Comments on: Watch Out With Labels

By: elysa

elysa — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:19:35 +0000

here's another question … do you think the labeling is a gender issue? Perhaps women are more likely to label themselves or others?

By: elysa

elysa — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:19:35 +0000

here's another question … do you think the labeling is a gender issue? Perhaps women are more likely to label themselves or others?

By: Carlos Miceli

Carlos Miceli — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:39:49 +0000

Why do we need to be labeled to have the conversations we want? I feel that I can be part of most communities without labeling myself, without preventing myself to join others. I don't label myself as anything that will exclude other points of views. After all, those are the most interesting discussions.

By: Carlos Miceli

Carlos Miceli — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:35:37 +0000

In my opinion, I'd rather exclude those that things like me than those that don't.

By: Carlos Miceli

Carlos Miceli — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:29:04 +0000

Mediocre people don-t like giving chances. What if they actually learn something?

By: Elysa Rice

Elysa Rice — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:10:10 +0000

@Grace: I love your food analogy Grace! And you are so right the problem with labels is that there are so many layers to just being a person.

@Elisa: I hadn’t really thought of the door opening aspect, but it’s very true. PS: here’s the research I found for when gen y starts

By: Elisa

Elisa — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:40:18 +0000

I think there are definitely some doors that can be opened up by identifying yourself with a certain community. Yet if you promote yourself only as a member of that community then you most definitely could exclude some folks.

When I first started to identify with Gen-Y I harassed Ryan Healy pretty well, cause Brazen Careerist would only accept writing from people under 30. I was like “Uh oh, looks like only 1 more year til I’m too old to be heard and cool anymore!” I’m the first year of Gen-Y (by most definitions) so I feel a lot like even if I *try* to label it isn’t ok.

By: Grace Boyle

Grace Boyle — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:55:42 +0000

Okay, so let’s think about how food is labeled (as a metaphor for people). The labeling is ALL wrong. You know the FDA doesn’t regulate the word “natural,” and it’s completely a marketing ploy? Cheetos could put “natural” on their bag and it it would be allowed.

Just like with people, labels can be so false. Yet, food needs labels because we do need to know what we’re eating, buying, consuming and being part of. Just like with friends and people, sometimes it’s nice to know their M.O. what they’re about, etc. Of course, people have many more layers than food ;) but maybe we don’t need to rely on the label so much. I might dress one way, but act the exact opposite of what you expect. Putting a label on someone is like a blanket stereotype that makes it hard to go beyond or give someone a chance.

Great guest post Carlos and good question Elysa :)