There is nothing inherently wrong with labels. They are words, and we humans use words to make sense of the world around us. But there is no one who can be summed up in a single label. No one. The problem with labels is when they become exclusive.
Labels are useful when trying to introduce/explain yourself briefly.
Labels are trapping and terrifying when they are placed upon you, and their assosiated values falsely imposed upon you with them.
I don’t get what you’re trying to say with this comic? Are you against there being lots of different labels? Because some people actually need those labels. Without them a lot of people would feel lost and coerced into trying to conform to rigid, outdated binaries. I say the more labels, the better. I identify as an androgyne, feminine-leaning trans male. I identify that way because saying I’m just a trans man usually leads others (especially other t-guys) to believe that I’m a masculine man like them, and then I get shit for dressing femme and being gay because apparently to them I am not a ‘man’.
I own my labels and use them to assert that I’m not going to be bullied into conforming to stupid stereotypes. Labels are not bad.
I try to avoid explaining my comics with the hope that they speak for themselves. But since you asked, to me this one isn’t saying much more than “labels can sure be limiting.” Personally, I think it would be difficult to get very far without labels, so yeah, they’re useful and necessary shortcuts. At the same time, we’re at risk of getting carried away with labels. I find struggle in balancing my simplifying labels with the full complexity of who I am.
:/ This one really speaks to me. It’s hard for me to explain it myself, but labels are really hard to deal with. Everything is so black and white with them. You’re either this or you’re that. There is no inbetween, or any gray area, or any opting out. Everyone is always trying to classify others in this box.
Ain’t they a pain.
Yeah I hate those too ♥
This is really clever :D
in situations like that, i like to quote my vanity plate. “I’m not lost. i’m exploring!”
Break ALL the signs!
There is nothing inherently wrong with labels. They are words, and we humans use words to make sense of the world around us. But there is no one who can be summed up in a single label. No one. The problem with labels is when they become exclusive.
Labels are useful when trying to introduce/explain yourself briefly.
Labels are trapping and terrifying when they are placed upon you, and their assosiated values falsely imposed upon you with them.
Clever comic Morgan – very well thought through.
Thanks, Harry! My smart friend Ian Frazier helped me write it.
I don’t get what you’re trying to say with this comic? Are you against there being lots of different labels? Because some people actually need those labels. Without them a lot of people would feel lost and coerced into trying to conform to rigid, outdated binaries. I say the more labels, the better. I identify as an androgyne, feminine-leaning trans male. I identify that way because saying I’m just a trans man usually leads others (especially other t-guys) to believe that I’m a masculine man like them, and then I get shit for dressing femme and being gay because apparently to them I am not a ‘man’.
I own my labels and use them to assert that I’m not going to be bullied into conforming to stupid stereotypes. Labels are not bad.
I try to avoid explaining my comics with the hope that they speak for themselves. But since you asked, to me this one isn’t saying much more than “labels can sure be limiting.” Personally, I think it would be difficult to get very far without labels, so yeah, they’re useful and necessary shortcuts. At the same time, we’re at risk of getting carried away with labels. I find struggle in balancing my simplifying labels with the full complexity of who I am.
:/ This one really speaks to me. It’s hard for me to explain it myself, but labels are really hard to deal with. Everything is so black and white with them. You’re either this or you’re that. There is no inbetween, or any gray area, or any opting out. Everyone is always trying to classify others in this box.
So yeah– I love this strip.