Labels, Labels, Labels....

This is a late night rant, but I feel it is necessary--at the very least to let off some steam.

There are few things that set my temper on fire anymore--but those that do bother me, really bother me. One of these "triggers" (I should call them at least for right now) is the misuse, or overuse of labels. And for all the jokesters out there, no, I am not talking about soup can labels or the like; those are admittedly quite helpful. I'm talking about the hurtful labels individuals place on people they often know little about.

Some examples of these labels are: whore, slut, faggot, retard, racist, homophobic, gay (when it is used negatively) and etc.

Yes, certain people are racist, or homophobic, and believe it or not, there is a correct way to implement the word "retard" in daily speech/writing without being offensive. But I am talking about language that is used for the sole purpose of inflicting emotional/mental damage on someone.


To get on with this tangent, let me just show you what made me so angry. One of my "friends" on Facebook posted a status that stated the following: "Now I see why your relationship didn't work out, whore"

Obviously, the standout word here is "whore."

(A) A relationship never ends because of one person. Let me repeat that: It is not a single person's fault for why their relationship with someone else ended. There are numerous factors which play into the conclusion of a dating relationship (i.e. clashing personalities, feeling of neglect, abuse, issues with friends...). If two people are really "meant to be" they will conquer all problems--including one cheating on the other. (I mean, there's a reason why therapy exists) That's what a couple does, they tackle life's challenges together. Now, back to my earlier statement about people being meant to be...it's as simple as that, really. Sometimes people just aren't meant to be and/or they aren't willing to try and compromise or become a better person/couple. Love is a great and powerful thing, and when it is truly felt by both persons, then little can tear the two apart, as love implies forgiveness and great emotional attachment.

(B) It was not the girl's relationship to being with. It was the girl's and her partner's relationship. Simply put, it was their relationship. The pressure should never be on a single person to be good, to be perfect, to keep the relationship going. Things will go wrong, people will make mistakes. This is kind of like Point (A), but I feel it just needed to be stressed further.

(C) The whole "whore" part. I understand that cheating on someone with another person isn't right. But neither is childish name calling. In fact, this childish name calling needs to stop, because in my eyes, it is just another wrong. And as the famous saying goes "two wrongs don't make a right." SERIOUSLY THOUGH, what is being achieved by calling this girl a whore? Because I'm pretty sure nothing is.

And I'm not even going to go into the gender issues with that particular label. (As in, why guys are not labeled negatively nearly as much when they commit the same "crime" for lack of a better word)

Anyways, I think I'm done now. *sighs*