probably everything has label. i’m not so sure. and i don’t think i will assert that. what i want to emphasize is the limited-ness of human understanding, the struggle to understand the world around him, the desperation involved in it, and the resort to a crooked language.

ewan, siguro between you and me, you’re the optimistic (not to mention goal-and-progress-oriented) one. and no, i’m not ALREADY there. in fact, i think i’ve been stuck in the same spot for a few months now.

Good points. It’s oh-so-philosophy-of-language of you to bring those issues up.

I’d just like to clarify that I am not attacking labels per se.
In fact I agree that they are inevitable and that they can benefit us immeasurably. You are also right that while they may be limiting, we can change those labels any time we want. Which is precisely my point.

Granted that the human mind functions with definitions,
by saying “Take me for what I am”, I feel that we limit our choices of labels and definitions, our meta-labels if you will.

Point is, I don’t think that this should be an epistemological or linguistic argument in the sense that we point out that everything is a label anyway, so that they are all equally “evil” and therefore equally “good”.

There will be points wherein we must limit ourselves or strive towards ideals which we deem worthy-whatever they may be. But let’s not make matters worse by limiting ourselves before we even get there. And if you’re ALREADY there, and have no desire to change or improve, then I congratulate and envy you.

Nobody can ever make you feel average without your permission.
Ingratitude and criticism are going to come your way;
they are part of the price you pay for leaping past mediocrity.
When you make your mark in life you’ll ALWAYS attract erasers!
Never surrender your dreams to noisy negatives!

From The Enemy Called Average

yup. i believe.

1. i always believe that there is this practicality in labels, in definitions. we call this as this, para madali. and however i try to argue against the inappropriateness of that act, that all-too-human practice, wala rin. dahil i myself benefit from it.

2. labels/definitions (we associate with ourselves) are limiting, but we can change it whenever we want to.

3. the “progress” and “improvement” one makes are also, ironically, definitions, and thus limited and limiting (not to mention biased): evident in them is this belief that the only direction one follows is forward, that there is only one line towards success.

3a. i know, progress connotes a certain dynamism within the process. pero think of it this way: nadapa ako, babangon, madadapa muli, at babangon muli. pero lahat yon naganap sa isang diretcho, tuloy-tuloy, at mahabang landas na tinatahak ko sa paglalakbay patungo sa aking sarili.

4. we make use of definitions, sadly, because there’s no other option. we define ourselves because there is no other option: not defining ourselves is also, ironically, definitive.

5. wag ka na sa friendster blog. korni dito, walang customization. mag-blogger ka na lang. dali! now na.