47 lines
2.2 KiB
Markdown
47 lines
2.2 KiB
Markdown
---
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layout: post
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title: "On labels"
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date: 2018-06-15
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---
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#### Another double edged philosophy
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Labels are great. They help organise things, like files. They underpin organisation and sorting systems. Categorisation.
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Labels get tricky when applied to things that defy categorisation. People.
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On the one hand, labeling people is super handy. Provided that the label is accurate — and the only way to guarantee that is if it is self applied. For example I label myself a ‘gearhead’ because it’s a convenient way to convey an area of my interests.
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Labels help like minded people find each other. Help communities form. They are used to convey, in some small way, who we are. A bio with a bunch of labels tells much more - after all a label is just a certain kind of symbol.
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Labels help. But only when they are not used to reinforce the oh so pervasive ‘Us vs Them’ mentality.
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You can’t sort people by labels, even those they’ve proudly stuck on themselves.
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Recognising that people are different and categorising them are worlds apart. Because one depends on seeing the person first, and the other the labels first.
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I see people, not tags.
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As far as luck goes I’ve got a pretty good lot. And I’m trying to be mindful enough to be grateful for it.
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But gratitude won’t do. I am trying to become an Ally to those less fortunate. I’m still working on being better at it — but that’s Life , I suppose.
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On a separate but related note as it were, I have a new label for myself.
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I am hetroflexible. Maybe even bi. The truth is I’m not quite sure.
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‘Confused’ feels like the most valid label, but I’m concerned that it would be interpreted as ‘making light’ of a serious issue. For want of a better word. Anyway!
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Am I leveraging that declaration to make a point? Yes, a little bit. Is it justified? I think so.
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Because my point is thus:
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Us. Never *Them*.* *Remember the person.
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With one exception. Which I suppose is the real double bladed part of the philosophy. Almost hypocritical. But you should be used to that by now.
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Anyway. The exception. Those that wield labels like weapons. See themselves as better than anyone else.** **To them I say…
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**Fuck Off**
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