Stereotype me. Go ahead.
Look at all of my pictures, splashed all over the internet, look at my layout, take into consideration my profile at vampirefreaks.com, and label me.
Got it?
I'm assuming by now you've labeled me.
Good.
Now, read my blogs, the ones on here, and the ones on my myspace, actually read any of my profiles on anything.
Betcha you're thinking a little different now?
Most people change their opinion of me, once they get to know me.
This blog isn't going to be anti-stereotyping or anti-labeling. It's human nature to label someone or something by an outward appearance.
If you see a big, old, dilapidated, crumbling building, and you label it as empty or haunted.
If you see a big, beautiful, fully landscaped house, with a gate, you label the people inside, whom you haven't seen yet more than likely, as rich, wealthy or 'privileged'.
It’s totally normal to label someone or something from your first visual impression of them or it.
Is this a good thing?
Definatly not.
Usually, our first impressions are wrong, if not fully but slightly.
I don’t think there is anything wrong with labels, I’ve been labeled everything from an emo to a poser, I take them all in stride and go on.
Now, what is the point of this blog?
I think that if people would become confident in themselves, and truly learn not to care what people think, then no one would care about labels.
I agree with this very much! I can honestly say that I do care at certain times what people think of me, but I wish I didn't! I really don't care that much because I love myself and know myself better than any of them do. I try not to live up to others expectations but it is hard in a world as this one, though I wish it weren't. Labels are here to stay unfortunately, maybe there is a chance they aren't and maybe we can hold onto that little piece of hope, but who knows? I really have confidence in myself, but not completely yet seeing as though I believe I am too young to fully understand myself, but someday I will be me and be me for me.
Thank you for your reply and for reading.
Glad to know I'm not the only one.
I definatly agree with you being too young to fully understand yourself, I actually wrote an essay on a similar subject yesterday for a scholarship.
: )
I agree with your general sentiments regarding the stereotyping nature of humans. I agree that it is totally natural, effortless, and is certainly the norm. But I'm not sure about your opinion that this tendency is "definitely not" a good thing. Surely, it is the case that peoples' first impressions are often wrong, and they may encounter embarrassment or worse when (or if) they figure it out. But first impressions may be right, as well. First impressions, instincts, and judgement may help people avoid all sorts of situations they care not to confront, anything from a seedy looking group of drunk hooligans to the neck-tie sporting Bible-charged conversionists knocking at your door. My point is that stereotyping isn't necessarily bad, but it can be. Or not.
I presume, since you posted this blog in the first place, that you are frustrated and annoyed with the labels with which you have been branded. I share your value of digging deeper and desiring to actually know a person before solidifying my opinion of him or her. In will admit that I have not seen your pictures or read your other blogs, but I gather from your mention of vampirefreaks what your outwardly appearance may be (or may not be...). In my opinion, you have a unique duty because you occupy a unique position. Your position is one of a person who adheres to a culture about which opinions have already been formed by the "general public" (if such a thing can even be defined), but who also displays intelligence and critical analysis of those preformed opinions. Your duty, therefore, is to use this intelligence to sway public opinion in a non-judgemental direction, which it appears that you are doing, or are attempting to do.
People with tattoos, for example, or piercings, were once thought of by the same "general public" as bizarre and suspect, and to be sure some people still feel this way. But now, many pierced and tattooed folks are in their upper ages, and the more recent generations are much less likely to view body art as out of the ordinary. Perhaps vampirism will one day attain this status, but it will require not only the old age of vampirists (since this is a culture which has existed for hundreds of years at least, so they are clearly not in want of "aged" members), but also a general ubiquity of them within the culture. Acceptance and understanding will presumably follow, and the coinciding stereotype will thereby diminish. In the meantime, I encourage you to continue to address these important issues and bring them to the forefront of discussion.
Thank you for reading and replying.
I totally understand what you're saying about instincts.
I really could care less about labels, I simply blogged about this, because I'm sick of hearing other people complain about them.
I appriciate your reply alot, I agree with you greatly.
I will continue to blog about this, and I thank you alot for your support.
ive been stereotyped just on what clothes i wear. I'm one of those people who wear what they want when they want. i have clothes from aeropostale and i have clothes form hot topic. i have the preppy clothes and i have a black and red corset from hot topic. ive also been stereotyped because im white and im catholic.
Labelling has sort of become our society's nature to organize... Apparently, that makes things easier rather than taking everyone in based on themselves rather than their interests or appearances.
It's a shame.
Elliott
www.youtube.com/MechanisticMoth
www.myspace.com/PseudoPsychicAccumulation
Thank you for your reply and for reading.
I definately agree but like you said it is nature to label people.
but it isnt what people call you its what you answer to.
thatgirl2089