic.
Labels are not necessarily reality. When you see a person in all black listening to head banging music we automatically assume...that they are gothic and trouble...right....wrong. Maybe they are just misunderstood, maybe their parents just got divorced and they needed an outlet. For me it was my overweightness. My whole life I have been made fun off because I wasnt a size 4 or less. it took a toll when I hit 8th grade and acted out. I am not proud of it. Now even though I am still heavy, I am trying to loose weight. I understand now what I didnt then and that is that I am not who people say I am. I am me and that is a Christian and daughter of Jesus Christ. I am a singer, a vibrant young adult ready to thrive and start living as an adult. I am a believer in Christ and ready to take on responsibility. I am not the fat child I used to let myself believe I was. Maybe its time to start trying to end this "labeling" thing and start focusing on reality. -
It is a ToolVoted for by numi earl grey.
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...



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February 21, 2005
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that's how it goes
I think it's from meeting enough cookie cutter teens who go through the phases, and all act roughly the same, cling to fads, and also, find a general group of people in which they fit in. It's primative... think packs of animals, hell, the Native Americans all had thier groups... so in a way, it's natural. To be biased and judgemental may be harsh, but in a way, it's in our bloodFebruary 23, 2005
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May 20, 2005
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labels.....
This topic about labels and categories is leading to discussion of sociology and what humans naturally tend to do. but making this a philosophical discussion you have to ask is it right to even make labels in the first place? i dont think it is right because the moment you put a label on someone you recognize them as something and not someone.June 13, 2005
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April 9
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I think we can change
Labeling is something most people do in order to make themselves feel better. I am currently writing a speech on labeling for a communications class. Depending on how you label someone it can actually change their behavior. my whole life I was labeled as the fat, weird girl. It took a toll on how I acted until I realized that i am not what other people deem me to be...I can be whoever I want to be in Christ. THough I am trying hard to loose the weight, I also understand that it is not my waist size that mekes me who I am but rather my personality and JEsus Christ. So I disagree that it is the way we are wired because it is a choice to label someone...a choice we should choose to say no to.Please register or login to comment! It's fast and totally free!