2elijah said:

chaosandisorder said:

I honestly don't like being called African American. I have never even been to Africa. I perfer the term black american. I belive it just describes me better because not everyone who is black has strictly African ancestors.

Everyone, black or not, has ancient African ancestors. It is where the first humas referred to as Homo Sapiens originated, lived, and travelled out of Africa, to populate the rest of the world.

Defining yourself as such doesn't mean you had to be born in Africa, but many who have more recent ancestors, especially those who are direct descendants of Africans brought to America/Caribbean, elsewhere, etc., technically are more closely related, even if they have no idea/knowledge or direct connection with the African ethnic group their recent ancestors were from, unless they do a geneology search.

Here's another example: One of Puerto Rican heritage who has never been to Puerto Rico or was born there, is still Puerto Rican through their parents' heritage, which is really a mixture of a few ethnic groups. Same as someone of Italian, Greek, Irish heritage. Doesn't mean one is necessarily forced to practice the culture of their parents, but they are still part of that particular heritage.

[Edited 4/12/11 8:55am]

I respect your wealth of knowlege on all things race related 2elijah but he did say "strictly" and he merely expressed what he does and doesn't like. It seems you are trying very hard to convince him of all the reasons he should indeed refer to himself as african american.

maybe us Americans should just be that.....Americans.

HotGritz said:

2elijah said:

You forgot indigo. There's a lot of Africans from Morocco, Senegal, etc., that are actually that dark. I forgot the name of the African model who is that complexion. The insides of the palm of their hands/feet are like an orange tone, morso than pinkish, like in Black Americans.

[Edited 4/12/11 10:58am]

Alek Wek? She is so lovely. She has a baby face.

[img:$uid]http://img1.browsebiography.com/images/gal/170_Alek_Wek_ELLE_cover.jpg[/img:$uid]

Yes. So many shades. From what I've read, our skin tones changed depending on the area ancient humans lived, and had a lot to do with the color of the soil where they inhabited in Africa. Hard to believe? Well, I heard the same thing from a Native American woman, who did some research on this. Much of the changes in our hair textures, bone structure, eye color, skin tones, etc., were pretty much due to the geographic areas early humans inhabited/travelled to, and the various climates they were exposed to.

Some Geneticists have stated extreme lack of Vitamin D caused many of the early humans' bone structure/skin tones/hair textures, etc., to change, when they travelled/inhabited specific, geographic areas of the globe, where the climate was much colder, something the early human were not used to, before they took the journey out of Africa.

The lack of minerals/nutrients/vitamins they needed, caused physical changes to take place. So years, after the Ice Age, when differnt groups ran into one another, they didn't recognize each other because they were separated from one another for so long, and that folks, is why we look so different from one another today.

cut us open, we're all pink and red inside...with guts and stuff.

I never understood the term "black"....people of darker skin are rarely black, but more brown...

Shorty said:

2elijah said:

Everyone, black or not, has ancient African ancestors. It is where the first humas referred to as Homo Sapiens originated, lived, and travelled out of Africa, to populate the rest of the world.

Defining yourself as such doesn't mean you had to be born in Africa, but many who have more recent ancestors, especially those who are direct descendants of Africans brought to America/Caribbean, elsewhere, etc., technically are more closely related, even if they have no idea/knowledge or direct connection with the African ethnic group their recent ancestors were from, unless they do a geneology search.

Here's another example: One of Puerto Rican heritage who has never been to Puerto Rico or was born there, is still Puerto Rican through their parents' heritage, which is really a mixture of a few ethnic groups. Same as someone of Italian, Greek, Irish heritage. Doesn't mean one is necessarily forced to practice the culture of their parents, but they are still part of that particular heritage.

[Edited 4/12/11 8:55am]

I respect your wealth of knowlege on all things race related 2elijah but he did say "strictly" and he merely expressed what he does and doesn't like. It seems you are trying very hard to convince him of all the reasons he should indeed refer to himself as african american.

maybe us Americans should just be that.....Americans.

Absolutely not. I believe you read my post wrong. He has the right to define himself as he chooses, it's not my place to tell him.

He does not, I repeat, he does not have to refer to himself as African-American. That's his personal choice. He states he feels more comfortable defining himself as Black American, because he can. I was not born in Africa, either, have no knowledge of the African, ethnic group that surely runs through my blood, but I choose to define myself as Black American, just like that poster did, because America is where I was born, raised and developed one part of my culture, outside of my parents' Caribbean heritage. I wasn't born in the Caribbean, but I choose to embrace and respect, part of the Caribbean culture, taught to me by my parents. I was born in the U.S., so I lived/relate to that particular culture on a more "general" level.

My point to him was that, all humans , regardless of skin tone, are related in some way to ancient Africans, whether they are related to the groups that stayed in Africa longer or the ones that left Africa, and travelled through various parts of the world, physically evolving as they travelled from place to place.

BlackAdder7 said:

cut us open, we're all pink and red inside...with guts and stuff.

I never understood the term "black"....people of darker skin are rarely black, but more brown...

Depends on what part of the globe they live. There are African, ethnic groups, i.e, Senegal, Darfur, etc., whose skin tones are of an indigo tone. No lie, but they define themselves by their "ethnic" group, not by skin tone, like in America. It's a whole different ball game over here.

PositivityNYC said:

chaosandisorder said:

I honestly don't like being called African American. I have never even been to Africa. I perfer the term black american. I belive it just describes me better because not everyone who is black has strictly African ancestors.

It was meant to be used for Americans decended from black American slaves -- but ppl tend to mistakenly use it for every "black" face they see

~ this way, the term should not be applied to Latinos or West Indians, or even black ppl from Europe, Asia or Canada (unless their heritage does include black American slaves).

However, if the term is to be properly used, like "Irish-American" (born in the USA with Irish heritage) and "Italian-American" (born in the USA with Italian heritage), and so on, two good examples are:

1)President Obama isn't "African American" b/c he's half black, he is African-American b/c

a) he has one African parent and one American parent

b) he has at least one African parent and was born in America

* if he had been born in Africa to at least one American parent, this, too, would apply

2) If Charlize Theron has a kid with her American bf, that child - though white - will also be African-American

but yes (original post); human beings began on the African continent and spread out from there... technically, all human beings are "African."

While all of these "racial" labels attempt to define us, all they really do is divide. There's only one race; human (or hueman, as I've seen some ppl use ~ since man comes in so many lovely hues ).

[Edited 4/12/11 11:24am]

::cough:: One of West Indian culture over here... You're right about West Indians...they define themselves by the islands they were/are born , i.e., Jamaican, Trinidadian, Bejan(Barbados), Bahamian, St. Lucians, Virgin Gordans, Virgin Islanders, etc., this is why there was/is a conflict when American-born blacks think that West Indians are trying to deny their African heritage, because many American Blacks have little knowledge of the Blacks from the Caribbean...same ancestors, just got dropped off at different destinations during the slave trade. I won't lie, many Caribbeans are not aware of the history of their African ancestors, especially the old timers, because many of the old timers had/have that colonized mentality.. Thank goodness many in the younger generation today, are much more educated and aware of their history, moreso than their grandparents/great-grandparents, including mine.

What many don't even know, is that the Transatlantic slave trade (African) basically started in the Caribbean first.

[Edited 4/12/11 12:08pm]

2elijah said:

Shorty said:

I respect your wealth of knowlege on all things race related 2elijah but she did say "strictly" and he merely expressed what he does and doesn't like. It seems you are trying very hard to convince him of all the reasons he should indeed refer to himself as african american. explain to her a point they are probably well aware of....

maybe us Americans should just be that.....Americans.

Absolutely not. I believe you read my post wrong. He has the right to define himself as he chooses, it's not my place to tell him.

He does not, I repeat, he does not have to refer to himself as African-American. That's his personal choice. He states he feels more comfortable defining himself as Black American, because he can. I was not born in Africa, either, have no knowledge of the African, ethnic group that surely runs through my blood, but I choose to define myself as Black American, just like that poster did, because America is where I was born, raised and developed one part of my culture, outside of my parents' Caribbean heritage. I wasn't born in the Caribbean, but I choose to embrace and respect, part of the Caribbean culture, taught to me by my parents. I was born in the U.S., so I lived/relate to that particular culture on a more "general" level.

My point to him was that, all humans , regardless of skin tone, are related in some way to ancient Africans, whether they are related to the groups that stayed in Africa longer or the ones that left Africa, and travelled through various parts of the world, physically evolving as they travelled from place to place.

there...I corrected my coment. anyway I'll let chaosanddisorder speak for herself. I didn't mean to speak for her.

choas is a girl edit

[Edited 4/12/11 12:17pm]

I work in non-profit world where we have to collect this info for grants that serve minorities, etc.

All the race/ethnicity info is self-reported. How do YOU indentify yourself? Even if you don't want to answer the question, it's an option, too.

Seems a good system rather than for us to try to determine what race Obama or Charleze Theron are by using our own individual logic.

NDRU said:

It felt so strange for me when I was asked in Trinidad by some magistrate if I would call myself caucasian. First if I would have to define myself I would say white and second overhere I never ever had to identify myself as part of an ethnicity. I remember it was shocking for me when I first saw my boyfriend's identity card stating his colour of skin.

Serious said:

NDRU said:

I work in non-profit world where we have to collect this info for grants that serve minorities, etc.

All the race/ethnicity info is self-reported. How do YOU indentify yourself? Even if you don't want to answer the question, it's an option, too.

Seems a good system rather than for us to try to determine what race Obama or Charleze Theron are by using our own individual logic.

It felt so strange for me when I was asked in Trinidad by some magistrate if I would call myself caucasian. First if I would have to define myself I would say white and second overhere I never ever had to identify myself as part of an ethnicity. I remember it was shocking for me when I first saw my boyfriend's identity card stating his colour of skin.

I don't know that particular situation, but I can say it's not always asked with bad intentions.

Over here there is almost always the "decline to state" option

2elijah said:

PositivityNYC said:

It was meant to be used for Americans decended from black American slaves -- but ppl tend to mistakenly use it for every "black" face they see

~ this way, the term should not be applied to Latinos or West Indians, or even black ppl from Europe, Asia or Canada (unless their heritage does include black American slaves).

However, if the term is to be properly used, like "Irish-American" (born in the USA with Irish heritage) and "Italian-American" (born in the USA with Italian heritage), and so on, two good examples are:

1)President Obama isn't "African American" b/c he's half black, he is African-American b/c

a) he has one African parent and one American parent

b) he has at least one African parent and was born in America

* if he had been born in Africa to at least one American parent, this, too, would apply

2) If Charlize Theron has a kid with her American bf, that child - though white - will also be African-American

but yes (original post); human beings began on the African continent and spread out from there... technically, all human beings are "African."

While all of these "racial" labels attempt to define us, all they really do is divide. There's only one race; human (or hueman, as I've seen some ppl use ~ since man comes in so many lovely hues ).

[Edited 4/12/11 11:24am]

::cough:: One of West Indian culture over here... You're right about West Indians...they define themselves by the islands they were/are born , i.e., Jamaican, Trinidadian, Bejan(Barbados), Bahamian, St. Lucians, Virgin Gordans, Virgin Islanders, etc., this is why there was/is a conflict when American-born blacks think that West Indians are trying to deny their African heritage, because many American Blacks have little knowledge of the Blacks from the Caribbean...same ancestors, just got dropped off at different destinations during the slave trade. I won't lie, many Caribbeans are not aware of the history of their African ancestors, especially the old timers, because many of the old timers had/have that colonized mentality.. Thank goodness many in the younger generation today, are much more educated and aware of their history, moreso than their grandparents/great-grandparents, including mine.

What many don't even know, is that the Transatlantic slave trade (African) basically started in the Caribbean first.

[Edited 4/12/11 12:08pm]

We Americans were barely taught our own history, fully/accurately ~ no wonder we don't know much about the Caribbean, even with "world" history classes in school..

I never heard that Americans thought West Indian blacks were trying to deny their African heritage [how is that possible??] -- well, aside from black Latinos in the Caribbean....

hey, did you hear about this airing April 19th - May 10th?

on PBS: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/b...in-america

should be interesting.. especially since I just read/saw these two:

http://edition.cnn.com/20...n.heritage

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/n...cause/8489 not so cool...

NDRU said:

No, it was not bad intentions, he had to fill it out.
It was kinda funny though as he asked me if caucasian would apply for me after staring at me forever and probably thinking well she's neither African nor Indian or Chinese, she must be something, but what the hell might she be . I guess nowhere there is used to people as white as I am .
[Edited 4/12/11 12:33pm]

NDRU said:

I work in non-profit world where we have to collect this info for grants that serve minorities, etc.

All the race/ethnicity info is self-reported. How do YOU indentify yourself? Even if you don't want to answer the question, it's an option, too.

Seems a good system rather than for us to try to determine what race Obama or Charleze Theron are by using our own individual logic.

I usually skip over that question, as well as the one that asks for income..

I've allways loved the way people can't decide on my origin, because of my distinctive looks.

Especially when I've been outside in the sun, I tan rapidly, than they really ar lost

Some say I have Eastern-European features, some think I'm from South Europe, some think I have South American ancestors, some think I'm half black/half white. I allways think that's hilarious.

Both my parents families historically lived in Friesland, where the blond-bleu-eyed girls come from.

However, the first time I got discriminated against was in New York. When I went to a hiphop concert, at first I didn't understand why I got so many agressive looks. I was only after half an hour that it daunted to me that I was the only white one in the audiance.

I was so shocked by the American way of discriminating so harshly on skin colour.

Now it's usance in Europe too. So, I got used to it.

Lucky for me, my looks fit in with whatever crowd I'm with.

PositivityNYC said:

chaosandisorder said:

I honestly don't like being called African American. I have never even been to Africa. I perfer the term black american. I belive it just describes me better because not everyone who is black has strictly African ancestors.

It was meant to be used for Americans decended from black American slaves -- but ppl tend to mistakenly use it for every "black" face they see

~ this way, the term should not be applied to Latinos or West Indians, or even black ppl from Europe, Asia or Canada (unless their heritage does include black American slaves).

However, if the term is to be properly used, like "Irish-American" (born in the USA with Irish heritage) and "Italian-American" (born in the USA with Italian heritage), and so on, two good examples are:

1)President Obama isn't "African American" b/c he's half black, he is African-American b/c

a) he has one African parent and one American parent

b) he has at least one African parent and was born in America

* if he had been born in Africa to at least one American parent, this, too, would apply

2) If Charlize Theron has a kid with her American bf, that child - though white - will also be African-American

but yes (original post); human beings began on the African continent and spread out from there... technically, all human beings are "African."

While all of these "racial" labels attempt to define us, all they really do is divide. There's only one race; human (or hueman, as I've seen some ppl use ~ since man comes in so many lovely hues ).

[Edited 4/12/11 11:24am]

I love your ass.

And I love the Charlize example.

johnart said:

PositivityNYC said:

It was meant to be used for Americans decended from black American slaves -- but ppl tend to mistakenly use it for every "black" face they see

~ this way, the term should not be applied to Latinos or West Indians, or even black ppl from Europe, Asia or Canada (unless their heritage does include black American slaves).

However, if the term is to be properly used, like "Irish-American" (born in the USA with Irish heritage) and "Italian-American" (born in the USA with Italian heritage), and so on, two good examples are:

1)President Obama isn't "African American" b/c he's half black, he is African-American b/c

a) he has one African parent and one American parent

b) he has at least one African parent and was born in America

* if he had been born in Africa to at least one American parent, this, too, would apply

2) If Charlize Theron has a kid with her American bf, that child - though white - will also be African-American

but yes (original post); human beings began on the African continent and spread out from there... technically, all human beings are "African."

While all of these "racial" labels attempt to define us, all they really do is divide. There's only one race; human (or hueman, as I've seen some ppl use ~ since man comes in so many lovely hues ).

[Edited 4/12/11 11:24am]

I love your ass.

And I love the Charlize example.

Charlize (for the sake of amusement) would actually be European African, though right? so her kid would be euroafrimerican?

NDRU said:

johnart said:

I love your ass.

And I love the Charlize example.

Charlize (for the sake of amusement) would actually be European African, though right? so her kid would be euroafrimerican?

At this point I don't know and no longer care.

PositivityNYC said:

but yes (original post); human beings began on the African continent and spread out from there... technically, all human beings are "African."

While all of these "racial" labels attempt to define us, all they really do is divide. There's only one race; human (or hueman, as I've seen some ppl use ~ since man comes in so many lovely hues ).

that seems to be true.

Too bad, though, there should be no negative connotations to our differences.

But alas we ARE all of the same race and all have the same flaws--namely judgement, hate, fear...

johnart said:

NDRU said:

Charlize (for the sake of amusement) would actually be European African, though right? so her kid would be euroafrimerican?

At this point I don't know and no longer care.

I know she doesn't care about this discussion!

PositivityNYC said:

2elijah said:

::cough:: One of West Indian culture over here... You're right about West Indians...they define themselves by the islands they were/are born , i.e., Jamaican, Trinidadian, Bejan(Barbados), Bahamian, St. Lucians, Virgin Gordans, Virgin Islanders, etc., this is why there was/is a conflict when American-born blacks think that West Indians are trying to deny their African heritage, because many American Blacks have little knowledge of the Blacks from the Caribbean...same ancestors, just got dropped off at different destinations during the slave trade. I won't lie, many Caribbeans are not aware of the history of their African ancestors, especially the old timers, because many of the old timers had/have that colonized mentality.. Thank goodness many in the younger generation today, are much more educated and aware of their history, moreso than their grandparents/great-grandparents, including mine.

What many don't even know, is that the Transatlantic slave trade (African) basically started in the Caribbean first.

[Edited 4/12/11 12:08pm]

We Americans were barely taught our own history, fully/accurately ~ no wonder we don't know much about the Caribbean, even with "world" history classes in school..

I never heard that Americans thought West Indian blacks were trying to deny their African heritage [how is that possible??] -- well, aside from black Latinos in the Caribbean....

hey, did you hear about this airing April 19th - May 10th?

on PBS: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/b...in-america

should be interesting.. especially since I just read/saw these two:

http://edition.cnn.com/20...n.heritage

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/n...cause/8489 not so cool...

Trust and believe I had to deal with some cultural discrimination growing up, so I know. I found myself caught in-between educating blacks from the north/south in the U.S. to the ones from the Caribbean. Both groups tend to have "stereotypical assumptions" of the other, due to a cultural divide, at times. Many Blacks in the U.S. didn't understand why islanders defined their ethnicity by the name of their island, which is how they define their culture. Often times they think Islanders are denying their racial background/history, when they're not. Whereas most American Blacks define themselves by either Black American or African-American. Now with so many African immigrants coming to the states, both groups are trying to learn the cultures of the many African ethnic groups now living in this country, and coming here with their own languages. A lot to catch up to.

On the Charlize Theron comment, she would be African-American by "Nationality" place of birth, not by a particular, Black African ethnic group from Africa, but as a descendant from a European group of her ancestors that migrated/immigrated to Africa.

[Edited 4/12/11 13:53pm]

PositivityNYC said:

2elijah said:

::cough:: One of West Indian culture over here... You're right about West Indians...they define themselves by the islands they were/are born , i.e., Jamaican, Trinidadian, Bejan(Barbados), Bahamian, St. Lucians, Virgin Gordans, Virgin Islanders, etc., this is why there was/is a conflict when American-born blacks think that West Indians are trying to deny their African heritage, because many American Blacks have little knowledge of the Blacks from the Caribbean...same ancestors, just got dropped off at different destinations during the slave trade. I won't lie, many Caribbeans are not aware of the history of their African ancestors, especially the old timers, because many of the old timers had/have that colonized mentality.. Thank goodness many in the younger generation today, are much more educated and aware of their history, moreso than their grandparents/great-grandparents, including mine.

What many don't even know, is that the Transatlantic slave trade (African) basically started in the Caribbean first.

[Edited 4/12/11 12:08pm]

We Americans were barely taught our own history, fully/accurately ~ no wonder we don't know much about the Caribbean, even with "world" history classes in school..

I never heard that Americans thought West Indian blacks were trying to deny their African heritage [how is that possible??] -- well, aside from black Latinos in the Caribbean....

hey, did you hear about this airing April 19th - May 10th?

on PBS: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/b...in-america

should be interesting.. especially since I just read/saw these two:

http://edition.cnn.com/20...n.heritage

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/n...cause/8489 not so cool...

Whoo Hoo! Thanks for those links. I will definitely enjoy watching that. Som of my Dad's brothers used to live in the Dominican Republic back in the early 60s, and my Godmother is from there. So it will be interesting to see how they react to see how much knowledge they have over in the Latin Caribbean countries about their history.

Shorty said:

2elijah said:

Absolutely not. I believe you read my post wrong. He has the right to define himself as he chooses, it's not my place to tell him.

He does not, I repeat, he does not have to refer to himself as African-American. That's his personal choice. He states he feels more comfortable defining himself as Black American, because he can. I was not born in Africa, either, have no knowledge of the African, ethnic group that surely runs through my blood, but I choose to define myself as Black American, just like that poster did, because America is where I was born, raised and developed one part of my culture, outside of my parents' Caribbean heritage. I wasn't born in the Caribbean, but I choose to embrace and respect, part of the Caribbean culture, taught to me by my parents. I was born in the U.S., so I lived/relate to that particular culture on a more "general" level.

My point to him was that, all humans , regardless of skin tone, are related in some way to ancient Africans, whether they are related to the groups that stayed in Africa longer or the ones that left Africa, and travelled through various parts of the world, physically evolving as they travelled from place to place.

there...I corrected my coment. anyway I'll let chaosanddisorder speak for herself. I didn't mean to speak for her.

choas is a girl edit

[Edited 4/12/11 12:17pm]

No problem.

Alkebulan (Alkebu-lan)

"The name "Africa" was invented and used by the Romans, but they had no idea how big the continent was. They used the name to to refer to their small area around Carthage.

In Africa itself, there are well over 1000 spoken languages, who would all have used their own names for places known to them. Africa is a very big place and no language encompasses the whole continent. It is very unlikely that any of the many empires, kingdoms and tribes had a concept of Africa as one clearly bounded continent with one name. They probably referred to their local region, and some far off regions known to them. "

in a country ruled and populated by so many

funny that so few could make one forget who they were.

but then

all real africans are caucasians

anyone else claimin to be so

is just un-civilized and lost.

King Bad

ok ok ok...

it's like the people that were here originaly (u.s.a.)

i never bothered to find the original name of this land

it's even more mired than that.

when your tribe is your country then how can you name

the world?

GAIA

the world itself is where i'm from

and it's where i rule and i never try

to make bounderies because i don't

wanna cut anyone short. hehehe

truth of the matter bein

i still didn't read this crap

but i kinow i didn't feel the right response in there

and no-matter how PRO-BLACK one may be

it's still a disrepect to think them africans

(unless they're italian or dutch or somethin other)

and the people who were here on the u.s. first

wow. why they gotta be 'natives'

we were born here we are natives

now get outta here and go play... i'm done for now.

Labels are just tools to me IMHO.

You can use any label for good or bad.... labels to indentify with or separate yourself from.

Labels like "wealthy", "thin", "American", "normal" etc.... can be used in positive or negative ways.

I know terms like "caucasian" or "black" are relatively simple enough terms... but why were they invented in the first place? I think if we understand why these labels were created and for what purpose(s) can we learn to not have guilt or hatred (or any other feelings) associated with labels ... any labels that apply to people in general.

Maybe this way we can finally learn to treat each other equally and even get to truly celebrate what is unique and different about us all.

paintedlady said:

Labels are just tools to me IMHO.

You can use any label for good or bad.... labels to indentify with or separate yourself from.

Labels like "wealthy", "thin", "American", "normal" etc.... can be used in positive or negative ways.

I know terms like "caucasian" or "black" are relatively simple enough terms... but why were they invented in the first place? I think if we understand why these labels were created and for what purpose(s) can we learn to not have guilt or hatred (or any other feelings) associated with labels ... any labels that apply to people in general.

Maybe this way we can finally learn to treat each other equally and even get to truly celebrate what is unique and different about us all.

I rather like labels; they come in handy. At the end of the day its better to be called something than to be called nothing. You can't fully know your destination unless you know your origin. Labels can be good or bad yes, but I think it's not so much the label but the interpretation of the label.

This is leftover tweet shit btw.

i like the word Ni**er

no shit , i really do like the word aside from it meaning and past usage i like the word

my dad said i use to call everything Ni**ger/s

my parents didn't use the word and i was often reprimanded

i remember i saw a leave with a lot holes and said it looks like a Ni**er

to mee an object with alots of holes can be a Ni**ger

exapmle of a ni**er object

[img:$uid]http://i53.tinypic.com/1zx83zs.jpg[/img:$uid]

i think i have trypophobia: fear of tiny holes and irregular clusters.

formallypickles said:

i think i have trypophobia: fear of tiny holes and irregular clusters.

tiny holes... heheheeee

does this mean you keep

yours TIGHT out of fear

or just good sexual conduct???

HotGritz said:

paintedlady said:

Labels are just tools to me IMHO.

You can use any label for good or bad.... labels to indentify with or separate yourself from.

Labels like "wealthy", "thin", "American", "normal" etc.... can be used in positive or negative ways.

I know terms like "caucasian" or "black" are relatively simple enough terms... but why were they invented in the first place? I think if we understand why these labels were created and for what purpose(s) can we learn to not have guilt or hatred (or any other feelings) associated with labels ... any labels that apply to people in general.

Maybe this way we can finally learn to treat each other equally and even get to truly celebrate what is unique and different about us all.

I rather like labels; they come in handy. At the end of the day its better to be called something than to be called nothing. You can't fully know your destination unless you know your origin. Labels can be good or bad yes, but I think it's not so much the label but the interpretation of the label.

This is leftover tweet shit btw.

I never use twitter, I just never got into it.

But that's just it ain't it? Even many of us that complain about how people use labels against us never even educate themselves about their own culture. They walk in silent shame/guilt and project their shit on other people because they don't like themselves. Some need to feel important about their situations and lifestyles.

It may sound corny, but its the truth in my eyes as I see it. Anyone can be a crab in a barrel and drag others down, or choose educate thensemlves and takes risks by challenging what has been taught to them.

To protect yourself, its good to know who you are and were you are going, but a label can also box you into small mindedness if one lets it happen.

More twitter shit I guess.... but that's just my POV

paintedlady said:

HotGritz said:

I rather like labels; they come in handy. At the end of the day its better to be called something than to be called nothing. You can't fully know your destination unless you know your origin. Labels can be good or bad yes, but I think it's not so much the label but the interpretation of the label.

This is leftover tweet shit btw.

I never use twitter, I just never got into it.

But that's just it ain't it? Even many of us that complain about how people use labels against us never even educate themselves about their own culture. They walk in silent shame/guilt and project their shit on other people because they don't like themselves. Some need to feel important about their situations and lifestyles.

It may sound corny, but its the truth in my eyes as I see it. Anyone can be a crab in a barrel and drag others down, or choose educate thensemlves and takes risks by challenging what has been taught to them.

To protect yourself, its good to know who you are and were you are going, but a label can also box you into small mindedness if one lets it happen.

More twitter shit I guess.... but that's just my POV

Twitter is crazy and you would not believe some of the stuff people tweet. I wish I could get paid to spy but then I'd have to work 18 hour days 7 days a week.

But to your point...yes we complain about how labels are used on us by others but we never educate ourselves enough to even understand why the label should offend or compliment. I'm thinking I don't even like the term "label" and would like to replace it with "description". If someone describes me, no problem. If they label me...mmm I might have to kiss them or kick their ass.