What label would I put on myself? Hope I don't offend anyone.

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This may be a deep subject I am opening and would undoubtly get out of hand on the other forums, but I feel the group here could help me with my introspect. I f it gets out of control, Mr and Mdm Moderators, please delete it and sensure me accordingly for my error in judgement. Here goes.

While not being as far right as "Archie Bunker", I am more conservative than most around me.

While communicating to a wide diverse social sector occasionally or in required instances, I prefer the isolation of my core family only.

While learning of other cultures to better understand them, I have no desire to become actively involved as a part of those cultures. Accepting instead to maintain peaceful coexistance without interaction.

While accepting other cultures as part of our social structure, I also accept bigotry and prejudice as an intergal part of society as it is an acquired instinct of most social structures. IMO these offshoot forums were actually a result of this as all participants couldn't exist in a diverse environment together.

I find it hard to understand why while the far right will understand my desire to remain within my property bounderies unintruded upon, and the far left, while saying "you do your thing ,I do mine" will be offended that I don't welcome them within my world and then show predjudice against me for being bigoted, not like them. I had a self proclaimed liberal tell me "I am not predjudiced and hate anyone like you ,who is predjudiced". This paradox statement is one I have tried to figure out for years.

I know that I am a social dinosaur whose time will pass. While holding my various politically incorrect views and values close, I try not to discount others values until they attempt to force them upon me , weather they be liberal diverse , consevative religeous or just plain "way out there". Even then , my percieved "offensive" is only that I am retreating to the solitude of my 1.2 acre world here. Even though I am not what I consider to be to the left (tree hugger, vegitarian, native culture, etc.) I find myself here more than the other sites and I like this board because I see so many of us with different values, yet we don't wear the blinders others would.

Mind you, I don't necessarily want to "wear a label", I am just curious how I would be labeled by society other "than really screwed up". Input please. Hope no one takes offense.

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2002

Answers

I take no offense at all; it seems a happy balance between the pressures to be PC, and not caving in to core beliefs. Hypocrisy does not know liberal nor conversative nor independent bounds; all of us, in one way or another, have it at some degree.

I too prefer my privacy, unless I extend an invitation, and try to maintain the same standards. Prejudice, I think, is something we should try to avoid, but face it; would you want your daughter to marry a heroin junkie? Or someone whose religious beliefs vehemently attack your own? Extreme examples perhaps, but there you go, some would call you prejudiced.

I forgot who said this, but it really speaks to me. When this person was questioned on who he disliked, he gave a long description of people fitting every race, creed and color. When asked who he liked, he response was "My friends".

When it comes down to it Jay, your post seems to say "I gotta be me".

And that is cool by me.

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2002


Don't you think Jay, that perhaps the reason we all, as diverse as we are, get along is because we have an ingredient in our personality that allows for not being TOTALLY RIGHT. What I find missing in so many of my more conservative Christian friends is that. They are so sure that their way is the ONLY way that it condemns 99% of the world.

Personally, the minute anyone comes at me with their way or the highway I say adios amigo. I also find nothing wrong with loving solitude and picking and chosing who we want in our space. I don't call that "screwed up". If you chose to exclude certain people groups from you life I figure that is your loss and none of my business. There are several that I would prefer not to have in my space as well; usually religious affiliates that have no respect for my point of view or my privacy.

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2002


Jay, you sound alot like me, and I consider myself to be a Libertarian in all senses of the word.

I might not approve or condone all the actions of others, but I will defend their right to do so as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others.

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2002


Maybe libertarian is it. I think thats what Bill Mahyer is supposed to be and I generally relate to most of his topics.

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2002

Jay, some of my best friends are conservative and some of my best friends are liberal. I try to stay middle of the road (believing that moderation is the best in (almost!) all things...maybe martinis don't count LOL), but hey, I'm much more liberal in some ways; much more conservative in others! I guess the aggregate summation would be that I'm probably more liberal, though. I voted for that Gore guy....boring as that was, though...

To quote your post: "...desire to remain within my property bounderies unintruded upon, and 'you do your thing ,I do mine'," to me, anyway, do not seem incompatible. If I'm truly doing MY thing and you truly want you to do YOUR thing, how could I want to involve myself in YOUR business?

Of course, Hitler was just doing his thing, too...NOT that I'm comparing you to him, for heaven's sake!! But I guess we have to do some watching out for other's behaviors, wouldn't you think? How do we do that, if we truly care about anything?

btw, I grew up in Archie Bunker's household, so it's no surprize that I act like Gloria sometimes (and Mr. S ..."Green Dude"....acts like Meathead!!!)

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2002



Sheepish,

The "I do your thing, you do your thing" isn't my view . Thats the pushy liberals I know who are offended at me. My view is " I will do my thing here at my home and I don't give a @$%@&*$*@ what you do as long as you go away" and my attitude is not acceptable, because what they really mean to say is "I do my thing and you do your thing, but your thing better be just like my thing or I'll give you no peace until you change your thing to be just like my thing".

I don't even agree with all the libertarian views. I trhink if I am every questioned about my politics , I will simply say I belong to the martini sipping hermits party, pass an olive please. :>)

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2002


Wow..you folks are all so "deep"!! I feel like Eeyore...I'm just here, putting along and doing my own "thing" I guess. Whatever anyone else's thing is let them do it...as long as it doesn't hurt other people or infringe on someone else's "thing"!! Guess that makes me a Libertarian, also! But I hate olives -)!!!

-- Anonymous, January 30, 2002

Well now; some olives I like and some olives I don't like; and sometimes I've been faced with an olive that I really didn't think I was going to like, but I tried it and I ended up liking it after all... Although I've never had an olive in a martini, or a martini without an olive either, so maybe I shouldn't voice my opinions on olives - or martinis - d'ya think?!

There ya go - predjudice and bigotry and liberalism and conservatism - all at once! So what kind of label should I slap on myself? None - I make a living slapping labels on people and I've learned that no one label can be made to fit anyone - more One-Size-Fits-None rather than One-Size-Fits-All. It's why I've never had a bumper sticker on my car - I'd never be able to choose just one. (Tho I am holding out for that one about tourist season....eeek! More prejudice! Or was that bigotry?!)

Actually, as far as labels go, I've always kind of liked labels on cans - makes it a lot easier to know what's inside them. But y'know, your average salmon off the street doesn't have much choice about what can he's tucked inside and what label is slapped on outside. People get to choose their own visible lables - clothing, haircuts, jewelry - etc.. The visible labels on people are pretty easy to read, but even easier to misinterpret; or to be used to deliberatly lead people to misinterpret - just ask any successful con man or politician. Hmmm - maybe we ought to do a thread on what our "threads" (heehee) okay, our visible appearance says about us...

As far as action labels, those are easily misinterpreted too. I won't go to any company sponsored activities - picnics, parties, movies - usually not even to the annual state of the business meeting. Does that mean I'm antisocial? No. Do I hate my job? No. Do I not care about the business? Well....no. I'd just rather spend my days off at home. Another: I was a 4-H leader for a group of kids whos' base was the Methodist Church in the area where I live. I helped out with Bible School by being a chaparone and helping with games and refreshments. I sewed robes for the kids' Sunday School Passion Play. I donate pies to the Ice Cream Social and Young Adults Spagetti Supper, and help serve and clean up. Does this mean I want to be a part of the Methodist Church. Hell NO! It means that I like the kids, I like the Bible/Sunday school teacher and I bake a pretty mean pie and I don't mind helping out. Yet, I can't convince this nice little old lady that calls me every whipstitch to invite me to church, that I'm not interested.

I don't think that you're that much different from the rest of us, Jay. Which, as you said, is probably the reason we are all hiding out over here together! When I meet new folks (and sometimes when an argument gets started between folks who've known each other a while) and things sort of start to break down, I usually say "Let's talk about something we both LIKE or how we're ALIKE." Instead of allowing the focus to go negative. Keeps me sane. Moderatly sane, anyway.

So, I'm sorry, Jay, I don't have a label for you - unless it's ONE OF US!

-- Anonymous, January 30, 2002


Polly...I don't even like martinis!! Now I really feel "out of the loop". Can I still be "one of us" with you guys?? Please?!

-- Anonymous, January 30, 2002

I still love you Marcia; come over and sip lemonade in my tea house anytime!

-- Anonymous, January 30, 2002


PS - I have a tendency to spike my lemonade with gin; so if it's the gin that you're agin, rather than the whole martini, give me a heads up and I'll leave some sober!

-- Anonymous, January 30, 2002

Been thinking and mulling about this since Jay posted it. If you wait long enough, someone else will usually come up with your answer! Yay! In this case, Polly mostly said it for me. I defy labels -- which doesn't mean others haven't tried sticking a few on me. I enjoy surprising their "label" expectations, when I do something that doesn't fit their stupid label.

As for 'parties', I used to say that I was a GDI, but I think I'll change this to GBI -- Goddess Blessed INDEPENDANT! :-D

I loathe all olives except ripe ones (pitted please, for ease of consumption). I also don't like martinis, nor gin in anything. Vodka, now, or white rum . . . hmmmmmm. Too early in the day for me to be drinking though. Alcohol mostly puts me to sleep anyway, so I tend not to drink it often -- I always have too much to do! I have less than one alcoholic drink a month -- maybe 8-9 in a year.

-- Anonymous, January 30, 2002


Oh, thank you...thank you, Polly!! Joy...vodka is good, too! Hope ya don't mind the thread drifting, Jay :-)!

-- Anonymous, January 30, 2002

I prefer vodka to gin in my drinks.

-- Anonymous, January 30, 2002

Jay-Pretty funny statement they made to you: "I am not predjudiced and hate anyone like you ,who is predjudiced".

Of course hate is a prejudice, but so is love or even liking something or someone. Unless one totally doesn't care about something they are either prejudiced for or against it.

-- Anonymous, January 30, 2002



I dunno about all this label stuff either. What label would I apply to Jay? Hmmmm? The same label I'd apply to averyone else---human with all that implies I guess.

If I say I'm liberal that denies me the curmudgeonly conservative aspects of myself. If I say I'm conservative it denies me the pinko, commie, socialist components. If I try to be precise, to ally any misunderstanding in advance, its no longer a label, its a book.

There are some folks tho where labels might apply. Some, who don't really think for themself IMO, ascribe some label to themself, then work really hard "deserve" it, usually as its defined by others.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002


Thanks for all the input.I see that my label not neccesary policy isn't that far off base, but if people need to label me, they can have this new descriptive. My new label is " the generic Jay, not totally a saint, not totally evil, mostly benign and non-toxic. Akin to a base element so get over it, lose the labels and enjoy the day." Of course some would redifine it as "total a*$#$%^", but I can handle that :>)

Thats what I like about this board, email addys are all the label we need. Thanks .:>)

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002


Wait a minute there, Bucko!! Are you saying that our e-mail addys label us? Expound on your theory, please!!

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

When I lived in Toledo, my lib friends at the co-op said I was conservative. Now I live 50 miles south and my country farmer friends say that I'm a liberal. Ack! I'm me. A curious mixture. I think it would be boring if birds all sang the same song.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

Interesting thread.

I think what John said particularly rang true for me personally. Labelling is so limiting, and we all change throughout our lives too. I used to consider myself a typical die-hard, bleeding heart liberal, cuz I felt that was where my heart led me. Conservatives, like my folks and most of my relatives, always seemed so cold and unfeeling to me, to others than their own family anyway. I've always had a save- the-world hangup, and the "liberals" were the ones who seemed to be the ones who actually cared about the people without power.

I think I started to get away from unquestionable support of the Democrats when I had kids. Starting with health issues, when I discovered if I disagreed with the establishment, I was derided, even threatened, for my questioning. And then when it came to my exposure to the educational establishment, and started studying the issues around mandatory schooling,and the personal ramifications to my own child, I started going radically against government intrusion in people's lives and decisions.

I don't know of a political party that fits me anymore. I voted Green, cuz I am absolutley an enviromentalist, but I wasnt really comfortable with some of the government control issues they held either. I would rather see real INCENTIVES to do good, rather than so many punishments/prohibitions against stuff, especially to the citizen/consumer. I agree with lots of stuff in the Liberterian platform, but they still feel a tad uncomfortably cold to my fellow humans to me.

Anyway, maybe this is why we feel, for the most part, comfortable here: BECAUSE most of us reject labels. In some part, I think people might be attracted to labels of themselves cuz of insecurity; it gives them something to belong to, a form of community so to speak in a world where one can easily feel lost. And people who adhere to strict classifications, and shout it loud and proud, (like liberal, conservative, far right, far left) sound shrill in my ears, cuz they sound REALLY insecure, scared to death that they might hear information that could challenge their thinking. Anyone who fit this description maybe would have already left here, cuz most of us here WANT our beliefs challenged, want our brains and hearts tweaked, cuz we know that's how we learn and grow and find out who we really are.

We love ya Jay! (did anybody try the butterscotch schnapps yet? eewww)

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002


Polly,

Put down the frying pan gently :>). I only meant the addys connect us and some of them describe how the owners feel about themselves.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002


Aw, darn it, Jay - I thought sure you would manage to come up with something that could stir up these folks and get 'em talking again! I'm getting so stir crazy that I'm talking to myself - and that scares me 'cause I KNOW where folks like that end up!!

PS: Mama left me a marble rolling pin that's got a lot better heft to it than the skillet!

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002


Polly, I dont think I really trust people who don't talk to themselves on a regular basis!

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

Then y'all should really love me! When lusenet is down, I dang near have a quorum :>)

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

I heard a fellow on the radio this morning describe himself as a "hodgepodge". I think that sums me up pretty well too!

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Yes! Hodgepodgers unite! Where can I get one of those labels to slap on my rear . . .um . . . bumper? :-D

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Hodgepodgers..........I like the sound of that. It suits me, yeah...suits me fine. jay, I frequently have a quorum also ;>)

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

I think y'all are nuts!

(Professional opinion - wink,wink!!)

How could I possible argue with myself, since I know I'm always right?!

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002


I'm not nuts, I'm condiments. Has anyone seen a purple pill laying about. I have the purple pill, stop looking for it .Well you could have told me you had it. (a one man forum in motion :>)

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

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