Labels and how to use them
Oct. 12th, 2003 05:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jlhI try to stay out of the battles. I find it leads to longevity, happiness, and the ability to have friends in various parts of fandom.
So does being careful about joining RPGs, but I digress.
A few months ago during that whole "is hating slash homophobic" debate a lot of people were surprised at the vehemence of![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
folk's reaction. I have to say, I wasn't, and neither were a few other people, but only a few. Then later, during the pottersginny debacle, others were dismayed at how msscribe chose to defend herself. And again, I found myself trying to explain to people, especially here, but also in some very interesting chats.
Now, I know that there is a certain amount of lock-step liberalism going on around here, and I'm sure I'm as guilty of it as the next person. I also am on record as hating labels, for many different reasons. But I also know that people use labels, and that if you fall into a certain category, whether through appearance or location or upbringing, you are going to have to work out how you feel about that label, what parts of it relate to you and what parts don't (because no one, I mean no one, fits any label completely, even the ones we like and take on for ourselves).
For example, I identify as biracial. It's how I think about myself. I know that within the Black community it's somewhat controversial because any African Americans that are descended from slaves have some Anglo blood. I also know that I would be stupid not to understand that people who see me on the street see a Black girl. When I was in college I though long and hard about all of these things and came to a place where I can handle the difference between my feelings about my race and other people's labels.
So the thing is, if you're going to step forward and claim a label, you have to accept that people will pour into that label all of their assumptions about "people like that" unless you tell them differently. For example, you can't say, "I'm Catholic" and then get upset when people assume you're pro-life. Labels are assumptions. If you don't want the assumptions, don't proclaim the labels. And if you want the label but with some objections, you should state them.
Okay, so knowing that, let's talk about some defenses. If you've really studied the US Civil Rights movement, or any number of labor or other sorts of social movements, you'll notice that there is nothing nice about fighting for your rights. Nothing. It's a nasty war of attrition, where you just keep banging away until they get sick of your ass face and give you what you've been asking for. And when you are in the midst of it, there really is no room for compromise. You're fighting for your very existence. You can't just let a few things slide, because those few things become more things and then the powers that be think that you aren't serious.
This shit is serious. Your politics are serious. And if you aren't prepared to back up your blanket statements with actual beliefs—or if you haven't thought through the things that other people have told you until they are your own beliefs and not just handed down—then you may want to not start the conversation. Because you ARE responsible for not only your own words, but for words said in your name as a member of whatever community you profess yourself a part of. And there are people not only in this fandom, but in this world, who will call you on them.
For example, I actually don't think that fiscal responsibility is as important as the protection of individual rights, so I generally vote democrat. However, I will vote for a republican who is liberal on rights and conservative on fiscal issues, depending on the office. I also won't vote for democrats that I think are complete morons.
So at the end of the day, you have to know what your words are going to mean to people, and be prepared to take the consequences, because that's what being an adult means, yo.
And now, I'm going to watch more mindless television as it is the last day of my vacation.
So does being careful about joining RPGs, but I digress.
A few months ago during that whole "is hating slash homophobic" debate a lot of people were surprised at the vehemence of
folk's reaction. I have to say, I wasn't, and neither were a few other people, but only a few. Then later, during the pottersginny debacle, others were dismayed at how msscribe chose to defend herself. And again, I found myself trying to explain to people, especially here, but also in some very interesting chats.Now, I know that there is a certain amount of lock-step liberalism going on around here, and I'm sure I'm as guilty of it as the next person. I also am on record as hating labels, for many different reasons. But I also know that people use labels, and that if you fall into a certain category, whether through appearance or location or upbringing, you are going to have to work out how you feel about that label, what parts of it relate to you and what parts don't (because no one, I mean no one, fits any label completely, even the ones we like and take on for ourselves).
For example, I identify as biracial. It's how I think about myself. I know that within the Black community it's somewhat controversial because any African Americans that are descended from slaves have some Anglo blood. I also know that I would be stupid not to understand that people who see me on the street see a Black girl. When I was in college I though long and hard about all of these things and came to a place where I can handle the difference between my feelings about my race and other people's labels.
So the thing is, if you're going to step forward and claim a label, you have to accept that people will pour into that label all of their assumptions about "people like that" unless you tell them differently. For example, you can't say, "I'm Catholic" and then get upset when people assume you're pro-life. Labels are assumptions. If you don't want the assumptions, don't proclaim the labels. And if you want the label but with some objections, you should state them.
Okay, so knowing that, let's talk about some defenses. If you've really studied the US Civil Rights movement, or any number of labor or other sorts of social movements, you'll notice that there is nothing nice about fighting for your rights. Nothing. It's a nasty war of attrition, where you just keep banging away until they get sick of your ass face and give you what you've been asking for. And when you are in the midst of it, there really is no room for compromise. You're fighting for your very existence. You can't just let a few things slide, because those few things become more things and then the powers that be think that you aren't serious.
This shit is serious. Your politics are serious. And if you aren't prepared to back up your blanket statements with actual beliefs—or if you haven't thought through the things that other people have told you until they are your own beliefs and not just handed down—then you may want to not start the conversation. Because you ARE responsible for not only your own words, but for words said in your name as a member of whatever community you profess yourself a part of. And there are people not only in this fandom, but in this world, who will call you on them.
For example, I actually don't think that fiscal responsibility is as important as the protection of individual rights, so I generally vote democrat. However, I will vote for a republican who is liberal on rights and conservative on fiscal issues, depending on the office. I also won't vote for democrats that I think are complete morons.
So at the end of the day, you have to know what your words are going to mean to people, and be prepared to take the consequences, because that's what being an adult means, yo.
And now, I'm going to watch more mindless television as it is the last day of my vacation.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2003-10-12 02:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-12 02:40 pm (UTC)Finally. Thank you.
no subject
Date: 2003-10-12 04:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-13 07:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-12 02:57 pm (UTC)Fanwank Avenger salutes you, JLH! You make the world a better place!
*pins little FWA badge to your lapel*
*salutes*
no subject
Date: 2003-10-12 03:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-12 04:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-12 05:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-12 05:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-13 01:40 pm (UTC)Dude, this is a fantastic post, and exactly what needs to be said. Bravo.
no subject
Date: 2003-10-12 07:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-13 09:25 am (UTC)*hugs*
no subject
Date: 2003-10-13 11:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-13 11:46 am (UTC)~Erin
wow.
Date: 2003-10-13 12:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-13 12:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-13 07:43 pm (UTC)