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Addict
Drug addict. Alcohol addict. Sex addict. Tobacco addict. Food addict.
Gambling addict. Internet addict.
Addictions are negative habitual attachments.
Serious addictions involve the loss of human freedom, the wasting of life,
and the bringing of pain to others.
Addictions can lead to violence, crime, abuse, and death.
Sometimes, we need to distance ourselves from people with addictions in order
to protect ourselves, and to push them toward getting help for their
problems.
Sometimes, when we label a person an “addict”, we do so to entirely cut the
person off from ourselves and others. You’re nothing more than an “addict”
because of the things you’ve done and the fear you cause.
If I dismiss you as an “addict”, who will help you get healthy?
Geek
From programmers, engineers, and students, to the masses who helped create
the behind-the-scenes Internet culture, “geeks” are people with an intense
passion for technology.
When we negatively label people as “geeks”, we mock them as lacking social
skills or not fitting into society.
Who says that understanding binary code disqualifies a person from fitting into
society?
Homeless
As many as 500,000 families live in shelters in the United States.
Other people live on the streets.
Children and families make up the fastest-growing segment of the homeless
population. There are approximately 1.5 million homeless children in our
country. The average homeless child in America is only six years
old.
For homeless families, the lack of affordable housing is just one part of a
larger set of problems, including inadequate education, domestic violence,
poor employability, and a lack of community and personal support.
When we label people as “homeless”, what are we saying – that they are losers
who can’t make ends meet?
Almost nobody chooses to be homeless.
Homeless people need our help, not a label.
Jock
“Jock” can be used positively to describe a good athlete, or someone who
spends a great deal of time playing sports.
“Jock” can also be used as a negative label – the stereotype of a dumb
muscle-head who cheats on tests and gets special treatment from athletic
directors and teachers.
What’s the problem with being dedicated to sports?
Isn’t there a lot to admire about the hard work and discipline required to
get to the top of a game?
Is there a direct connection between physical prowess and IQ?
Mentally
Ill
Mental illnesses includes a huge number of disorders.
Mental illnesses are biologically based. Just like other physical illnesses
are biologically based.
In the USA,
it’s estimated that between seven and 15 percent of us suffer with some form
of mental illness.
Mental illnesses affect all types of people – especially the young and the
old.
People with mental illnesses can suffer terrible pain. As a result of their
conditions, they can negatively affect the people around them. Especially
with severe mental illnesses, there can be a lot of fear surrounding this.
In our society, it’s very tempting to label a person as “mentally ill” so
that we can run as far as possible from that person. Maybe we’re scared.
Maybe it feels like too much for us. Maybe we think the label will protect us
from danger.
How come we don’t label people “physically ill”?
Mental illnesses are treatable. Just like other physical illnesses are
treatable.
With the label, when do we get around to the treatment?
Minority
In a group of three or more, it doesn’t take much to point out that someone
is in the minority.
It can be good to acknowledge that a person in the minority – for example, if
people in the minority group suffer unjust discrimination. Or if people in
that group need special care.
Sometimes, “minority” is used negatively as a label – for example, when it’s
used to unjustly discriminate against a person. Or when a person uses
“minority” as a self-applied label, to grab undeserved special treatment.
In a country that is by nature diverse, why is this label still so prevalent?
Pacifist
Pacifists believe that war is a category of violence that is never necessary
or acceptable for settling disputes. Pacifists can see military traditions
and institutions as key obstacles to the elimination of international
disagreements, war, the arms race, poverty, and political oppression.
When we negatively
label people as “pacifists”, we put them down because we think they are weak
or naïve – even unpatriotic.
What’s un-American about having the opinion that war should be rejected?
In a free country, is it such a bad thing that some people believe in the
exclusively non-violent approach to seeking peace and justice?
Prisoner
Committing crimes is wrong.
Just prison sentences help preserve public order and safety. They provide
both punishment and opportunity for change for people who commit crimes.
For some of us, once a person is sentenced to prison, we see the person as
nothing more than a “prisoner” – something less than the rest of us.
Labeling someone as a “prisoner” can allow us to ignore that person. It can
allow us to deny that person the respect deserved by all human beings.
When many people complete their prison terms, the “prisoner” label follows
them in the form of unjust discrimination. People avoid them. They can’t get
jobs. They aren’t offered the help they need to function well in society.
In the United
States today, a record almost seven
million people are incarcerated in prisons or jails, are on probation, or are
on parole. That’s one of every 32 adult Americans.
That’s a lot of people to label.
Rock Star
Wendy spends ALL her time with music. Plays it, listens to it, dresses it,
breathes it.
The girl thinks she’s a rock star.
She’s ridiculous, and to be avoided.
Because of music.
. . ?
Slacker
A “slacker” is someone who shirks work or obligations.
It’s definitely not a good thing to avoid responsibility.
It’s also not a good thing to dismiss someone as nothing but a “slacker”.
In an increasingly production-driven society, we definitely run the risk of
pushing away from one another because we disagree with one another’s work
ethic.
That would seem to be ethically slacking.
Troubled
Teen
Cliff is 16. He does no homework. He’s failing most of his classes. He gives
all of his teachers a hard time. He doesn’t seem to care.
Most days, Cliff disturbs other kids in school. There’s no predicting what
sets him off. Even with his friends, Cliff causes problem after problem. Sometimes,
Cliff seems to enjoy it. It all seems unnecessary. How many times can this
kid make a mess for himself and other people? How many times are we supposed
to watch him push away anyone who tries to help him?
It’s sad, but Cliff is definitely a “troubled teen”. Stay away from him.
Cliff definitely has troubles.
He definitely causes troubles for other people.
Who’s going to care enough about Cliff to keep trying to help him with his
life? The people who label him?
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