Well, since I broached the subject of labels yesterday, here's more:
Labels. They work really well on jars. I find they are somewhat less satisfactory placed on the complex creatures called humans. I recoil at people labeling me. And yet I use labels for other people quite frequently. Sounds contradictory, doesn't it? I am reminded of some lines by Walt Whitman in his Song of Myself: "Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes."
"I am large, I contain multitudes." That seems to me a pretty fair description of the complexity of human persons. And therein lies the unsolvable problem of labeling people. (Aside: of course, some folks are not at all troubled by labels, I know this, but for those of us who are, it seems you can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em....) The problem with labels is that while they constitute a useful shorthand in some ways that may aid our understanding...they also allow us to put people in nice neat little ideological boxes (or personality boxes, or what have you) where we don't have to think about them anymore. "Oh, so and so is an X? Oh he's one of those? Well that means he's like A, B, and C, and believes in D, E, and F.... Oh I see, I get it...." We all do that about people. All the time. The problem is that so and so may be labeled an X, but only be like A, and not like B and C. She may in fact believe in D and E, but not in F.... But the convenient label allows us to put someone in a box....and we so need boxes for people, don't we? We must....
So and so is an Atheist, or a Buddhist, or a Christian, or a Democrat, or an environmentalist, or a fundamentalist, or gay, or a hippie, or an "ISTJ" (or whatever other Myers-Briggs label), or a lesbian, or a Muslim, or a Republican, or a "tree hugger", etc., etc., etc., etc., etc. Puke. Labeling people is inevitable, of course, and society could not function as well in some ways if we did not use their shorthand.... But the caution is that at their worst, labels can reinforce an "us vs. them" way of looking at the world. Those "others" you know, they are the problem.... And maybe we even "hate" those Xs and Ys, we have labels for them, and boxes, and so....
We don't have to actually treat them like other human beings.
I do this. I am guilty. I have fought it all my life and continue to fight it, but...I am guilty....
Are you too?
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It's the finger-and-moon problem. Fingers are useful but we often confuse them for other things.
ReplyDeleteFW, fabulous post. I too love that quote by Whitman. Thanks for your insights into this very important topic. We use labels to communicate, but we do need to be careful. Examine what arises when we use them.
ReplyDeleteBarry,
ReplyDeleteThis is the kind of "Barry comment" I've come to know and love. An economy of words, yet cutting right to the heart of the matter. Thank you. :)
Molly,
Thank you. If I can help myself and any of the rest of us to think about these things...then blogging is worth it....
Well, FW, you beat me to the punch and - I have to say - you did a damn good job. Much better than I would have done...
ReplyDeleteI will only add a couple of things:
People don't just label other people. People label themselves as well. For me, this is the bigger question. Why? Why does a person feel the need to label his/her self? I think - I think - it is for the converse but same reason they choose to put a label on another...If I label myself, then that makes me a part of something...I am no longer alone in this world...I am part of something bigger than myself...I am INCLUDED...I have worth because I am part of 'us' and not 'them'... I'm okay because this group accepts me.
The desire to be understood...it's something every human craves...unfortunately when we box in ourselves or box out others, we have automatically excluded a huge portion of the population that might - just might - be one of the ones to give us that understanding.
"Labels. They work really well on jars."
You stole my line.
; )
Val,
ReplyDeleteWow, you hit the nail on the head in getting at the converse of this issue. I think you're right on the money. Thank you for adding that. It's very a important consideration.
I stole your line? :)
Well, I didn't steal it from you. We both must have got it from the same source perhaps....
I should have said "you stole my opening". That was the exact same thing I started my post with. (But, of course, now will not post...)
ReplyDeleteAh crap; I'm sorry. :(
ReplyDeletePlease don't leave that line out on my account. And I do hope you'll still post your own thoughts on this.... I was very much looking forward to reading them.
You make a good point, FW. It seems to me that labels stem from the basic human need to belong and be understood. No matter how much we all want to be valued as individuals, we still have that fundamental desire to associate with others who agree with us.
ReplyDeleteIt is good to be cautious with this, though, as you stated. We need to be aware that just because someone fits SOME of the criteria to be an A or a B, that does not encompass the entirety of their being. We need to apply this to ourselves, as well, and fight the herd mentality.
"We need to apply this to ourselves, as well, and fight the herd mentality."
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Yes, definitely. You make good points Barefoot, thank you for chiming in on this one.
FW--thanks so much for your insights on Ayn Rand on destinationinfinity's blog. You might have just saved me hours of my precious life :)
ReplyDeleteWhew ~ out of breath here reading all those labels...now why am I out of breath from reading? :)
ReplyDeleteEveryone else here so wisely said everything I would have said and more, so I'd like to compliment your writing style on this post. It was exhausting and circular - exactly like how we incessantly label and relabel and relabel ourselves and everyone/thing around us.
You done good, amigo!
Thanks Alice. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I very am guilty too. Maybe the best we can do is try to stay aware of it's shortcomings along with it's utility.
ReplyDeleteWhich you have helped us to do.
:-)
Amy, yep, that is what we must try to do. :)
ReplyDeleteSo what is the alternative to using labels? Let me offer: getting to know someone as an individual... listening to what they have to say... opening our eyes and hearts to their many facets... accepting their need to possibly be a different person tomorrow than they were today... I could go on... it's a lot of work - no wonder labels are used so often.
ReplyDeleteflandrumhill,
ReplyDeleteYou are so right. It's the only workable alternative, and it IS a lot of work. Very important point and I'm really glad you offered it into the discussion. Thank you.
FW, I think you'd enjoy reading a post entitled 'Nameless'at http://forestrat.wordpress.com/
ReplyDeleteas it pertains to labels and nature. I've been reading Forest Rat's blog for the past few months. He has some pretty good insights.
~Amy-Lynn
Amy-Lynn,
ReplyDeleteThank you. I really appreciate this. I'll go have a look right now. :)
Like all things, achieving balance in this takes life-long effort. Always nice to see others working at it, and helping yet more others.
ReplyDeleteSoapBoxTech,
ReplyDeleteYes, it is a life-long process. I hope the growth never stops this side of the grave. Thank you for your visit and the comment. Welcome. :)