Labelling is one of the things that makes me crazy.
Yes, it’s a human tendency…. but if we can learn to accept people and things, including ourselves, for what they are,instead of forcing them to fit a preconceived category in our minds, we will be more content.
Yes, Becca had a husband, then a girlfriend.Now she has a boyfriend.Does that make her gay, or straight, or bi?
It doesn’t make her anything, except the person who loves whoever she loves right now…. and the sexual identity she chooses for herself.
And YOU…. you are what you are. Right now. Past events and choices, and other people’s notions and judgements, can’t MAKE you “be” anything.Don’t give words that power.
For story purposes, it’s useful to know aspects of a character if they are going to cause certain reactions in other characters. The recent tension with Jane’s mom is based on the fact that Jane is not straight; we don’t need to know if she’s gay or bi or whatever. But a storyline where a guy is hitting on Jane reads very differently depending on whether we know she’s gay or bi, doesn’t it?
NO, we don’t need to know what category somebody fits into, so that we can “know” in advance how he or she will react, and what the reaction of others will be.
That’s kinda my point…. along with the lyric that Meowlin posted (thanks, Meowlin.) What if we had no idea…. no set notion?
What if Jane wanted to kiss a guy?What if I wanted to make out with a girl?
Neither is all that likely to happen, but YOU NEVER KNOW.I will defend every person’s right to step outside the cage into which we have mentally placed him, or her, without a chorus of onlookers saying “But YOU don’t do that!”
Without friends and foes running around looking dazed and confused…all over something that is nobody’s business except the partakers thereof.
Every day is a new day; every encounter is a fresh start.People don’t fit a set pattern, and if they did, it could change overnight…
Yes, sometimes we need to recognise proven friends and charlatans…. But we need to be just as vigilant about seeing people for who they are, all the beautiful diversity and complexity that exists once we drop our internal scripts and checklists.
I had no ambiguity – I was just “funning by punning” – the original comment by Lamberger could have been ANY real word or nonsense word, I was feeling puckish and indulged my inner child.
SusanSunshine Premium Member about 10 years ago
To add to yesterday’s discussion….
Labelling is one of the things that makes me crazy.
Yes, it’s a human tendency…. but if we can learn to accept people and things, including ourselves, for what they are,instead of forcing them to fit a preconceived category in our minds, we will be more content.
Yes, Becca had a husband, then a girlfriend.Now she has a boyfriend.Does that make her gay, or straight, or bi?
It doesn’t make her anything, except the person who loves whoever she loves right now…. and the sexual identity she chooses for herself.
And YOU…. you are what you are. Right now. Past events and choices, and other people’s notions and judgements, can’t MAKE you “be” anything.Don’t give words that power.
catzilla23 about 10 years ago
I’ve thought of becoming bi-sexual, but then I’d just be doubling my rejections
Karl Hiller Premium Member about 10 years ago
For story purposes, it’s useful to know aspects of a character if they are going to cause certain reactions in other characters. The recent tension with Jane’s mom is based on the fact that Jane is not straight; we don’t need to know if she’s gay or bi or whatever. But a storyline where a guy is hitting on Jane reads very differently depending on whether we know she’s gay or bi, doesn’t it?
thestargazer1682 about 10 years ago
So…Captain Terrific is a pirate too..?
BetaJane creator about 10 years ago
This is a great discussion. Jane’s World readers are awesome… and smart! Thanks you guys!
Lamberger about 10 years ago
>Jane could just as easily be a Christian and her parents are Atheist.
And the boyfriend is a Pastafarian?
SusanSunshine Premium Member about 10 years ago
Hmmm… just in case anybody comes back…
NO, we don’t need to know what category somebody fits into, so that we can “know” in advance how he or she will react, and what the reaction of others will be.
That’s kinda my point…. along with the lyric that Meowlin posted (thanks, Meowlin.) What if we had no idea…. no set notion?
What if Jane wanted to kiss a guy?What if I wanted to make out with a girl?
Neither is all that likely to happen, but YOU NEVER KNOW.I will defend every person’s right to step outside the cage into which we have mentally placed him, or her, without a chorus of onlookers saying “But YOU don’t do that!”
Without friends and foes running around looking dazed and confused…all over something that is nobody’s business except the partakers thereof.
Every day is a new day; every encounter is a fresh start.People don’t fit a set pattern, and if they did, it could change overnight…
Yes, sometimes we need to recognise proven friends and charlatans…. But we need to be just as vigilant about seeing people for who they are, all the beautiful diversity and complexity that exists once we drop our internal scripts and checklists.
SusanSunshine Premium Member about 10 years ago
Night-Gaunt….no….. Pastafarian.
An adherent of the Flying Spaghetti Monster….
Somehow I thought you would know about that….
wesbucey about 10 years ago
I had no ambiguity – I was just “funning by punning” – the original comment by Lamberger could have been ANY real word or nonsense word, I was feeling puckish and indulged my inner child.