Labels
Pascal has a very interesting and uncharacteristically terse post here about labels.
He’s damned right, too. We HAVE to have labels, to identify ourself. And some of those labels can do us as much harm as they do good. Conservative. Liberal. Gun nut. SF reader. Trekkie. Lawyer.
labels have varying degrees of accuracy, and no matter what label we attach to ourself, we can find some part of that label we can disagree with. And do.
What labels do you present to the world? which do you shun in others?
The turmoil in my own mind that drove me to write so much this month still has me stymied.
Multiple disloyalties and betrayals in Washington got me to thinking how I would love to see some new labels or wish the meanings of the old labels restored. Just so I’d know who to root for.
Of course, were wishes horses, paupers would ride. Also, many clowns would drown.
Wow. That’s a good one Og.
Labels? Well, conservative. Pro-military. Pro-gun. Sales”man” (which actually turns out to be a negative one, imagine that!)
What I shun in others? That, actually is kind of embarrassing to admit. If someone calls themselves a Liberal I tend to take a step back. Also a self proclaimed preacher – I’m waaayyyy back. Actually – I tend to avoid spending quality time with ANYONE that gives THEMSELVES a label the leans towards them being an “expert”.
I’m not a big fan of Self Appointment…..
Hmmm.
Labels are necessary, but one ought to be wary of them. After all, it says right here on Arlen Specter’s label, “Law-and-Order conservative Republican.” And it says on John Kerry’s label, “Decorated war veteran.”
As Bill Whittle put it, the territory, not the map.
Me? ::shrug:: Libertarian. Conservative. I like Milton Friedman’s line, “I’m a small-l libertarian and a capital-R Republican.”
I don’t really like to parse my social acquaintances according to stereotypes. I see labels as handy ways of pigeonholing the unknown. But the known, I prefer to treat as individuals.
SWMBO, for example, is a ’60s radical, anti-war activist, pro-choice, and so-forth. But she’s also very much anti-government, hates high taxes, understands and sympathizes with the plight of businessmen, believes in parental responsibility, and finds great value in a Catholic-school education.
The labels there would seem to be useless in understanding my wife as an individual.
M
My label says “Do Not Disturb”
“lick this”
Chou: I thought that was a tattoo and not a label.
Ouch!
THAT tattoo would hurt…
Yeah, maybe so, but in the right spot…
My label?
“Keep off the grass”