I have seen an enormous use of LABELS recently.

First let us talk about the labels. Here are a few labels-

Democrat, Republican, Independent, Libertarian, Liberal, Conservative, Anarchist, Communist, Fascist, Left wing, Right wing, Terrorist, Racist, Tea Bagger, Obamabot, Patriots, Birthers etc etc etc

I have discussed this recently with several people on threads, U2U’s, and with friends. It seems that labels are used for many different purposes. Mainly to give something a name for some purpose, usually so you can do something with it. Like labeling a box of dishes so you can find them later.

There is another purpose for the use of labels, to put people in a BOX , to defame, to demean amongst other purposes.

A box is separable, it is definable, and it is controllable. For an example; labeling veterans, home schoolers and right wingers TERRORISTS. Now you have control of that box. Every time someone mentions a home school couple now you will think TERRORIST. Anything that you repeatedly see affiliated with the label terrorist you will automatically put it into that box. You can separate it from everything and everyone else. You can control everyone you put into that box by just mentioning that label.

Numerous people, including me, here at ATS are guilty of using labels for many purposes.

As an example, what do you think of when I put these three labels together Patriots/Birthers/Teabaggers. Did you think maybe racists, terrorists, or maybe revolutionaries? The seeds are out there and they are growing. You are meant to affiliate anyone they put in their box, with terrorists or revolutionaries.

You have seen it on the news, you have seen it on the web, hell you have seen it here.

I vow right now to quit using labels, how about you? You can remove yourself from that box by seeing the box. You can call out other people for using those labels and tell them to quit putting you into that box.

They use it for divide, they use it to control, they use it to define and they use it to conquer.

Now; let’s talk about that BOX.

You have been placed in a box your whole life. When you were in school they separated you into different boxes and you put yourself into boxes(clichés). You were trained not to want to get out of your box. The box keeps you safe, it keeps you warm, and it keeps you sane. People are afraid to get out of their boxes now, they do not even want to know they are in a box or that the box exists.

Right now, I vow to try not to label others and I also vow to think outside that box. It is a scary proposition, I know, when I started here I thought there was no damn way I have liberal leanings. I was wrong, and thanks to a couple people here, I was able to see outside my box and it was not so scary.

Do you vow to think outside YOUR box, how about taking a walk around out here, it is not so bad.

Any thoughts outside that box?



edit grammar

[edit on 1/6/2010 by endisnighe]

Did they really know we would split up into "Goths, punks, jocks, etc." or was this just a creation from human diversity? How about the split of races, and language barriers?

How was it all started, that is my question.

I dont deny your truth

For years I have been trying to break out of the box. My brother is one that loves boxes. Loves labels. It might be his way of thinking. The compartmentalization of things is his deal. Organization and such. I love him to death.

When him and I discuss politics, his favorite thing to do is to generalize and place me into a box with a glossy label. Which just gives me ammunition, but none the less, it is frustrating that if opposing ideas are presented, I am instantly placed into a lot, just because that lot has a semblance of what I think.

I know I am guilty of placing labels from time to time, although I strive really hard to stray away from generalizations and broad paint strokes.

The large reason I work really hard to not generalize, label and place people into boxes is, I do not know all their thoughts. I do not know all their politics, dreams, aspirations, or lives.

How can we label people when we only know a small inkling of information? Yet, Mankind will continue to do so...today, tomorrow and a hundred years from now. (I cannot foresee the future, but path we are on know, I do not see it going away any time soon )

Originally posted by endisnighe
Right now, I vow to try not to label others and I also vow to think outside that box. It is a scary proposition, I know, when I started here I thought there was no damn way I have liberal leanings. I was wrong, and thanks to a couple people here, I was able to see outside my box and it was not so scary.

I'm really glad to hear this. It's enough to make me start reading your posts again. I admit I started skipping over them a while ago.

I have many friends whose beliefs are different than mine because I believe we're all people and our beliefs are just like clothes we wear or the car we drive. There's no reason to hate people who are different than us of who fit under a different label.

Good luck with this!

Didnt Hitler teach the politicians to put "all" their enemies in one box and give them all one name then teach the people to hate that bunch. We see this today with the word terrorists.

I try not to define the individual that way, but I am sure I have been guilty of it.
I think a person can be defined by their ideology as it pertains to the relevant subject, but they can be much more than, say, a "collectivist" or a "conservative." The might actually be human. I wouldn't assume that....

Heck, they might not even know WHAT they are, or what they are advocating. But someone will make it simple for them and tell them what they are! They may think they are doing that person a favor.

The world is a complicated place and there are a lot of people that want others to analyze and define it for them. These people "trust" some talking head to tell them what box they should put "Joe the plumber" in, for example.

So, no, it won't go away. We can choose to be civil, however.

Originally posted by endisnighe


I have experienced the same but in the other "direction". I see that my previous ideas are not always correct when put into action and I still some of my ideas as good.
What I finally see is much of this is a matter of perception of control, what may give you more control may in fact infringe on your control in some other way, in some other unforeseen manner.

The unfortunate thing is this realization does not create better answers, only better questions.

I am glad to have met so many people with contrary views, it has expanded my mind
and distilled my values... Thanks OP

Really nice post. However there is the small minority of us that don't care about the label nor it's conotations, no matter what they are. When I was younger, in the 70's and 80's, if I'd have been called some of the things that I'm labeled today, I'd have been mortified. However, those same labels today are a mere ghost of what they were in the past. Miss use and professional victims have changed all of that.
They serve to seperate and conquer as you pointed out, yet to some they have no meanings. I know in my own life, I know who I am, what I believe, and what I value, someone living outside of it can label me anything they want.........I'm me.