Intelligence?

[Kinky-Princess]

There is somehting I have never been able to understand. Why do we have to place lables on everything? I realize that we need to identify certain things in our lives because it would be pretty awkward to describe most items as that thingy that does that one thing and then stops. Why must we lable people? He's black-she's white-he's gay-she's straight...the moment you slap a lable on someone it colors how you perceive them right away.

Well the brain automatically categorizes things in (puts them into schemas) to better store and then retrieve the information.The brain does this from a very Young age.
That doesn't explain why feel the need to label people.
I think We lable people or put them into a categories in order to try and explain them. People are afraid of things they don't understand,and we lable them in an attempt to reduce our own fear and uncertainty. People don't like to feel even the slightest bit uncomfortable so if we can label people and stereotype their behavior,it makes people more comfortable. We can just explain some ones behavoir being difrent from ours by saying they act that way because they are gay,white, a punk or an artist or whatever the lable might be.

 

[lady*laura]

Too often the lable gets in the way and you don't get to see the real person.

 

[Guest]

Well the brain automatically categorizes things in (puts them into schemas) to better store and then retrieve the information.The brain does this from a very Young age.
That doesn't explain why feel the need to label people.
I think We lable people or put them into a categories in order to try and explain them. People are afraid of things they don't understand,and we lable them in an attempt to reduce our own fear and uncertainty. People don't like to feel even the slightest bit uncomfortable so if we can label people and stereotype their behavior,it makes people more comfortable. We can just explain some ones behavoir being difrent from ours by saying they act that way because they are gay,white, a punk or an artist or whatever the lable might be.

I think we label people in fear of inaquedacies in ourselves. We want to see how much better we are than other people. Society has deemed that we must be different and it is a good thing to be different. Well there are times when being different isn't a good thing and the need for community of likenesses is needed. I totally agree with you Kinky-Princess. I think we as a society need to take a long look at ourselves and stop accepting the fact that so and so is different because of this or that, instead let's focus on our likenesses. I think if you find something in someone that you have in common with them a bond is formed. The strength of that bond depends on how much you are willing to put into it and make that bond grow.

J

 

[Gypsybyrd]

There is somehting I have never been able to understand. Why do we have to place lables on everything? I realize that we need to identify certain things in our lives because it would be pretty awkward to describe most items as that thingy that does that one thing and then stops. Why must we lable people? He's black-she's white-he's gay-she's straight...the moment you slap a lable on someone it colors how you perceive them right away.

We are an information-based society. Labels provide information. We want the most amount of information in the shortest amount of time. Therefore, we lable everything. I was in Ireland in 2004. An Irish friend commented to me that we Americans have a strong habit of labeling everything. For example, many couples in the U.S. have 'date nights.' My friend looked at me and said 'Date night? Why not just say you went out with your sig other?' I think he has/d a point.

Of course - look above - I've used labels here. 'My Irish friend' & 'we Americans' ... these labels were descrpitors. They provided information not otherwise available. The labels to you I'm from the U.S. and I made a friend while visiting Ireland - and he is Irish. This info was conveyed in a short about of space.

We are also a story-based society. Maybe not as much of one as other cultures - but we love our stories. Labels and descriptors help tell the story. They give a frame of reference for the listeners. The labels flesh out the story and give it color. The use of labels becomes a habit & flows over into everyday non-storytelling life.

I *do* think we go over board with our labels. And we mislabel all the time. Perhaps we should take more care with what we speak and write. As Minn said ... identifying commonalities would bring cohesiveness to our societies.

 

[Dhalgren150]

Can we ever say we know another person?

Friends, we have and make, but do we in truth ever really know them?

 

[lady*laura]

Can we ever say we know another person?

Friends, we have and make, but do we in truth ever really know them?

I was thinking along those lines myself. I feel I am in tune with my partner and yet do I really truly know him?

 

[Dhalgren150]

I was thinking along those lines myself. I feel I am in tune with my partner and yet do I really truly know him?

maybe it is not that we do not know them, but more like they change and we do not sense it, or see it, then the un- imaginable happens.. and we think.. damn did we veer really know this person.

 

[Gypsybyrd]

maybe it is not that we do not know them, but more like they change and we do not sense it, or see it, then the un- imaginable happens.. and we think.. damn did we veer really know this person.

I think it's more like we know everything we can know at any given time but somethings don't come out until circumstances converge. Even the other person thinks their partner/friends knows them as well as can be ... right up until a situation presents itself.

 

[lady*laura]

It's amazing though- how my partner can anticipate my desires...so perhpas we really know each other in the ways that really matter.

 

[Dhalgren150]

I think it's more like we know everything we can know at any given time but somethings don't come out until circumstances converge. Even the other person thinks their partner/friends knows them as well as can be ... right up until a situation presents itself.

humm you have had this happen also I see.

things like this tend to color our outlook.. do they not?

 

[Dhalgren150]

It's amazing though- how my partner can anticipate my desires...so perhpas we really know each other in the ways that really matter.

you are a lucky lady.

and I wish always for the best for you.

hold tight to what you have.

 

[asian_princess]

... the thread's title was mocking me...so i thought i'd come in to lower the average IQ level by about 20 points


have a great day all

 

[SimpleGifts]

There is somehting I have never been able to understand. Why do we have to place lables on everything? I realize that we need to identify certain things in our lives because it would be pretty awkward to describe most items as that thingy that does that one thing and then stops. Why must we lable people? He's black-she's white-he's gay-she's straight...the moment you slap a lable on someone it colors how you perceive them right away.

"Was it Kierkegaard, or Dick van Patten, who said, 'When you label me, you negate me?'"

- Wayne Campbell, 1992

SG

 

[SimpleGifts]

... the thread's title was mocking me...so i thought i'd come in to lower the average IQ level by about 20 points


have a great day all

Oh, come off it AP...I'm sure that you can keep up your end of some very weighty conversations!

SG

 

[lady*laura]

Just when things get going and some real conversation starts to happen it's over....

 

[SimpleGifts]

Just when things get going and some real conversation starts to happen it's over....

Well, to be more on-topic and less irreverent...stereotypes and labels are a coping mechanism, like others have stated. They provide a filter for putting a confusing and gradated world into sharp relief. So, for those unable to deal with complexity, they are quite useful although crude.

And in most stereotypes, there is SOME facet of truth--often distorted and over-generalized but enough truth to make for good stand-up humor.

SG

 

[lady*laura]

I don't mind being irreverent at all. Sometimes I can't sleep and well..don't tell anyone or I might get booted off the board...I don't want to discuss sex either. Just like to have conversations. My favorite chat site closed down awhile ago and sometimes I long for those deep discussions.

 

[Shimp]

I don't mind being irreverent at all. Sometimes I can't sleep and well..don't tell anyone or I might get booted off the board...I don't want to discuss sex either. Just like to have conversations. My favorite chat site closed down awhile ago and sometimes I long for those deep discussions.

Rrrrrrr.....rrrrr....I hear the sex police coming...Im telling Im telling....someone get a bat, we're going to beat her or stone her or something. No sex talk, you should be ashamed of yourself....tisk tisk tisk, how dissapointing.

 

[asian_princess]

Oh, come off it AP...I'm sure that you can keep up your end of some very weighty conversations!

SG

*bows and grins*

I thank you for your misplaced faith ... and shall endeavour to be worthy of it.

weighty...we talkin' pounds or kilograms here? cos I'm an oz girl so do i get extra points for converting to metric?

 

[lady*laura]

Rrrrrrr.....rrrrr....I hear the sex police coming...Im telling Im telling....someone get a bat, we're going to beat her or stone her or something. No sex talk, you should be ashamed of yourself....tisk tisk tisk, how dissapointing.

Don't get me wrong. I love sex. and sex talk. and well sex too!