Labels....
I have issues with labels. I think people who label themselves as something are annoying. Now this brings up a touchy thing, that people feel the need to "call me" on. There is a difference between calling myself a bitch in a situation as in "Man, I was a total bitch to Tony today" or when talking about a situation, and saying "Well, I would have said xxx, because I can be a bitch like that" is TOTALLY different. It doesnt bother me when people do that, hell, I do it. What I have issues with is people who DEFINE themselves by their label. Who will constantly walk around and say "Watch out for me, I'm a bitch" It's not so much as what they say, it's how they try to constantly personify the label, some going so far to do whats unnatural to them to personify it. People who will only do or say certain things because they are trying to live up to it. They make the label their personality. Be it a bitch, a funny person, a smarty pants, the earth mother, the punk, the crafty one. Etc. Now sometimes, there is a certain personality that a person has, and it natural comes out. That's ok too. If someone is naturally an earth mother, or was raised that way, then fine. I realize that my reasoing has many, many holes and exceptions to the rule.
I just feel that labels can be very restricting. And although quite common and normal in the teen crowd, I find it down right sad in an adult. Take for instance, I see myself as a geek/nerd. That's because my personality is naturally that way. I like computer games, I have online friends, I read a lot, etc. But, I don't allow my "nerdiness" if you will, define every comment I make, or force it upon others to recognize my nerdiness. Although I will say something like "I'm a nerd" I don't allow it define me. Because i am SO much more. I am a mother, a wife, a bit rude, smart, funny, moody, etc. And I am those things when the situation calls for it.
Maybe I am not making sense. Maybe some would say "Get over it, they're adjectives" whatever.
A person could be have a decent job, work hard, never late, and provides for their family perfectly. The instant label would be "Upstanding citizen" but that same person could beat their dog, smoke crack, lock their kids in the closet for punishment, and look at child pornography. Or you could have a person who is homeless, dirty, smelly, no job, no money, but, be the nicest person on the planet. Give their shirt of their backs for whoever needed it. Doesnt ahve a job because they dont need much out of life. My point is that human beings are too complex to be ONE thing. Hell, we're too complex to be like just FIVE things.
I worry about labeling kids. If you label your child, you could very much be choosing, inadvertantly, their path in life. My parents had ONE label for us growing up. I was the "quiet" one. The one that would only get anywhere in life if I joined the Army to straighten me out, and helped me grow a backbone. My sister was the "smart" one. The one who would work in the business world, always get good grades, and therfore "make it" Bobo was the "jock" This is all we heard all our lives, and look how it defined our lives. Pretty true huh? When people label their kids, they arent allowing them to grow other aspects of their lives.
I just feel that labels can be very restricting. And although quite common and normal in the teen crowd, I find it down right sad in an adult. Take for instance, I see myself as a geek/nerd. That's because my personality is naturally that way. I like computer games, I have online friends, I read a lot, etc. But, I don't allow my "nerdiness" if you will, define every comment I make, or force it upon others to recognize my nerdiness. Although I will say something like "I'm a nerd" I don't allow it define me. Because i am SO much more. I am a mother, a wife, a bit rude, smart, funny, moody, etc. And I am those things when the situation calls for it.
Maybe I am not making sense. Maybe some would say "Get over it, they're adjectives" whatever.
A person could be have a decent job, work hard, never late, and provides for their family perfectly. The instant label would be "Upstanding citizen" but that same person could beat their dog, smoke crack, lock their kids in the closet for punishment, and look at child pornography. Or you could have a person who is homeless, dirty, smelly, no job, no money, but, be the nicest person on the planet. Give their shirt of their backs for whoever needed it. Doesnt ahve a job because they dont need much out of life. My point is that human beings are too complex to be ONE thing. Hell, we're too complex to be like just FIVE things.
I worry about labeling kids. If you label your child, you could very much be choosing, inadvertantly, their path in life. My parents had ONE label for us growing up. I was the "quiet" one. The one that would only get anywhere in life if I joined the Army to straighten me out, and helped me grow a backbone. My sister was the "smart" one. The one who would work in the business world, always get good grades, and therfore "make it" Bobo was the "jock" This is all we heard all our lives, and look how it defined our lives. Pretty true huh? When people label their kids, they arent allowing them to grow other aspects of their lives.