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Originally posted by LesMisanthrope
So far, along the fairly uneventful path to my ultimate end,
when I reflect on my seemingly multi-faceted persona, I become completely aware that these labels do not define me at all, and to arrive at a conclusion of “what I am” would be utterly impossible.
The very concept of the label—some sort of name tag that identifies or defines who I am, as if I was a product of some assembly line, or some abstract idea—is absolutely absurd.
The Aristotelean logic involved in deciding whether I am either this or that, either A or B or either A or not A, is completely ridiculous. How does one decide what he is when he’s varying degrees of all things? I am both A and B. I am both A and not A. I am not white or black, but varying degrees of both and many colors. I am not man or animal, but varying degrees of both. I am not hot or cold, but somewhere in between. I am everything.
I have to chuckle when someone declares: “this is what I am!” like he’s ready to become a martyr and die for a flag, a mere classification. He would die for an idea, a fleeting thought, simply because he has the sheer arrogance to believe he is this classification.
I understand that classification has its utility. It enables others to turn you into something less abstract and chaotic for the purposes of their own understanding. They vivisect your personality and label all of the pieces. Then they sew you back together into some frankenstein of your former self. You become something fragmented to them, something not real; and with your labels you are bestowed all of the baggage they come with, as if you were guilty by association.
If you make the mistake of believing these identifiers, or worse yet you become your own label, immediately stop and reflect. You aren’t your labels, you are an unclassifiable ambiguity to which no one has the right to distinguish—not even yourself.
Are you a defender of your labels?
Originally posted by LesMisanthrope
Are you a defender of your labels?
Originally posted by MrJohnSmith
reply to post by LesMisanthrope
[mo
Excellent post....labels just serve to de-personalise, and only serve to assist individuals / authorities in making assumptions about you, often erroneous. Even more sinister, it helps online advertisers target you, based on any information they have....
Originally posted by LesMisanthrope
reply to post by satron
Which label would you become a martyr for first? out of curiosity...
Originally posted by LesMisanthrope
reply to post by satron
By that do you mean put my being in harms way for an idea? No.
Originally posted by MrJohnSmith
reply to post by satron
By interacting with people as little as possible. I, m happy with my own company most of the time.
Originally posted by b3l13v3
reply to post by satron
And in thus, we can see one whom labels in fruition, and isn't the best at doing so.
You never did address my post, by the way.
Originally posted by satron
Originally posted by LesMisanthrope
reply to post by satron
By that do you mean put my being in harms way for an idea? No.
I meant it in the same way you meant it when you asked me, label or idea.
You wouldn't even do it to save your relative or child?
How do you know that you aren't putting yourself in harms way for an idea now? I say this because I think it's absurd for someone to think that they live without labels. At the very least, there would be a communication break down between you and other people.
Originally posted by LesMisanthrope
A relative or child is something tangible. An idea is not.
It would be impossible to not classify things. It is an optimization of language. I never said I live without labels, I just don't defend them with my life, or even any anger whatsoever, because they aren't true.
Are you the labels you prescribe to yourself? or the ones that others give you?
Originally posted by b3l13v3
reply to post by satron
In short, yes.
Mainly because I'm wondering if you're speaking in a cryptic language, being the unlikely situation - or if you're deliberately not making sense.
Either way quite entertaining.
Originally posted by satron
Originally posted by LesMisanthrope
A relative or child is something tangible. An idea is not.
Yeah but if you want to save your child, what is you're reason? Love? Is that tangible in a world where labels are absurd?
It would be impossible to not classify things. It is an optimization of language. I never said I live without labels, I just don't defend them with my life, or even any anger whatsoever, because they aren't true.
So you still want labels, you're just arguing for a crayon box with less variably hued crayons?
Are you the labels you prescribe to yourself? or the ones that others give you?
I'm an arguer and I'm a person that would like to see utility in ideas.