Philosophy behind Labeling
In this crazy world where people label people into zillions of categories, Jay Krieger discusses his philosophy behind it, why we do that, and what we can do about it.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
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18 comments:
You made a good point... our flaw is we are human beings wanting to be accepted and feel hurt when we feel we are rejected.
'Tis life.
Jay, thank you for sharing your philosophy of labeling. We need to always be aware of the impact of labeling - both good and bad.
For those who may be interested in reading more about labels, here is the link to a post we wrote about labeling in the mental health field.
http://www.ascdeaf.com/blog/?p=65
Thank you, Mr. Krieger. I don't need anyone to label me. I don't want many labels. I don't need them. I want two labels. I am woman and Deaf. Oh wait a minute, I do have a name. My name is Penny. Perhaps I have other labels for my personal issues. But again, I don't need to add more labels to fit in with elite Deaf clannish, to seek acceptance in Deaf community, to seek recognition or adulation from anyone. I don't need it. If I accept myself and I am happy with who I am then this is enough for me. If others feel two labels are not enough for them then sure they can add more labels to feel good about themselves. I have no problem with this. However, no one has right to tell me that I need to label myself this and that. Or I should not say this and that too. No one! I own myself.
Jay (Wow! I already labeled you Jay, just kidding). You have a very good point. Yes, many people label other people. We have to be careful how we think when we label. I believe it should always be positive labeling. But it isn't. What you said in vlog, is very true because I faced it many times. Do I give up or escape from it? Nah. I am not wimp or a big baby. I am old enough to accept it and face it. When I face it, I learn a lot. If I don't face it, how can I learn? I would be ignorant if I don't face it then end up left alone.
Thank you for sharing with us.
People label to categorize or divide our social world into us and them, ingroups, and outgroups. This is discussed in Social Psychology as "delegitimization," an extreme form of categorization. I was supposed to do couple vlogs related to this such as prejudice and such, no time. I'm pinching myself to dive into grad studies so I will not publish/post very much. Your advice of shrugging it off is revisited to my original stance.
The devil in me says this movement from the cheerleaders will fail anyway. Irrelevant to the eyes of many, but to the individual. Thanks.
Well said, Jay. It will never be solved in a long time. Especially, the famous people. They will have to live with it. For instance, look at Anna Nicole Smith's Mom. Her Mom will have to live with all the bad press and the troubled relationship with Anna. Especially, Anna's Mom as herself.
If we all know that Jane Fernandes got fired from Gallaudet, how can we know her and her history in the long-run years? We are in the small deaf community. I feel like we ALL already Jane Fernandes' history in the long-run years.
Therefore, bad labeling can be NEVER solved.
Make sense, huh?
White Ghost
Thank you, Jan, for discussing your philosophy on labelling. More than not are people wont to negatively label other people. Therefore, I sincerely hope that your philosophy will help heighten the awareness amongst those who need to modify their behaviours;
that is: changing from negative labelling to positive labelling.
Jean Boutcher
Good philosophy, Jay!
It made me remember my youth days...
I'd watch famous female singers like Patty Smith, who weren't confirming to the society norms and I loved them! ;)
Is that negative labelism - an attempt of avoiding labelism, but to no avail...because young girls like me wanted to follow them with "no label".
No such thing as "no label", eh?
Interesting rambling!
Everyone loves to picturesque (label) individual too! :) What else? :)
After all, we are human!! ;)
I started my own labeling of myself - beautiful, smart, entrepreneur, fit, and outgoing. When another person says something off like I'm fat, I would offer non-commital acknowledgement. I think it has to do with being older and wiser and being content that affects how you react to "labeling". Yes?
Jay, you brought up an excellent point that is part of who we are based on the socioeconomic structure, biology, and more. We cannot avoid such labelism, we only learn to accept or resist what others perceive us and vice versa when we do label someone.
Labeling has been arounds for eons even since either caveman or Adam/Eve times depending on which direction you believe in. And it'll continue into the future. I think it's part of humanity---the need to create a norm or niche where we could identify ourselves and fall under a certain category. Like you said, the labeling goes on until one person left, that's me (unless I have a twin! ha).
We all gotta to live with it regardless and history will continue label dead people like George Washington, Charles Manson, and Marilyn Monroe.
Insightful rambling there...
A while ago I watched a movie, Hotel Rwanda, about two African tribes fighting. One tribe wanted to exterminate the other. I thought about it after the movie. Suppose they did succeed in wiping out the other tribe, there will still be more labeling within that tribe and a new set of challenges develop for them.
Actually they were one big group until the Belgians colonized them and split them into two groups according to their physical appearance. They gave one tribe more power. After they left, the one with less power became angry and frustrated and fought back.
So interesting how the impact of labeling can affect us.
todos la vie,
Hey I like your approach -- you choose what labels you want. That is very positive attitude, and you will feel good, and will try to live to the labels in a positive way.
Todos, be sure to have a shredder handy for the labels ya wanna chuck or send 'em on to Jay for his perusal and discovery of what makes you who you are. Lol, nevermind me, just rambling here, too.
dt,
I didn't understand it until I had to sign it in ASL. That's an ASL joke, isn't it? Some things are better said in ASL!
oh yes. u have a lot of point about labeling on people sometime i dont' understand people try to be LABELING ON PEOPLE! but TO ME i dont' really labeling them i just look at them get idea who they are know what i am not try to mean LABELING for who they are i just see that's their personality as get idea who they are i dont' blame for who they are if they want to be labeling theirself or myself or yourself. by the way u are right it's just HUMAN being. honest i labeling ANYONE IN THE WORLD is HUAMN period! if other stuff it's just personality we must be respect i can't blame that people who try to be COOLER AS MAKE PEOPLE LOOK AT THEM AS THEY THINK BEST........... but............. i don't care same thing u said when people give me name or labeling i just laugh and let it off it's won't be like DUCT TAPE! it's can be cheap tape not strong to labeling as price stamp on items. u know what i mean? get idea. yes u are right.
When an individual finally opens up to the inner truth within themselves, knowing and honoring that Divine spark,& honestly lives the truth within where "ego" has no place...the labeling will cease except among the ones who are in the dark. This truth within is a challenge for most people to acknowledge with understanding due to the various dogma among us globally, you could say it all began with choices of good and bad. It is as simple as that; yet made so complicated among the complexities...God bless you!
Man!... Very true ..Whew.. I have been through this for years as a victim and am still and will always be.. Thats not fair. But most importantly, I learn to dealt with it and just simply ignore and lead my life the way I want it to be for my own self.. We are role models for our youths so everyone need to wake up and do their job better than "labeling" others .. Some are good..some are bad.. We are humans, come on!.. Yeah good point , Jay!
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