The Anti Article - Who Cares About Labels?
A soup can. Apparently where labels belong.
First of all I’d like to say that no matter how they dress or whatever – everyone is themselves. It’s their personality that makes them who they are. Not who they hang out with, the music they listen to, or the way they dress. I’ve known people who’ve hung out with others who are completely different to them - it’s about having an open mind.
Labels. Even though most people hate them, they’re a useful way of describing someone. So sue me if every so often I call someone a chav, or a greebo? It’s not like I mean it. It’s a harmless thing, just like saying a group of teenagers. There’s no need for people to cry out "DON’T LABEL ME!" because frankly, it's annoying and everyone can probably assume that you’d rather not be called emo.
And if you say a label belongs on a soup can, then I'd really love to see emo soup.
I mean, if I a label is taken seriously, or used in a harsh way, fair enough. But if it’s just a category thing then I don’t see the problem.
Now, down to the crunch. Scene. Emo. Whatever. Yes, these are trends. Get over it. If they liked to be called individual then okay, but you are right, they aren’t. But does it matter? I think the whole over the top style is about getting noticed - another spin off of the wannabe celebrity culture. Or maybe it’s a reflection of their personality? Or maybe they just felt like dying their hair like that! It’s their choice. Insulting them for it, is like... I don’t know if you have to wear school uniform, but at my school, you can only have your hair one colour and if you break this, you have to dye it out. Being told you can’t have your hair that way is insulting - if I want my hair that way, I can have my hair that way - so let me do it - I’m sure this is what the people you’re insulting are thinking.
But back to getting noticed. W4W is a way of getting friends, and sites like MySpace are for social networking. Most people who W4W just want to network, and are just too lazy to use the search feature to find people - but then they chat to the people and make friends. IT’S WHAT THESE SITES ARE ABOUT AND FOR.
So if you do your hair nice, and take a pretty picture, the shallow minds of people (and even I admit to doing this) will look at the picture, and add them deciding on how nice they look or whatever. It’s part of human nature to judge.
This is a trend - it’s a fashion. Most people can’t help it but to follow fashion, because it’s everywhere. I used to care a lot about labels, and worry about whether what I was wearing reflected that I liked a certain type of music - I was trying to prove myself. And now I don’t care. Now I’m in LOVE with fashion. And if I see something I like, that someone else is wearing, yes, I may copy their ideas.
On one article, I’ve seen someone talk about people arguing with others because they copied them. Yes, you’re right, they’re wrong. But it’s for them to realise that copying is part of human nature (after all, babies learn to talk from copying), and not for you to tell them.
Even attacking this, is making me fall into the category that you are in right now. Stop attacking the culture - it’s not going to change anything. I don’t think anyone is going to look at what you’ve said and decide that they don’t want to do it anymore. It might make them resentful, and make them want to do it more. But I just think this needed to be said.
People, are people. Attacking labels to me is a bit like a less extremer version of racism or homophobia. It’s still discrimination. And if you’re attacking them, then you’re as bad as the people you’re attacking - the so called labellers.
This may make no sense, however, I feel the need to say this. So scene, emo, whatever. Who cares? This is human nature.
