Label Issues
So where to begin? Let’s start with the basics. First of all, any word in any language is basically a label. It’s just a word to describe something or someone. So if you have label issues, let this fact be the first step in helping you get over it. And for some, let this fact help you on your path in getting over yourselves. Now onto the fit-throwers. One question: why are you throwing a fit over how someone chooses to I.D. themselves? I’ve seen people act as if their entire world is going to crash down around them and all over a label. What are you afraid of? Yeah, some of you are thinking that fear doesn’t play a factor in this but I beg to differ. I’m betting that in many cases, fear is most likely the number one underlying issue.
Fear of what? you ask. Well pick one, fear of being inferior, fear of someone out there taking whatever you think makes you powerful, fear of people thinking that Mary Jane in Chicago is far more important than you and thus you lose your following. The list could go on but you get the picture. Still not convinced? Ok, let’s take the word Vampire. What usually comes to mind is all the stuff we’ve seen on t.v. plus some. Take all those stereotypes, which include superior strength, speed, intelligence, agility, etc. and some can start to get rather bothered.
And on top of that, you have your ones that like to basically go around and act like they’re better than the rest. Not only that, those who claim that label, heaven forbid, are organizing into Houses, Orders, etc. So the average person starts to think that these people are trying to set themselves up as better than the rest of us lowly creatures. But what’s interesting is that many who throw a fit sometimes don’t truly understand how the label user sees themselves and many times they don’t take the time to find out. They just assume that every label user thinks they are superior to everybody else. And there you have it. A recipe for yet another useless label rant. And let’s face it, they really are useless and so very boring.
So as one can see, the question moves from why is Mary Jane using the label to why do you care that she is using it? Also one can see that the rant is coming from insecurity. Yeah, I know, some don’t like that word but face it, if you weren’t insecure you wouldn’t give a care in the world what someone a thousand miles away called themselves. Yet I can almost hear some of you now saying that you only make an issue out of it because the “superiority complexes” caused by these evil labels are dividing the Community or some other handy excuse. And that’s exactly what it is. A weak excuse to hide behind and at the same time, for some, to look and feel superior to those they have issue with. How are they supposedly lifting themselves above their “opponents”? By taking the moral high road, of course. And as for the Community dividing argument, that’s weak because as we all know there isn’t a soul out there that has that much sway. And if you’re giving away that much power to one person then that person isn’t the problem, you are.
Beyond that you have the ones who act as if it is their sacred duty to remind people not to label themselves. Some of them say things like I never label myself or that those who use labels are limiting themselves or some other comment. Now before you say anything, relax and read the rest. I didn’t say that all who say these sort of things are secretly hiding an insecurity. Some who say this actually have their heads screwed on straight. But there are those who say these things in an effort to, in their minds, lift themselves above those that they think see themselves as superior. In other words they think that by claiming they’re label free, they are free of the restrictions of the word and therefore better. But if a label is nothing but a word, then how can they be superior to those who use it? They have not lifted themselves above their “opponents”, but have in fact bought into an illusion of superiority.
So there you have it, a short overview of those with label issues. I could go on, but I trust that you all can analyze these ideas and use them as a springboard for deeper understanding. As for labels themselves, why care? After all, it’s just a word and the problem doesn’t come from usage, it comes from the person who chooses to let words like Elf, Vampire, Werewolf, etc be the only word that defines them. In truth, that is the real problem and it’s a form of self entrapment. Personally, when I encounter people who appear to do this, I don’t spend my time verbally bitchslapping them for it. I find myself wondering why they do it.
Perhaps they do it because they feel like they don’t know who they are and are feeling lost, dazed and confused, so the stereotypes that go along with their chosen word makes them feel grounded and they feel like they actually comprehend themselves. But how much self understanding can come from stereotypes? Besides that maybe they just want to feel special and so they let themselves buy into the label not knowing it’s an illusion. Or they do it to fit in. Then again, maybe they do it to gain a following for whatever reason. Or they use it because it’s simply the best way to describe a part of themselves.
So in closing, I think the best way to get beyond the label issue is to simply realize and remember that they’re harmless, nothing. A word has no power unless you give it power and therein lies your true strength. You don’t need any word, thing or person to realize and use your inner strength and no one, thing or word can take it from you. And no word, person or thing and make you superior or inferior to anyone or thing. Also stop laying the responsibility of inner understanding on a word and start doing the work and know yourself. To know yourself is where true strength lies, you simply needed a reminder. Also instead of getting pissed, ask yourself why are you letting this illusion of another’s superiority get to you? What do you fear? What inside of you is reacting this way? Work on that instead of ranting about Mary Jane and Billy Bob on the other side of the country.
