Sort of a Rant......

Alright, I know this topic has been beaten to death, but it's still driving me insane. Why in hell do human beings find it so necessary to categorize things? Be it music, people, or anything else, labels and stereotypes can cause real suffering. How can you claim to know a person so well that you can put this definitive sticker on them? And honestly, there isn't a single stereotype out there that can actually fit anyone. You can't read minds, at least I think. If you can feel free to let me know, but is your clique system ( emos, preps, jocks, etc.) worth hurting people's feelings? I don't think think so, and I don't think you do either. Why don't we just stop it?

Seriously people.

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  • StillLovingYou
    June 17
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    yup my dear friend selena it is a rant but a good rant!


  • Ademon
    January 19
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  • Nocturne Moderators member
    January 19
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    And whoops, sorry for the absolutagigantanourmous response.

  • Nocturne Moderators member
    January 19

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    I know you probably aren't looking for a real answer to this, but it all goes back to psychology. No, really, the human mind is wired to categorize things - it's how we learn and understand the world. Let me give you a word:

    Chair


    And suddenly, in your mind, you see a chair. Or a couple chairs. Or a couple different types of things that fit your mental category of 'chair'. Okay, is a stool a chair? You pause, matching your criteria of chair against the image of a stool. Okay, is a couch a chair? No. You probably didn't hesitate, though now you might be thinking - well, it could be.

    It makes life simpler to put down categories. Most of the time, it's unfair to call a song "just metal" when it could be further described as 'symphonic, (soprano) female-fronted, alternative metal' and then even further described as v different from all those others that are technically of the same category. But imagine how difficult listening to a radio station or going through your media files it would be if there were no categories. It might be more fair, but it would be ridiculously overwhelming.

    With time, I've learned that me personality does not quite let me feel comfortable with high energy people who are sports fanatics, rarely read, adore reality TV, watch American Top Model obsessively and love fashion magazines. Am I discriminating when I gravitate toward people with whom I feel I have something in common? Yes, I am. Is it a bad thing? No, I don't think so.

    We all define for ourselves what we want, whether it be science-fiction vs Detective/Mystery from the bookstore, Alternative vs Rap on Pandora.com, or walking over to the group of drama nerds instead of the huddle of guys listening to hip-hop and discussing the latest foreign policy trends.

    Of course, I think you're absolutely right that when categories are used to hurt people, that's out of line.

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