Why Are Young People Encouraged NOT to Label Anyone?

System

Gloomendoom wrote: »

How do people know that you are bipolar?

As far as I know, I have never met anyone who is.

Well it depends, i suppose it's mostly just people i know who know i have it, couldn't work for 3 years cos of it so anyone who knew me during that time knows about it, otherwise its if they've seen me whilst hypermanic that something seems "different". I suppose they wouldn't know generally. I was more thinking of an ex who used it against me in a derogatory way.

anotheruser

LilElvis wrote: »

Because people are more than just a single defining feature? Because certain "labels" have quite unsavoury connotations as they have historically been used as terms of abuse - particularly those referring to a person's colour or sexual orientation.

Who in the world has one label?
It's not a SINGLE defining feature, but there are things that stand out as a person to describe them.

If someone wants to call someone an offensive name due to the colour of their skin, that's their choice. But it's not the only label that defines them and anyone that thinks this should perhaps re-think their way of looking at it.

In addition, there are larger labels that describe people, such as boy, girl, tall, thin, fat, killer, funny, happy, sad, angry - people shouldn't get offended if they are called fat. While not very nice, and hurtful, it's not un-truthful no?
I would always find a polite way of saying the latter word, but it's still meaning the same thing.

anotheruser

browneyedbazzi wrote: »

Also, when you talk about characteristics that may change over time (like a child misbehaving) applying a label implies a degree of permanence and may be unhelpful to the person being labelled. If you tell your child 'you are a naughty boy' then being naughty is internalised as part of who they are whereas if you say 'what you have done is naughty' that is a behaviour that can change.

I agree.

But then that is down to the parents and how they choose to say it. It also depends on how much naughtiness that child has done though. If they are repeatedly being naughty, then they are by and large a naughty person.

Being labelled a naughty person should surely cause that person to think "I don't want that label" and change their way of life, so they are no longer thought of as a naughty person.

anotheruser

Jagraf wrote: »

I think sometimes people are so worried about saying something 'politically incorrect' that we don't celebrate differences. There is a danger of stereotyping people to all be the same. This is a real shame.

I agree here too.

But then why are people obsessed with differences?

There's many who are "different" who campaign for equality, but they are desperate for people to recognise their differences. If they stopped shouting about how down trodden they feel, and started living their lives then I suspect people won't care how different they are.

We're all human, we're not the same, but it's important to remember, in many cases we are just the same. Men, women, white, black, brown, olive, fat, thin, happy, sad - there are so many similarities between us, but that doesn't mean we need to strive to be different - there's no prize!

anotheruser

I guess the general feel of the thread is that labelling in itself is okay as it defines people and who they are - that's an important part of the identity of someone.

However, the use of labels for bullying and the whole "political correctness" thing cause people to shy away from certain labels and have caused some people to form the decision that labels are bad.

Using that same logic, cars are bad too...

BrassicWoman

anotheruser wrote: »

people shouldn't get offended if they are called fat. While not very nice, and hurtful, it's not un-truthful no?
I would always find a polite way of saying the latter word, but it's still meaning the same thing.

I can't think of any reason why I would NEED to call someone fat unless it was to be spiteful or to make msyelf feel better because I was thinner than them, and in some warped way that made me feel I was a better person than them.

I guarantee, fat people do not find your "polite ways" of saying it polite.

from your responses I am guessing you posted the question not to seek knowledge, but in the hope people would agree with you - you seem to have an opening stance in the debate which has not moved one iota.

Blue264

I think someone needs to do a lot of reading on the legal stance regarding positive and objective descrimination. If kids are being given an insight into this in school, then it's great for society as a whole, particularly in the present climate.

Marisco

BrassicWoman wrote: »

I can't think of any reason why I would NEED to call someone fat unless it was to be spiteful or to make msyelf feel better because I was thinner than them, and in some warped way that made me feel I was a better person than them.

I guarantee, fat people do not find your "polite ways" of saying it polite.

from your responses I am guessing you posted the question not to seek knowledge, but in the hope people would agree with you - you seem to have an opening stance in the debate which has not moved one iota.

You missed out a "some" before "fat people".

lostinrates

BrassicWoman wrote: »

I can't think of any reason why I would NEED to call someone fat unless it was to be spiteful or to make msyelf feel better because I was thinner than them, and in some warped way that made me feel I was a better person than them.

I guarantee, fat people do not find your "polite ways" of saying it polite.

from your responses I am guessing you posted the question not to seek knowledge, but in the hope people would agree with you - you seem to have an opening stance in the debate which has not moved one iota.

Some medical conditions are more prevalent in the overweight or obese and symptoms can be lessened by losing weight. Healthcare professionals might need to broach weight issues daily. Other people who might need to mention weight restrictions include those who use equipment with weight restrictions, people dealing with returned goods damaged by someone over recommended weight using it, places like riding stables where I've seen people dealt with very tactfully by being put on one horse demand to be put on another and when being told that's not possible make a bit of a scene( I've also seen thin, poor riders directed of similar horses). Of course their comes a point ( often not too high a point,) where some stables cannot accommodate you. I think my closest stables cut off point is twelve stone.

There are sometimes people have to be told they can not participate in something regardless of the colour of their money or would benefit from taking action.

BrassicWoman

Marisco wrote: »

You missed out a "some" before "fat people".

No, I said what I meant.