Ponderings of a loony

[Brujaverde]

Now don't stir the S topic again. But I'm curious, why are the labels important? Why are we so attached to them? As I see it we already have enough of them that are inaccurate. It seems such things are created in the first place for us to understand what others want to communicate to us. Names of things and such are easy, we just argee to call something the same name. You know what I mean if I say dog? but what kind of dog? Oh, it needs another name!!! But we already have a hard time aligning our perceptions in order to understand, I mean really UNDERSTAND what someone wants to get across. Ex: our definition of attractive is different. When we create such titles or discriptions we can only futher define the subject. But why do we want to? I generally call my self pagan. I also if asked would just say I'm american (rather than original american, french, Irish, mexican.....because it's not important and it doesn't say anything about ME anyway) but some people need the further distinction of what race & whatever else as if they are more important with the further labels. So, are we soup? Do we need an ingredients list? Does it make us feel that we are more important in the universe, as spirituality does?

This is just curious wonderings that are based on my opinon & not meant to upset or offend anyone:)

[Myst]

What is the S topic?

And it's human nature to classify.

The only harm occurs when the label is used to hold someone to that label. It doesn't matter if someone calls me a geek until they decide that being a geek has to mean I have no friends. Then it just gets annoying. The only bad labels are the ones that are used intentionally to be hurtful, and that's only a handful.

If we didn't have labels such as genus, species, gender, etc. where would we be now?

[Euphoria]

well put myst

[Brujaverde]

S topic = satanism
I didn't want to stir it up again.


I realize that we need to label things. why do people feel the need to label each other???
Don't need to reply it was meant to make you wonder too. Just think about it.

[Myst]

Again, because it's human nature. We label *everything*, including eachother.

This has actually been something on my mind several times. I've just come to terms with the fact that that's how people are. It's also why people find it so hard to trust their intuition and what they see. They want to label and classify, and if they can't, it's "make believe".

One can't just change human nature. Also, I don't believe one should just stop labelling. If I label you as a MW member, does that make me or the label bad? But if I labelled you and held you to that label, and judged you by it, especially if it wasn't nearly accurate at all, that'd be different huh? I think it's more in the intent.

[airmist]

Many eons ago, I was a freshman in high school and a teacher pointed out that I had described a fictional person in an essay I wrote as "the type of person who...." He said there is no such thing as a "type" of person. He said I could describe them but not label them. I have taken that lesson with me.

We label as a way of identifying and quantifying. Much scientific knowledge exists as a result of the labelling of genus, species and so forth, as Myst points out. There is nothing wrong with knowledge gained by identification and quantification.

When we use the label as a definition, or instead of understanding and description (as in "the type of person who...") we substitute the label for actual knowledge.

[Myst]

Originally posted by airmist
When we use the label as a definition, or instead of understanding and description (as in "the type of person who...") we substitute the label for actual knowledge.

Yeah, exactly! :)

[Illuminatus]

Labels simplify things.

If we had to remember the properties of all the chemicals that were Alkaline and which were Base without those two words to simplify matters, we'd lose our minds. By saying "OK, you guys in the right column, you're the noble gasses" it saves time, energy, and sanity. Wheras addressing each individual's material properties each time it comes up would be a lot of unneccessary work.

If I took the time to get to know every Habib and Haqim that were hijacking my plane, I wouldn't have time to get my act together and say Lets Roll!

- Ill

[widukind]

Labels help people identify with eachother and with themselves. The biggest label of all is your name. Who are you without it?

[Myst]

A short redhead with no name ;)