Quote:

---

Originally posted by Kwicko:
Can I just refer to him as an American? Or, better still, as "Mister President"?

---

Quote:

---

But , yeah you can call him Mister if you like...

He likes that , you know...

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by AnthonyT:
Hello,

I like being called 'Mister,' particularly by people I don't know. It's very respectful.

The issue of labels is a difficult one for me. A label can be dangerous, because it can be used to equate a class of people with a singular impression, making it easy to dehumanize them or at the very least wrap them in stereotype.

On the other hand, a complete absence of labels can be difficult to work with. I don't know any Black or White people, but when describing someone it is generally easy to fall back on these labels. You also have the case when people label themselves. If they choose a label, then isn't the label okay?

If you get a loan for a house, you are asked a series of questions about your sex, race, and ethnicity. This, ironically, is to avoid discrimination. So there you are, a Human Being, asked to label yourself. It's not the only time in life when you're asked to identify yourself according to one label or another.

I certainly don't want to describe myself as a 'moderately light skinned male with dark brown hair and eyes that combine the colors green and blue' because it's cumbersome. But if I was describing myself to someone and said 'Hispanic male' they wouldn't get the right picture.

Politically, I'd prefer to describe myself as someone who embraces personal freedom and opportunity. But because of the large number of ways that could be taken, I'm forced to embrace the label Libertarian, even if I differ from the stated norms on a couple of criteria.

Labels are instantly inaccurate, often dangerous, and extremely useful.

I'm not sure how to reconcile all of that.

--Anthony

"Liberty must not be purchased at the cost of Humanity." --Captain Robert Henner

---