30 January 2008
Labels
Posted by Roy Bischoff under: Rejecting Herd Mentality .
Beware the danger of labels. When you apply them to others you must realize that they will be applied to you also. The use of labels causes otherwise rational people to think that they understand a thing because they have categorized it. The media is awfully good at this.
I believe that each person is unique because their experiences in life and their perceptions, thoughts, feelings etc are different, even from people with similar backgrounds. To think that because a person supports one particular person or idea that you know all about them and that they are the same as all others that support that person or idea is illogical. When we succumb to the temptation to use labels we embrace the idea of Newspeak (See Orwell’s 1984) which has the purpose of trying to stifle logic and independent thought. Therefore, when we apply a label to someone we are really just hurting ourselves by closing our minds to new ideas.
16 Comments so far...
Iffer Says:
30 January 2008 at 8:37 pm.
I had this teacher who showed us a few different pictures and wrote some jobs on the board and we had to pick which person did what job. We didn’t get any right. A girl was a firefighter and a tough looking guy was a nurse…
It just goes to show Stereo typing doesn’t work a lot of the times.
I have never forgotten that lesson.
Cameron Says:
31 January 2008 at 12:12 am.
Good post Roy. I just got back from a night out and expected to find info about the debate tonight. Where’d everybody go?
T. Fan Says:
31 January 2008 at 12:29 am.
From what I’ve seen around here you are usually the one who gets things going. With you gone we all fell flat on our faces. Why don’t you ask our permission before taking off?
As far as the debates, I had a hard time watching. Even when Mitt was talking they would usually show McCain and I just wanted to puke when I looked at him. He smirks all the time when he watched Romney. He gets these little knowing smiles like he has a big secret about evil Romney. It was hard to take. Mitt did great anyway. Most people thought he won for all the good that has been doing. The MSM says no one likes him and he doesn’t connect with people. I think I am a good judge of that since I have just come from another campaign. I am not prejudice and I can tell you the MSM is just plain wrong.
Matt Says:
31 January 2008 at 9:27 am.
I checked in here a couple of times last night for debate reaction. I would like to suggest that when there is something like a debate that you do what you did on Tuesday and have a blog set up for comments so people are encouraged to share their feelings.
Pickles Says:
31 January 2008 at 9:49 am.
Well put Roy. I bet Irritated doesn’t come back after that kind of response. He was probably just a troll anyway. I think this is a very important subject. Labels do so much damage. I just got out of college and I learned a lot about that damage in my sociology classes. I love the book 1984.
Mac Says:
31 January 2008 at 9:59 am.
Roy - your point about rational people thinking they have someone nailed because they have them categorized is brilliant. I think that is why there is hatred of Ron Paul supporters. It is very sad to throw such a large segment of the population out the window because some of them act extreme. Personally I am or should I say was a Giuliani supporter. I’m from New Jersey and there were a lot of us from here behind him. I am disgusted that he has thrown his weight behind McCain. I don’t get how he could do that. He has been selling himself as a conservative but now I have to wonder. I can’t vote for McCain. I am ex-military and I know to much about him. I can’t begin to imagine a man like McCain with his angry finger on the button. I guess I had Rudy categorized and it turned out to be wrong. I will be voting for Romney now and I hope a lot of ex-Rudyites will join me.
Matt Says:
31 January 2008 at 10:04 am.
I agree with you pickles. I think everyone should read 1984. Orwell was a man who was part of the group who wanted one world government but he was worried about some of the men he worked with going overboard and just wanting power. This book was his warning to them about what that kind of attitude could do. It is scary to see so much of it being used. When you read about how political correctness was brought about you see Newspeak in effect.
Welcome to the family Mac. I loved what you had to say and we hope more Rudy people see the light.
Joy Bischoff Says:
31 January 2008 at 10:58 am.
Welcome aboard, Mac.
Good suggestion, Matt. I will put something up in the future.
Cameron Says:
31 January 2008 at 11:35 am.
These figures from the New York Times are making the rounds.
CNN has the exit-poll numbers, and they reveal some surprising things:
* Romney won pro-lifers.
* Romney won the mainstream religious. (Huckabee won the very religious less than one-fifth of the pool.)
* Romney won the Protestants.
* Romney tied Huckabee with Evangelicals.
* Romney won the pro-GWB voters.
* Romney is the primary second choice of Giuliani voters, Thompson voters …. and McCain voters.
* Romney won the immigration hard-liners.
* Romney won the upper-middle class, earning between $100,000 and $200,000 annually.
* Romney won the terrorism-oriented voters.
* Romney won the self-identified conservatives and the self-identified very conservative.
* Romney won the values-oriented voters.
* Romney won the white voters.
* Romney won the tax-cutting voters.
Will Republicans on Super Tuesday stand up for the real Republican or will they give up the hill, as Joy puts it. We really do need heroes now. Millions of them. Don’t be weak and give in to the liberal choice that is being forced on our party. Come on America!
Jesse Says:
31 January 2008 at 12:17 pm.
1984 is one of my favorite books. Pickles I like your name.
Carrie Says:
31 January 2008 at 1:45 pm.
Mac we are happy to have you here. It is exciting seeing a Giuliani guy join us. I hope lots of them do. It helps us not get so discouraged when things are going bad. So many people are looking for something to hold on to and with the press trying to weaken the conservatives it is important for us to stick together.
E.E. Says:
31 January 2008 at 2:10 pm.
Speaking of labels, why does everyone call McCain honorable? His actions have shown him to be otherwise. But more importantly, I believe it is more honorable to be honest and say you are a democrate than to say you are a Republican when all your actions say otherwise. We are warned about wolves in sheep’s clothing. I think this extends to more than just the gospel. This is dishonorable.
Mac Says:
31 January 2008 at 2:27 pm.
You are all a friendly group here. Thanks for the welcome. Rush said no candidate can unite the three stools Romney has talked about. Why does he say that? I think people like me are proof he is wrong. I like Rush but he has gotten discouraged.
Pickles Says:
31 January 2008 at 2:32 pm.
Matt, I’m glad you like my name. My brother used to call me Pickles cause he said I’m sour. My daddy used to tell me not to worry cause to him pickles were sweet.
E.E. Says:
31 January 2008 at 2:44 pm.
Mac I hope there are a million out there like you.
Stumpy Says:
31 January 2008 at 5:48 pm.
Pickles can I have a bite?
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