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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Merlion" data-source="post: 2488217" data-attributes="member: 10397">I think you misunderstand. Its not just...or even primarily, those who want to use these things in a derogatory insulting way.Its simply that I dont like self-limiting. I dont want to say "I am this" because in truth, I am many things. By extension, I dont like having those limits applied by others either. When someone says that your a "geek" or a "nerd" or a "jock" or a "brain" or any of the other little cultural labels (most of which come out of our "education" system), they are generally putting you in a very small box, and will be surprised, disbelieving, angry or various other negative reactions if you do or say anything that doesnt fit into that box. And, in the way people define that word, so am I...but that is not all that I am, and so I dont limit myself to being "a geek". I am myself, with many aspects, interests, thoughts, feelings and actions. True, and oftentimes thats good. However I am also a member of a species with conciousness and free will, that therefore can decide when grouping may not be the best aproach. Such as when dealing with other people. Nobody really fits into the neat little boxes some people insist on trying to put others into. For me, the problem is with being labeled, by others or especially by myself. Even if it is used in a good way, its still a label, a box, a limitation. Its also inacurate, because no label can encompass everything that I am.Also, again, I havent really had the term used against my that much, in terms of being used as an outright insult. My parents didnt subject me to our "education" system, so I wasnt usualy in sitautions involving abuse that I couldnt get away from...but I have had people use it at me in a way that, while not pejorative, was so sterotypical and limiting that it may as well have beenAnd, one only has to deal with it, as an adult anyway, if one chooses to. In the very broad sense yes...in the sense relative to this discussion, no not at all. "human" is my species. It is a physical designation, just like saying I have brown eyes isnt a "label" its a physical fact.its not a cultural label implying sterotypes and limitations.I have no problem with people using these kinds of terms in a positive sense if thats what they want to do. But I dont self identify or attempt to place myself using limited single terms. If someone wants to know about me, I will tell them about me. Theres no one or two labels that will describe who or what I am.I am *me*, no more, and no less.</blockquote>

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