[Dark_Dreams]

What on earth do they mean?

So often people will say, "Labels are not important", "You are more than a label", etc, but in the end, what label is given to you matters more than you know. If you don't have a certain label you are not worth the time or energy of others. If you do not have a label or posses the wrong label, you just don't understand what someone else is going through or you do not belong in certain places.

What is so important about stupid labels anyway? I don't understand.

[Umbral_Seraph]

Labels are there so we can be categorized, grouped together, define "normal" and have predefined expectations of who/what we are based on that label.

I think labels help comfort people by showing that you're not alone; there are others with the same label.

I find I do not understand why people find label so important; I've had plenty of problems because of my gender/race/economic status, and I've always thought What does that have to do with anything?

[Dark_Dreams]

For some, labels may comfort them by letting them know they are not alone and that sort of thing. The problem is that for some people, labels show just how alone you are or how much you do not fit in with whatever some definition of normal is.

[Umbral_Seraph]

Yes, labels can indeed do that.
It is kind of a paradox; everyone wishes to be unique but still fit in entirely.
The concept of what is normal is purely subjective.

[Fresia]

I can't subscribe to labels. They are too general and there is more to someone and something than a one word or few word category. You should see what a hard time I have with my filing system.

They pass judgement to easily and too quickly when they get used. It doesn't take in the whole picture and many factors get dismissed in the process, and depending on what descriptive is used, it can be very harmful.

Such as, on an application I filled out recently, it wanted to know, "Are you considered disabled?" The label of 'Disabled'....not completely, in some areas I have a handicap-yes, how it pertains to what I was applying for-no, so how do I respond to this label?

I heard someone the other day call someone "lazy". I happen to know the person is undergoing chemo and it has wiped them out; they aren't lazy. I corrected him but the other person left sooner than I had a chance to correct this so what will stick in the back of their mind? They may not take heed but it will be remembered in some form, could come up at a later date in some form.

I get wary of labels when they are used. They are not all encompassing and if even they do fit to a small degree, one aspect of something or someone by being actually correct, it cannot take into account everything.

[Suratji]

I think labels are just shortcuts for us to be able to understand in some tiny way the world around us. Where they are problematic is when we believe a label that is hurtful or painful. Or we apply a label that causes pain or hurt. Knowing that we do engage in such behavior, I believe, is a step in being aware and possibly more authentic. And we will cease being hurt by labels other people use.

[Dark_Dreams]

I completely understand the need for labels sometimes. It's a way of creating community and finding people with similar interests and that sort of thing. The problem I have with labels is when I can clearly see that I do not possess the proper label to fit in anywhere. Or because of the labels I do possess, I cannot be a part of a particular group.

It turns out that no matter what I may be able to offer, I am excluded. I do not feel like I belong because I do not have a particular label or specifically have the wrong label or no label at all in certain situations.

[Uprwestsdr]

Consider this: we are much more than any label someone hangs on us. I'm a recovering alcoholic ... ok, well I'm also a friend, a professional, dog lover, New Yorker and a someone who eats too much ice cream.

You don't have to incorporate the label into your life, you don't have to tell anyone else about the label, you can walk out the door and leave it at home. It's a word, nothing more. Sometimes, when problems arise, it becomes more important because we have to take action to deal with it. But don't let it define you.

[ahhhlily]

"If you don't have a certain label you are not worth the time or energy of others." That seems true a lot of times, but it really isn't. People are so used to blending in and being a part of a group. But you don't have to be a sheep in the herd. That's what makes people become so fake! Meeting someone who is actually themselves is refreshing to others. You should embrace who YOU are, not who everyone else is.

[FlowerofScotland]

I agree with most of what the others have said, all in different ways, yes some people may find comfort if they've been trying to figure out what they think is wrong with them and then get an answer. I on the other hand only have one label, my name.
Sometimes we can be given several and end up even more confused or more different or even less "normal" than others.
I've seen with other people, a doctor gives them a label and that's the end of it - that's what's wrong - deal with it type thing.
It is how you feel yourself, within yourself not what someone else thinks your label should be.
Sorry if I've rambled on, I don't explain things very well at times.

[Umbral_Seraph]

Of course, not all labels are bad. Many such as Phd, MD, LPC, PE etc, denotes a person's academic/professional accomplishments/training and can be a large part of who you are (especially with men). It's a problem, though, when that label is the only thing that defines you.

[Nemo39122]

I think people like labels partially because they want to belong to something. Also to be able to know alot about someone sometimes from just a word or two, instead of having to get to know them. For example, whats easier: saying a diagnosis or talking about all the symptoms you've ever experienced?

Just my theory.

[trixielou]

i dont know how many people have told me "your different" they will not say what they mean i dont even know if they know what they mean i suspect its something like a lot of people try to act like something theyre not & i dont do that what ya see is what ya get no apologies then in a way people know my dads side of the family has a history of mental illness & one time a friend said she talked with our other friend about it & they thought i had mental issues theyre friends so they can get away with it plus they were sayin it in a concerned way not a making fun of my family way it used to make me feel like i was less than around others but now i hold my head up high & im me plus im a child of the most high God & i know who i am in Christ Jesus

[trixielou]

i really like its better to be hated for who you are than be loved for who your not i heard that on a van zant album the song that says daddy was a hillbilly scholar blue collar of a man i was just thinkin theres people who r 40 & still just have their cliques like theyre still in high school it would really suck to live life in such a small box so many people do anything buy whatever to try & protect an image & look at me im so together type thing when lots of times in reality theyre falling apart ive found being me & being kind to everyone is much better than being fake & snubbin people u think r less than cuz in the end in life u miss out on the whole thing & that to me is the most saddest thing. dunno if saddest is a word but i like it better but anyways it just dawned on me how sad it would be to never get out of that & one day ur in the last third of ur life & its all been so shallow when its sposed to be like a rich compost i just got done with Bible reading for the nite i start thinkin deeply about stuff & get inspired in my heart