4 ms·

Not labeling myself was something I figured out at 15/16. One thing I've never figured out it why people label themselves.

Kye 4y ago
"I don't label myself" - person who labels self with not labeling self. Labels are useful for finding community. This becomes more essential the less popular or the more marginalized you or parts of you are.
- gardenhedge 4y ago
  You could, in theory, make a label out of not labeling yourself but that isn't what we're talking about. I can see how labels are useful for finding community. One potential negative of using labels to find a community is that labels can be exclusive. For example, a label like "LGBTQ+" may exclude people who do not identify as part of that community, even if they have similar experiences or interests. This can create a sense of exclusion and may prevent people from finding the support and connection they are looking for.
  - Kye 4y ago
    LGBTQ+ (and variations) are more category than label. We combine our powers because we're all too tiny to deal with all the labels and violence foisted upon us alone. Whether you can choose one of the labels is a matter of debate within the category. For most of us, it's like breathing air for the first time: "oh, I'm not alone in this. Other people feel this way, and they've fought all these battles so I don't have to start from 0." To choose it without that experience is kind of weird, but I don't personally have a problem with it in most cases.
    - mgrthrow 4y ago
      A hundred percent this. I'm not a lesbian, but I'm going to the mat if needed to protect lesbians. We protect us.
    - gardenhedge 4y ago
      LGBTQ+ can be used as a self-imposed label. Why not?
loloquwowndueo 4y ago
Isn’t “someone who doesn’t label oneself whereas other people do” a label? :)
- gardenhedge 4y ago
  If everyone's default state is unlabled, then no, not labeling yourself isn't a label.
  - Kye 4y ago
    It's not, though. You're given all kinds of labels as you go through life whether you want it or not. If you don't act on that, you're accepting the defaults. That doesn't mean there are no labels on you.
    - gardenhedge 4y ago
      No, not everyone is labeled by default. Labels are used to describe or identify a person or group, and not everyone uses or identifies with labels. Some people may choose to use labels to describe themselves or their experiences, while others may not feel that any existing labels accurately reflect who they are. It is ultimately up to each individual to decide whether or not they want to use labels to describe themselves or their experiences.
      - Kye 4y ago
        >> "No, not everyone is labeled by default." Boy, girl, man, woman. Success, failure, virgin, slut, ice queen. Creep. I'm sure you've labeled others with at least one and possibly been labeled with one you weren't happy about that didn't fit your identity. There are so many more and you use them without thinking.
        gardenhedge 4y ago
        You've taken this discussion off course by discussing given labels. If you decide to self label as a 'creep' or 'success' then it's relevant to this thread's discussion. If people just decide to label you as a 'creep' or 'success' then it's not relevant.
bilirubin 4y ago

Kye 4y ago

"I don't label myself" - person who labels self with not labeling self. Labels are useful for finding community. This becomes more essential the less popular or the more marginalized you or parts of you are.

gardenhedge 4y ago
You could, in theory, make a label out of not labeling yourself but that isn't what we're talking about. I can see how labels are useful for finding community. One potential negative of using labels to find a community is that labels can be exclusive. For example, a label like "LGBTQ+" may exclude people who do not identify as part of that community, even if they have similar experiences or interests. This can create a sense of exclusion and may prevent people from finding the support and connection they are looking for.
- Kye 4y ago
  LGBTQ+ (and variations) are more category than label. We combine our powers because we're all too tiny to deal with all the labels and violence foisted upon us alone. Whether you can choose one of the labels is a matter of debate within the category. For most of us, it's like breathing air for the first time: "oh, I'm not alone in this. Other people feel this way, and they've fought all these battles so I don't have to start from 0." To choose it without that experience is kind of weird, but I don't personally have a problem with it in most cases.
  - mgrthrow 4y ago
    A hundred percent this. I'm not a lesbian, but I'm going to the mat if needed to protect lesbians. We protect us.
  - gardenhedge 4y ago
    LGBTQ+ can be used as a self-imposed label. Why not?

loloquwowndueo 4y ago

Isn’t “someone who doesn’t label oneself whereas other people do” a label? :)

gardenhedge 4y ago
If everyone's default state is unlabled, then no, not labeling yourself isn't a label.
- Kye 4y ago
  It's not, though. You're given all kinds of labels as you go through life whether you want it or not. If you don't act on that, you're accepting the defaults. That doesn't mean there are no labels on you.
  - gardenhedge 4y ago
    No, not everyone is labeled by default. Labels are used to describe or identify a person or group, and not everyone uses or identifies with labels. Some people may choose to use labels to describe themselves or their experiences, while others may not feel that any existing labels accurately reflect who they are. It is ultimately up to each individual to decide whether or not they want to use labels to describe themselves or their experiences.
    - Kye 4y ago
      >> "No, not everyone is labeled by default." Boy, girl, man, woman. Success, failure, virgin, slut, ice queen. Creep. I'm sure you've labeled others with at least one and possibly been labeled with one you weren't happy about that didn't fit your identity. There are so many more and you use them without thinking.
      - gardenhedge 4y ago
        You've taken this discussion off course by discussing given labels. If you decide to self label as a 'creep' or 'success' then it's relevant to this thread's discussion. If people just decide to label you as a 'creep' or 'success' then it's not relevant.

bilirubin 4y ago