The points you make are sharp and important. But here's one more idea I wonder if you skipped over or forgot.
As a writer, you'll know that conciseness can be key. Isn't that another function of labels? -- to be able to talk about yourself/whoever/whatever without being so long-winded? I mean, if someone asks me to describe my relationship status (or asks me to identify myself in any way, for that matter), should I really "stick it" to labels and say "I'm a person with my own individual, unique needs and desires, and labeling me only limits my capabilities and narrows opportunities?"
But I guess this brings us back to another key point that you made. The "need" for labels: is it put on us by others (who ask me to describe myself) or self-imposed?
You seemed to also equate label-lovers with relationship-ists. I wonder if you've also considered that seem people are just a little more geeky or collection/hobby-oriented and into thinking about the world in terms of how things are categorized, as Howard Gardner of Multiple Intelligences Theory believes. (The Naturalist Intelligent person is alllllll about thinking about the world in categories - http://www.infed.org/thinkers/gardner.htm) Or maybe other readers have already put it best in their comments that some people just value their relationship so much that it's a necessity for them to make sense of it through talking about it, or trying to describe it with language, or, eventually, a label.
And a final puzzle for all readers to think about and respond to: Can one person even avoid labels for themselves while labeling other people as labelers or non-labelers?
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Dear Writer,
As always, good stuff.
The points you make are sharp and important. But here's one more idea I wonder if you skipped over or forgot.
As a writer, you'll know that conciseness can be key. Isn't that another function of labels? -- to be able to talk about yourself/whoever/whatever without being so long-winded? I mean, if someone asks me to describe my relationship status (or asks me to identify myself in any way, for that matter), should I really "stick it" to labels and say "I'm a person with my own individual, unique needs and desires, and labeling me only limits my capabilities and narrows opportunities?"
But I guess this brings us back to another key point that you made. The "need" for labels: is it put on us by others (who ask me to describe myself) or self-imposed?
You seemed to also equate label-lovers with relationship-ists. I wonder if you've also considered that seem people are just a little more geeky or collection/hobby-oriented and into thinking about the world in terms of how things are categorized, as Howard Gardner of Multiple Intelligences Theory believes. (The Naturalist Intelligent person is alllllll about thinking about the world in categories - http://www.infed.org/thinkers/gardner.htm) Or maybe other readers have already put it best in their comments that some people just value their relationship so much that it's a necessity for them to make sense of it through talking about it, or trying to describe it with language, or, eventually, a label.
And a final puzzle for all readers to think about and respond to: Can one person even avoid labels for themselves while labeling other people as labelers or non-labelers?
Anyway, nice piece. I love your work,
November 20, 2010 - 12:56pmReader
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