Labels: Friend or Foe?

Philosophy Forums Philosophy
1

Hello, all! As you may or may not know, I’m new here. Hello, again. Anyway, I just have to ask this question: Are social labels good or bad?

In my opinion, they’re good. They give people a sense of identity in this crazy world of ours. It promotes diversity. I know, sometimes labels can be cruel, but it gives us a sense that we belong to something (a group), and even makes people feel important. You know, in a “Wow, I’m part of this big group, so I must be pretty cool” type of way. (Self esteem is your friend.)

For some people, like me, labels aren’t much of a big deal. They strive to be unique in this label filled world. However, little do some people know that even they are part of a label. (Individualists, I’d like to call them.) Even those people look for people with a similar outlook on life, and in the end, they become another group. Cute? You bet. (Pardon my crazy talk.)

Hey, it’s human nature! We thrive on groups. Self esteem issues abound. It also give us a sense of identity. Hey! I’m being redundant!

Well, that’s all I have to say for now. Let me know if I’m speaking crazy talk. Thanks for your time!

2

Okay, so would you say that the bigger the group, the more accepted that would make one feel? What if we were all part of one group, that group being citizens of the universe? Would you feel accepted knowing that you were part of the largest group in the universe? What do you think about one group fighting another group? For example, the United States is a group. So is Iraq. We as the group known as the united states of america have declared war on the group known as Iraq. Our soldiers kill more people, and are killed more themselves almost every day. What about supremicist groups? Don’t you think that segregation and classification into groups can lead to bigotry? I think the world is working towards eventually not having social groups, or at least having a lot less of them. For instance, I think eventually through interacial mixing people will probably all be a milky brown color, and race will no longer be an issue by default. I think perhaps countries will unite. They may remain separate, but they will probably still unite under a global government that brings them together. The U.N. is the beginning of this.

What do you think?

3

Well! Let’s see now… I was trying to say that labels are good because they’re part of helping people identify with themselves. Also, as far as the interracial mixing goes, I slightly doubt that countries will unite. (Hey, religion is still a factor. Some countries are a bit religious.) It’s possible, though. Then again, for all I (or we) know, everything will just merge together perfectly in a very tasty peanut butter and jelly form. (Oh! And don’t forget about different governmental views! They could blend a little bit, but in the end, there’s going to some type of conflict.)

The racial issue, can’t be deleted. I say, no matter what. (But then again, by race, do you mean a nationality in general, or cultural stuff?) If you mean nationality, it’s possible to have that out of the picture. But I say some cultures will just blend, but still be seperate in their own special way. ^-^

Now as far as me knowing about how I feel towards classification… Well, keeping everything seperated does lead to war, death, and unjust things, but (from what I see), it’s mostly just because a certain group wants to (1) spread their ideal or (2) get noticed and (3) maybe to even make themselves feel special.

If it makes them feel good, let them do their thing. There’s just about nothing we can do about it. It’s really hard to change a person’s ideals or attitude/lifestyle. (And don’t forget about those stereotypes!) Like I said, self esteem is the matter, here. People want to feel good about their choices, even if they make other people feel like crap. (This also go towards your supremicist and war questions.)

And as far as “the bigger the group is” question goes, I say size doesn’t matter. (I used the word big as an example. Then again, people think of the word “big” differently.) If you feel that you’re a part of something you can relate to, you’ll feel good.

That’s all for now! Mew mew. Kitty.

4

I wish you had called the term “belonging”. Labeling is a rather negative social term. Labeling is used to distinguish us from them. I am, they are… It invites exclusive thinking and behavior, which isn’t exactly in short supply in our society. While I’m sure that there are positive labels out there, most of them aren’t. Consider: pacifist, environmentalist, feminist, liberal, conservative, … Have you ever seen these labels used in a negative way? So much for self esteem. If I belong to a certain group then there may be warm fuzzies even if people outside our group try to attach negative labels. Belonging is inclusive and very few people would have a problem with belonging. Being stuck with a label, well, that’s different.

JT

5

But, how do you define a label? Is it the perception that others develop of you? Is it how you categorise yourself? Is it surveying certain “groups” and working out which one in which you fit? A label seems to imply that it is a word or a category already in use, which means that you are identifying yourself with others. Doesn’t this mean that in trying to gain a sense of identity, you would be losing your personal sense of individuality?

6

Are we discussing labeling others or labeling yourself? Labeling others means that you’re defining who they are to you, as in relative to you. Someone I label as a friend, may be someone elses foe. All the same labeling myself is personal, I may label myself “uncool” but someone else may think that I’m “cool”. Labeling and belonging are two very different things. Belonging is pretty defined, having to do with the relationships between people, exterior signs of it, and how people accept one another. Labeling is a purely mental exercise. Rarely do we express our labels verbally or behaviorally, how we really feel them, when we do doesn’t it cross over into the belonging term? If I feel someone who I label as a “foe” doesn’t belong with me, I’ll interact with them adversely, or not at all.

7

The word/symbol of “Label” is not specifically good or bad. It gains these connotations as a result of good/poor use. Its not the tool, its how you use it, right? Labels such as genre-labels for music help one find similar music, but at the same time, they can pigeonhole some musician/s with a label that does him/her/them no justice. Labels serve communication. Will you commune to reach possible truths or end up at a dead end because you have relied too heavily upon the label?

8

Kiwi Saotome, I noticed you’re from Chicago. Hello from Bloomington/Normal, IL. Welcome to the forum.