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I Hate Labels And Refuse To Label Myself

So, why do people need to label each other... and why does it seem to be getting worse?

I took a course recently on "implicit bias". If you don't know what that is, please Google it and read about it, or else the rest of this post might not mean anything.

One thing we learned is that the reason we make snap judgements about each other is that the human brain is only capable of processing so many things, so we use labels to make it easier for us to assess another person as to whether we can trust that person or whether we need to steer clear of that person.

It's survival instinct.

On its own, it's not bad.

But, with TV, social media, computers, the Internet, mobile devices... it's all the data all the time. We are in overload mode.

Therefore, we have become MORE dependent on labels.

I don't label myself... but I know others are labelling me.
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ThePerfectUsername · 70-79, M
I agree that the use of labels in the media etc is overly divisive. But it's not the label itself that divides so much as the way we're constantly being programmed as to how to view the people who have those labels. I subconsciously label lots of types of people and often find it helpful in understanding... but it's very much the conscious part of me that gets to decide how I interact with people with any given label and no media outlet on earth will ever be allowed to make that decision for me.