Why do we have labels anyway?

Question

No one can agree on what all the stereotypes are. So why do people still feel like they have to categorize other people and themselves into certain groups, when no one can even agree on what the groups represent.
Like goth, emo, punk, etc.

Answer 1

No one has to do anything, frankly. A lot of people fit into one sterotype or another. Like it or not, there is a reason stereotypes exist.
There is a difference in labels, stereotypes, and downright predjudice though. As long as you havent made up your mind before even talking to the person, or treated him differently for reasons involving labels, what crime have you comitted?

Answer 2

The human mind deals with a complex world by simplifying and labeling almost everything. If you walk down the street and see a animal, your response will be different depending on whether you label it "dog," "cat," or "bear," even if you've never seen that particular animal before.

Unfortunately, this carries over into areas when it's not always appropriate.

Answer 3

its a way of associating with people. at the ages where these stereotypes are most important, normally highschool and middleschool, we all were looking for a group in which we could identify. These categories just made that simpler, however correct or incorrect they may have been.

Answer 4

I use labels for identification purposes only.

'Hey, 'liberty spikes', what did you use in your hair?' (I wanted to know...his hair behaved much better than mine)
'Who's the black guy in the blue shirt?'
'Who was the Korean guy we always ordered hot bi-bim-bap from in Waegwan?'

People had an easier time answering my questions than they had with my husband's questions...

In a crowded club...
'Who's that girl?' (What girl?) 'The girl with the hair.' (They ALL have hair) 'You know, that GIRL.'

Usually, friends/loved ones will have similar ideas as to what they define as emo/goth/punk or black/brown/white or masculine/feminine/androgenous and so on and so on.

Answer 5

so that way we can define who we want to hang out with it is wrong still but it is one way you can find people with intrest like you and groups are horrible becuase you may like all the groups and it just turns to chaos hope that helps

Answer 6

People feel a need to define their environment. It helps them to feel more secure. Obviously this goes too far too often.

Answer 7

because they are different. goth, punk and emo are completely different.

Answer 8

so that we can identify one another..

goth emo and punk dont count becuase they dont represent anything

Answer 9

I wonder too, all I know is that it's been going on forever and it becomes a habit.

Answer 10

Its easier for people to hate them.