Wearing labels doesn't hurt anyone until the end of the day, when you try to remove them before bed and they rip all your hair out and it hurts!
Comedy sometimes supersedes the metaphor, but in this case...grab that label and rip fast - that lessens the pain. Trying to learn about someone by reading their 'label' is tricky because there's always a sticky side. Preconceptions get in the way. Learning about a person through conversation and interaction rather than through some pigeonholing nomenclature seems more accurate, more appropriate, and certainly more respectful of their nuances.
And in the end, isn't a label little more than another way to hide behind something, sorta like clothing?
And in the end, isn't a label little more than another way to hide behind something, sorta like clothing?
But who am I to tell someone that they shouldnt do that? If someone wants to identify themselves using a label even if it means they are hiding behind something I dont think it my right to discredit it that. I can say that is not how I see it and have a rigorous debate about that. But I will not tell someone they cant do that in fact I will fight their right to do so.
And in the end, isn't a label little more than another way to hide behind something, sorta like clothing?Could you clarify what you mean by this?For example, my profile says I'm gay. That's telling you something about me. How is that hiding?
There are typically two different positions when people are debating something, and often many more, but for this argument let's stick to objective and subjective points of view. If a heterosexual wears a name tag that states they are that, are they attempting to clothes [intentional misspelling] themselves off from interaction with all the other gender/sexuality choices? It might seem so from outside of that person's mind. Labeling other people as opposed to putting one on yourself involves a very different discussion, and we can dive into that any time. Calling other people things, whether derogatory or positive, is still often more of a way to move the discussion forward more than anything.
Calling oneself something is the individual's choice and absolutely needs to be preserved. If I came up on someone with a heterosexual tag I'd surely be curious as to why they thought they needed to tell everyone what type of intercourse they prefer. I would at that point hope they don't get it tattooed on, for their own sake.
Evolving is part of being human.
Once a person who thought you shouldnt label people, to someone who throws labels around like pub darts.
Thats quite a shift in opinion, and a happy one, as we live in a world full of labels, deserved or not.
It took me too many years trying to figure myself out back in the Dark Ages of the 1950's. Finally realizing that I was/am gay was a huge relief. I was ready to shout it from the rooftops, although I didn't because it was really unsafe to do so in those days. Today, I'm too old to care all that much about what others think. Over the years, the labels have changed radically. "Queer" was a terrible slur in my younger days when that word was used in hate and caused pain. Today, it's a rallying cry (although I'm still a little uncomfortable with it). I'm cisgender, but only a few years ago, if someone had used that term I would't have had the foggiest idea what that meant. So now, I can say I'm a cisgendered gay male. When with a mix of people from the LGBTQ++ spectrum, a label identifies the position from which I speak. It gives quick information to others. They don't have to wonder just who/what I am and what I bring to the table. Some may react negatively because I have so much "privilege" (another term that means so much more that it used to), but they soon realize that I don't exercise my "privilege." In fact, by recognizing it, admitting it, I show that I understand the issue and that I am willing to be called to account if I stupidly or unthinkingly say something that shows my ignorance. I may be 72, but I try everday to learn more, help more people, and speak more loudly for equality for all people.
However, and it's a big "however," when I am in a public space, I am much more cautious about labeling myself. There are still people who hate and seek to hurt those who are "different." I am fortunate to live in a city that is extraordinarily tolerant (Tucson, AZ USA), but there are still people and areas of town that cause me to tone down the neon rainbow flag. One has to be aware of one's surroundings at all times, unfortunately.
While labels work for me, I am well aware that they don't word for everyone, especially younger people who are still trying to explore their own identity. I'm not sure anyone under 25 should embrace a label too quickly. I don't particularly like the word "queer," as I have said, but I absolutely love the other "Q" word: "Questioning." I think everyone has the right to label themselves "questioning" and let it go at that!
If someone 'self-labels' themself with a sexual preference, they are, in a way, closing doors that might otherwise be open, depending on the situation in which they are engaged. Here in TN, anyone can interact with anyone else (looking past unfriending/blocking actions). Here we can tell others - the people who take a moment to look at a filled-out profile and learn a deeper level of information - how we see ourselves. Do I immediately ignore friend requests from people who call themselves gay or lesbian because I'm not? No. I am not here to search for a date - I seek nude interaction, so my self label of straight isn't there in our profile to tell someone who IS looking for a plaything to keep on swiping (though it may likely have that effect), it clarifies my position in the bare world.
In my final stream of thought, because I don't see this thread with much gusto left in it (but I do enjoy being proven wrong), in the bigger picture of what the original poster was stirring up, labels only matter as much as they can help us to understand each other. They can and often do eventually cause problems, preconceptions or misconceptions. There's no good way to fully ignore them, and anyway, why should we if someone is displaying one? If you want to wear one, do it! But please - not around the pool or hot tub area, that's another form of hiding your physique and inappropriate at a nude place. Keep any labels on the beach towel under your butt, not your skin.
One last (hopefully) humorous thought: It is permissible for a woman at a nude resort to wear two labels over her nipples, with the one on the right breast saying, "Hi - my name..." and the left, "...is Hillary". Everyone knows that hillary in German means, "She whose breasts defy gravity," don't they?
I'm impressed with the good and intelligent discussion on this topic (unless I missed something earlier), some other topics here can get some angry words and aggresive barbs thrown around. It's great this can be discussed and it seems we are generally more accepting here. The labels gay / straight are accepted, maybe that's because as nudists we can be wary about saying that to others / non-nudists, ie. we are nudists, which does not mean we are pervs or whatever others think happens at a resort or nude beach. Labels on one hand can be problematic in our world as they can be used against us or to categorise us, here it seems less so and more accepting. Our world through the media and society like to label people / groups and often blame is thrown broadly at a group if something goes wrong. That's lazy media work usually and can create awful flow on effects against minorities. Labels do matter to help identify but provided they are understood and respected I think it's OK to use them.
. Our world through the media and society like to label people / groups and often blame is thrown broadly at a group if something goes wrong. That's lazy media work usually and can create awful flow on effects against minorities.
On the rare occasions when a person is nude when committing a crime, it seems like the media always notes the lack of clothing.
Same for the much more common situation when a shirtless man breaks a law,
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