Labels?

[MissNMTX]

I had an ephiany earlier. I was going to come in and create a topic over something I like to do when I have a Daddy. Whether it meant I needed another label, another clarifier, if I was more of one thing and less of another. Reading through posts on another topic, I realized how silly that is.

We put so many labels on ourselves already, of what we are or are not. We live in a society that thrives on them. Not only that, but we allow those labels to be weaponized and used again each other. "They" are not the same as me. "They" are different .

It's ridiculous. What I like is something I like in my dynamic, but also it's part of who I am. Just another piece of the very big, complex, complicated picture of who I am.

I genuinely and sincerely hope we all continue to learn about ourselves, grow, and become more self aware. Not for the sake of adding more labels after our names. But for the sake of becoming more and more the best most authentic selves we can be.

Edited October 14 by MissNMTX

[sheepie uwu]

Utilizing labels can be very helpful for finding like-minded people with similar experiences. Labels can tell me if you're talking about a domesticated cat or a wild cat with even further breakdowns for context clues. Labels provide a framework for communication. BDSM utilizes communication, but are labels needed for finding romantic relationships? No, not always. Yet they can still be very helpful at narrowing down specifics that you want, need, or don't want in a romantic relationship- particularly during sessions.

Emotions have labels. Medication has labels. Yes, even the infamous soup can has a label. It all depends on context and intended meaning. Kink is based on communication with labels that help us express our interests. So while labels can be problematic in some situations, context definitely matters to determine if there's an actual problem. Whether a person utilizes some, none, or mixed labels should be up to each individual. It's absolutely not mandatory to label oneself, but labels aren't inherently bad.

I borrowed the cat analogy

 

[kuuchan]

Absolutely agree with @sheepie uwu!

i understand that microlabeling everything might seem pointless, at one point in my life it seemed that way to me too. But they do bring comfort to people. People who have trouble identifying feelings/emotions/experiences. (As an autistic person labels help me a lot)

i think it’s a bit sad that people view labels as a form of ”division” lately. Individualism shouldn’t imo be about ”how can i be different and separate myself from others” and be more about  ”i want to understand myself and others better”.

but ofcourse, if you feel labels restrict you and seem pointless and silly to you, then that’s fine! And people who get hung up on labels (as in, stressing about which lables fit them to the point it effects their mental health) should be more relaxed and patient. (But i completely understand and empathize with the need for certain labels to understand oneself better)

Edited October 14 by kuuchan

[youngAbby]

It can be a relief too when you find a label that describes what you’ve been but didn’t have the words to describe it!

[Journey]

Labels are often overused. It is useful in certain instances, such as trying to understand yourself and research things. And, as mentioned, it can help in finding like-minded people.

The biggest problem with labels is that people change over time, and we can get stuck in boxes, either of our own making or that other people try to put us in. That type of labelling can be harmful since it limits a person's expressions of themselves. 

Also, different people define labels differently. So one person may label something one thing, and someone else may label the same thing something else. Neither person is wrong. They just have different experiences and perspectives that lead them to different conclusions. There also may be vital information that is missing that leads people to different conclusions. 

It comes down to this: If a label is useful, use it. If a label is not useful, don't use it. It's always your choice.

Edited October 16 by Journey