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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 in to society.
Who says that understanding binary code disqualifies a person from fitting in
to 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 1.35 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.
Just prison sentences 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.
More than 625,000 people will be released from prisons this year alone.
That’s a lot of people to label.
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.
It all seems unnecessary.
Sometimes, Cliff seems to enjoy it.
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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