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The downside to assigning labels to people.

  • The downside to assigning labels to human behavior and people with health challenges is that labeling often interferes with positivity of oneself as they now feel they are labeled.

    When I grew up there were very few people with labels in my world.  It wasn't that conditions and types of people didn't exist it was just that government entities, school systems and politicians hadn't widely used labeling as a form to distinguish people in different groups as much as they do now.  Different entities create labels to their advantage and really don't realize the downside to people that have now been put in a category, making it convenient for the politicians to appeal to a "group" but in my opinion uses these people rather them respecting their individuality. When one has had a diagnosis, they are given that diagnosis.  I can't stress enough that the diagnosis you are given does not mean that's who you are, it only means that's just part of you.

    In high school, we had names for different types of students but not to the extreme as I see now.  There has been such an uprising in labeling people that I think it can be overused to the point of harm.  I've often wondered if people really see what different institutions are doing when they group people by behavior, health conditions or political leanings to determine future programs of persuasion?

    Where is the respect for individuality, the understanding of learning differences and the tolerance for people of different cultures?  Why must politicians undermine the simplest part of being human, which is what makes us who where are, but rather distinguish them in groups which incentivizes some towards bad behavior or the condoning of bad behavior.

    I can recall when I was a young mom, my child's pediatrician reminded me that just because my child had challenges, that didn't mean bad behavior should be excused? 

    We have people from all walks of life, with their own personal health challenges, learning differences, from people that have different sexual orientations, as well as different backgrounds from their family upbringing.  Why are they labeled?  Why are people constantly put in categories and not just accepted for who they are?

    We are all human, beautifully made and deserve respect from others, not put in convenient labels.

Comments

2 comments
  • Mark Ransome I totally agree with you! Labeling I think has gone too far as well and as you said, we are all humans and we should all love each other for the person they are, not for any disability, beliefs, sexual orientation color or creed.
  • Web Diva The labeling and shaming has gone to far, agreed. It becomes painful to watch so much disrespect in the news and to see people that lack compassion to accept others as they are. Never before seen this in my lifetime.