BellaOnline Forums News and Politics Gay/Lesbian News What does your label read?

What does your label say, and do you bear it proudly?

What did you think about what I had to say? Am I totally off my rocker.

Did you like the new way I am doing some articles? I am being more personal and exploring not typical gay topics. Any feedback?

jase ;0)

What label? Did I miss something?

Jase

I loved your article! It is so true and also something that effects each of us but something that many of us no longer think about.

On my personal e-mail addres I put "A name is only a label" instead of my name. It's funny that even in creating a forum account we are labeling ourselves.

I am 44 wf who is addicted to genealogy, married, three kids, happy right now, always busy, but that is ok. That is a small part of my labels. I just Loved your article. It was a great read!

Well, let's see.... I'm in my mid-20's, straight, living with someone, very short, curly brunette, a "foodie", a writer, an amateur musician, a shoe collector (heehee), an occasional party animal, but an occasional home body, a film buff, a daughter of a dad and three moms (both my parents are married to women now), a traveler, a voracious reader, an Irish-Welsh-Italian-Dutch-Danish-German, a Catholic-Quaker-Jew-Presbyterian with Buddhist and New Age leanings, a skeptic, a truth-seeker, a Democrat, a prankster.....

I love your articles, Jase!

One thing I found interesting about the article was your point in that if we try to ignore labels, then we ignore what makes us unique.

Several years ago, I was fighting with the issue of "bigotry" and trying to be completely ignorant of color. Then it hit me one day that it was completely stupid to do that. That if I were trying to describe my friend Jackie to someone- telling them that she had black hair, and brown eyes wasn't going to nearly cut it, but telling them that her skin was chocolate brown - that's a description! She is African/American, and to ignore that was ridiculous. But it doesn't mean I have to judge her based on that! Because I would take her wit and sharp thinking over tons of white boys that have never worked a true problem for themsleves! <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue2.gif" alt="" />

Dave.. it's my newest article.. read it and come back here

Jase ;0)

I think your article is too broad. Physical descriptions are not labels in the sense that they do not try to describe who or what you are. You may be blonde but that is merely a description like saying you are a human being as opposed to a cat. Physical descriptions are necessary to describe the world around us, humans included. To say you are Christian or gay is to describe something more about what you do or believe. If we didn't use labels at all then what would you call what I'm typing on here? We wouldn't be able to communicate without them. If you think labels limit you, then you are not fully embracing who you are. A man is defined by his choices. That gives you total control over who you decide to be since we are 100% in control of whatever we say or do. Our choices. We are in 0% control of what others say or do. So, do not let yourself be defined by what others say or do. It is all about choice. Even being offended is a reaction of choice. Take control of your choices and you will be the master of your own fate.

Great article Jase! hmmm, let's see what my label says (so tempting to put 'hand wash with care')

proud mother, spiritual healer, much loving & much loved, thankful to be me, here on this planet (again!) at this time having this adventure. x

Jase, I love your article and for sharing about yourself in a humorous way. It made me smile.

Haha - everyone sees me differently. My high school yearbook wrote I was a 'friend to all'. So that's my #1

How I see myself is ballet dancer emeritus, wife, mom, grandmom, friend, sharer of experience.

Dave,

I think you missed the part where I mention lesbian, and other labels. The point of the article is to show that there are many labels. Some of them are bad, and some aren't. I was raising the point that we need to also embrace labels as to not obliterate who we are and loose the fact that we are a diverse community. BTW... white, black, blonde, etc are labels. They are used in jokes in both derogetory and not so bad jokes.

Like some friends say.. a label is a label is a label is a label. Physicality, and outward as well as inward descriptors are essentially labels.

Jase ;0)

O.K. my label says...white, right wing, republican,fundamentalist,red stater, Christian zealot! WHEW!! I probably scare small liberal children on Halloween! LOL!

Small liberal children.. heck I don't think they know what all those mean yet. You might scare some moderate and liberal parents though!

jase ;0)

I never actually put down my labels!

Christian, woman, white, Mom, divorced/remarried, musician, gastric bypass patient, real blonde - fake redhead <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />, rape survivor, depressive, control freak.

There's way more - but trying to sum it up in one and two word phrases is near impossible! <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue2.gif" alt="" />

Jase, dah-link......

Your velvet-wearing, pierced, tattooed, branded, moss-farming, leather, Pagan, alchemist, Jewish fairy godmother loved your article.

<img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Oh I forgot one thing. Voter. Really scary huh?

And those who don't vote, don't have a right to complain in my opinion. If you care, you'd vote.. even if you don't like any of the candidates!

just my 5 cents ;0)

Jase ;0)

Hey Jase,
Till I read your article I hated labels, fought hard against them, now you and my girlfriend are right, it is time to embrace them. Let's see...my label....hum....not done this before.....here goes....Mom, bisexual, feme, pagan, healer, friend, tattooed, Scot/Irish redhead that follows the old ways and all that entails. I also am a voter.

Currently, "Member of the Human Race".... <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Try reading "The Translucent Revolution". Where you define something you create it's opposite. Life is limitless! Evolve, change into an undefinable and unlimited spirit. [color:"purple"] [/color]

Wow! I never thought much about labels before I must admit, but I certainly have a few and have been given a few by others:
Female; White; Pensioner; Lesbian; Spiritual; Poet; Singer/Musician; Animal Rights enthusiast; Counsellor; A hopeless Romantic; Clown; Idealist; Psychic; and a Dreamer.

Oh yeah, I forgot one for me. Hunter. I shoot animals and eat them. There's a place in this world for all God's creatures. Right next to the mashed potatoes and gravy!LOL!

A hunter too! Well I would never have guessed by reading your posts that you'd be the type of guy who creeps around forests with a shotgun killing defenceless (gods?) creatures. I saw someone call you a bully in another post, that's only the half of it.

Dave, honestly, that one was intended only to make people mad!

There was nothing Christlike or promoting about that post- it was simply put out there, in that smirky tone, to get a rile out of someone.

<img src="/images/graemlins/wall.gif" alt="" />

Oh but you know that animals are put on this earth for us to use ( not abuse). We are to take dominion over them. As long as we don't hunt them into extinction then they are a renewable resource like trees or wheat. There for the harvest. Nothing wrong with killing animals for food whether you do it yourself or whether you pay someone to do it for you by buying meat in a supermarket. Just the same. And by the way, I use a shotgun on birds and a rifle on deer. my brother-in-law uses a bow and arrow. More challenging.

I have no problem with hunters. I eat meat, and see no difference between hunting for venison meat or buying beef in the grovery store. Either way is killing animals.

I just thought the way you posted it was a little, how shall I say, challenging.

Sometimes you have to stir the pot to get a little steam. Get people talking. Engaging.

It doesn't engage, it just offends.

Offense is sometimes good if it steers someone to the truth.

My label reads 'polyester XL'*

* XL = extra large, but I'm not fat!

Familychoice, you are just too funny! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />