Sunday Musings - June 9, 2024
I have long been fascinated by the power of labeling whether one is labeling a person, an event, a condition or an act.
An example of positive or helpful labeling is when one is diagnosed as having medical conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer's, brain tumor, a hydrocephalic condition, or some other condition we know or believe to be the result of a recognized condition which may affect the ability to access a shared moral or ethical behavior; the mental ability to be able to consider the rights and needs of others. When one has or is believed to have one of these conditions one is not held responsible for one’s behavior. It is not uncommon for a person with advanced dementia to become confused, angry, violent or to commit some other act which negatively affects the person or the property of another.
We are often less empathic about the actions of a person labeled as “mentally ill”. If that person has committed a crime and are unable to experience a shared reality at the time of the commission of a crime or when a hearing is held, they may be ordered to treatment until they are able to be considered “mentally competent” to stand trial. When and if a mentally ill person can be tried and convicted of a crime may vary depending on circumstances and decisions of the officers of the court.
Addiction is a “mental” illness. When one has an addiction to alcohol, another drug, sex, food, power or some other substance or behavior and breaks a law one is often - not always - labeled a criminal and punished as such. United States jails and prisons house many whose primary “offense” is the inability to consider the needs and rights of others. The compulsion to do what is necessary to satisfy one’s addiction is so powerful one often does not have the ability to access and apply one’s core values or those adopted by the community.
We also assign labels when assessing what is considered legal or ethical business practice. A “savvy “businessperson might have access to legal experts to ensure that the primary businessperson is not held accountable if the business venture fails. He or she might also be able to afford other professionals to stay on the edge of what is technically legal or illegal. A business manager who hires social scientists to design a product to trick customers to purchase their product might also be considered a smart businessperson.
Very often - not always - a philanthropic person is one who has amassed a fortune by keeping wages and other employee benefits low - and then uses the money to help fund a worthwhile community service. This might include such individuals as Andrew Carnegie, the Melons, the Phipps, Jeff Bezos and many others. It is tough to not appreciate the Carnegie libraries, Phipps Conservatory, some of the good works of the anti- Jewish Henry Ford, the contributions of Jefferson, the convenience of Amazon or a host of others whose good deeds were financed partly or solely on the back of others.
We harshly judge the “pervert” who has a sexual addiction while lauding the businessperson who directly and indirectly uses sexual adds to sell their products. We may label a man or woman who married for money as smart, while demonizing the sex worker. We applaud the socialite who dons a sexually provocative costume while labeling a street prostitute a tramp, a bad or immoral person.
Labels may be seen as useful in alerting some of us how to treat other people. A label may tell us to treat someone with respect and even admiration. Other labels may legitimize the mistreatment of others. Labeling a behavior as good, bad, right or wrong, admirable or immoral may tell us who is deserving of respect or even physical survival. Labeling someone the enemy of the community, the state or the country may tell others one is deserving of a medal if one treats them badly or even kills them.
There are many other examples of the power of labels. My spiritual teacher has often suggested that I experiment with dropping the dualities - dropping or at least noticing my use of labels. I am often humbled by how often my behavior is shaped by the labels I assign people and events. The label I assign may be a signal to pay close attention to what someone is saying or doing, or it may be a signal to ignore them. My experience is that I can easily misjudge and even miss an opportunity to learn on the basis of the label I have unthinkingly assigned some person, group or event.
Written June 9, 2024
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett,org
I have long been fascinated by the power of labeling whether one is labeling a person, an event, a condition or an act.
An example of positive or helpful labeling is when one is diagnosed as having medical conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer's, brain tumor, a hydrocephalic condition, or some other condition we know or believe to be the result of a recognized condition which may affect the ability to access a shared moral or ethical behavior; the mental ability to be able to consider the rights and needs of others. When one has or is believed to have one of these conditions one is not held responsible for one’s behavior. It is not uncommon for a person with advanced dementia to become confused, angry, violent or to commit some other act which negatively affects the person or the property of another.
We are often less empathic about the actions of a person labeled as “mentally ill”. If that person has committed a crime and are unable to experience a shared reality at the time of the commission of a crime or when a hearing is held, they may be ordered to treatment until they are able to be considered “mentally competent” to stand trial. When and if a mentally ill person can be tried and convicted of a crime may vary depending on circumstances and decisions of the officers of the court.
Addiction is a “mental” illness. When one has an addiction to alcohol, another drug, sex, food, power or some other substance or behavior and breaks a law one is often - not always - labeled a criminal and punished as such. United States jails and prisons house many whose primary “offense” is the inability to consider the needs and rights of others. The compulsion to do what is necessary to satisfy one’s addiction is so powerful one often does not have the ability to access and apply one’s core values or those adopted by the community.
We also assign labels when assessing what is considered legal or ethical business practice. A “savvy “businessperson might have access to legal experts to ensure that the primary businessperson is not held accountable if the business venture fails. He or she might also be able to afford other professionals to stay on the edge of what is technically legal or illegal. A business manager who hires social scientists to design a product to trick customers to purchase their product might also be considered a smart businessperson.
Very often - not always - a philanthropic person is one who has amassed a fortune by keeping wages and other employee benefits low - and then uses the money to help fund a worthwhile community service. This might include such individuals as Andrew Carnegie, the Melons, the Phipps, Jeff Bezos and many others. It is tough to not appreciate the Carnegie libraries, Phipps Conservatory, some of the good works of the anti- Jewish Henry Ford, the contributions of Jefferson, the convenience of Amazon or a host of others whose good deeds were financed partly or solely on the back of others.
We harshly judge the “pervert” who has a sexual addiction while lauding the businessperson who directly and indirectly uses sexual adds to sell their products. We may label a man or woman who married for money as smart, while demonizing the sex worker. We applaud the socialite who dons a sexually provocative costume while labeling a street prostitute a tramp, a bad or immoral person.
Labels may be seen as useful in alerting some of us how to treat other people. A label may tell us to treat someone with respect and even admiration. Other labels may legitimize the mistreatment of others. Labeling a behavior as good, bad, right or wrong, admirable or immoral may tell us who is deserving of respect or even physical survival. Labeling someone the enemy of the community, the state or the country may tell others one is deserving of a medal if one treats them badly or even kills them.
There are many other examples of the power of labels. My spiritual teacher has often suggested that I experiment with dropping the dualities - dropping or at least noticing my use of labels. I am often humbled by how often my behavior is shaped by the labels I assign people and events. The label I assign may be a signal to pay close attention to what someone is saying or doing, or it may be a signal to ignore them. My experience is that I can easily misjudge and even miss an opportunity to learn on the basis of the label I have unthinkingly assigned some person, group or event.
Written June 9, 2024
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett,org
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