Let’s All Drop Labels by da-AL

Posted on by da-AL

Video Still from Drop Labels dot org websiteFirst impressions. It’s hard to restrain myself from making snap judgments about people when I first meet them.

Worse is when I settle for my shallow analysis and end up labeling folks.

We’re all complex, all of us alike yet different from each other, so I doubt anyone appreciates my boxing them into a label. Moreover, embracing knee-jerk categorizing limits me from enjoying all the marvelous aspects of the people I meet as well as learning the really good stuff from them.

Alas, training myself to stop being an automaton seems impossible.

Not so! There’s hope, thanks to this consciousness-raising site founded by a wise new friend. Drop Labels features videos of people discussing how being labeled has hurt them. The site goes above and beyond threadbare definitions of types of labels. For instance, this man has found that he hates being labeled as ‘the man with cancer’ …

Do you label? Have you been labeled?

Published by da-AL

Happiness Between Tails blog/podcast speaks to and from the heart. It connects lovers — of pets, authors, reading — and of my still-unreleased novels. “Flamenco + the Sitting Cat” and “Tango + the Sitting Cat,” are my love letters to all who fear they're too odd, too damaged, too old, too whatever to find love and happiness with or without a partner. HappinessBetweenTails.com • ContactdaAL@gmail.com • BuyMeACoffee.com/SupportHBT

40 thoughts on “Let’s All Drop Labels by da-AL”

  1. I am going to put the cat amongst the pigeons here: I don’t think there is anything wrong with labelling people. After all it simply puts people in a category – and I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. What I think is wrong is putting a label on a person/people and then using that as a means to treat them badly or show indifference toward them. The thing that is wrong with ‘labelling’ in my view is the outcome and not the actual category in which the person is put. If for example, you categorize me as being ‘West Indian’ – that’s cool as far as I’m concerned. If I am labelled as such and then made to feel as if I’m a second class citizen – then I’ll definitely have a problem with that. The same as if you say some-one has a disability – well they have! – but the moment you start to treat them differently because of that disability – then that’s when problems arise and no-one should feel uncomfortable because they are seen as different. We could do away with labels, but this will only work if we also do away with the way we treat others in general – because this is the root of the problem as I see it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. dear Marie – if you are the cat, I am gladly the pigeon LOL – I admire how great a writer you are plus! how outspoken & diplomatic you are (as noted by your especially comical recent conversation with a blogger I won’t name here)! you make a good point. the way I see it is, around here in Los Angeles, I might be named ‘gringa’ by some, ‘latina’ by others, & ignored by others. I have no prob with any label as long as a) as you well say that one never wants to be negatively categorized — & b) as long as they don’t insist on keeping me within their limited category even when I obviously don’t fit it…

      much of my friend’s argument also depends on how one defines ‘labeling’ – boxing in vs. trying to get a handle on what sort of person one might be & what their background of experiences might encompass…

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks da-AL – yes perhaps I was being too general. With the argument being in relation to your friend’s situation then it is understandable how he (and others) might perceive being labelled. And I do feel for him and how he is impacted by it.
        Re: comical conversation – oh dear, I hope I’m not coming across as a bit of a bully on WP! haha That particular blogger knows that I’m teasing him and I think he gets my sense of humour – although I re-read to what you refer – and yes I am a bit outspoken there but very diplomatic!!!

        Liked by 1 person

  3. I’m not sure if this will ever stop but what we can do is try to speak more about being more respectful of each person & not to label them as this or that. They have names! We should address them by that.
    Nice thought provoking post, friend! 🙂

    Like

      1. Unfortunately!that s why I insist so much with my daughters about never judge a book from its cover.We unfortunately might still have some past imprinting that sometimes comes out against our will but I like to think new generations can be free of such prejudices.Have a good day😀

        Liked by 2 people

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