This is an article on the prompt "Label". But what prompted it is the content of Three different articles. After reading @ZehraSky 's article yesterday I felt like writing on how people tend to reduce one's hard work and dedication to mere luck by calling one "The talented one". Link to her post . Though her article wasn't on the prompt, i was able to relate to it.
A few hours later I read @King_Gozie 's Entry for the weekly prompt and I was impressed with the examples he cited because they were examples I could relate with. The part about the countryside label got me laughing because this is very common in this part of the world. Link to his post.
Finally, I read @Jane's article on the prompt-Label. She talked about label truly means. How it can be used for identification and differentiation of various items and persons. She also talked about how one can be mis-labelled. Here is the link to her post.
After going through the three article i decided to write on it. The prompt "Pet" will come next. I won't bother with the explanation of what labelling can be in different context. The above mentioned articles did justice to that. So let me just jump to the effect of some labels.
Some label hurts
Some labels hurt a lot. Not physically but emotionally. Have you ever wondered why the guy who lives down the street has such an absurd nickname?. Do you think he is happy with it?.
Body shaming
Back in high school, we call a guy "Egbere" (Bushbaby/galagos). The whole class calls him that and with time teachers and other students started calling him this same name. At first, he complained but later surrendered and answers the name whenever he is called by it. We laugh at him and make jest of him because "Egbere" (The Bushbaby/ galagos) because he is short.
The Bushbaby is said to be a creature that walks around at night crying while holding a mat. It is rumoured to be evil in some cases and a carrier of good to whosoever takes its mat. Though the person will have to live all through his life listening to its tears. One unique feature it has is that it looks human but it is very short. Hence the reason why we called this guy Egbere. You can quickly type "Bushbaby meaning in Nigeria" on google to know more about the various myths.
On a certain day, few of us went with him to his house. Being the usual practice, someone called him Egbere but he got annoyed. It was shocking since it's a name we do call him for long. So seeing that reaction from him came a little bit as a surprise. At that moment I realised how Sad he feels being called that name. But he decided to put up with it because he was tired of fighting those who call him that.
I felt bad and I persuaded others not to ever call him that name again which few of them adhere to.
We are sometimes hurting other people with the label we give them without us knowing. They might keep quiet and endure the name-calling and jokes but deep down, they are hurt.
Slut-shaming
This is another occurrence amongst students and even adults. We label some set of people (mostly females) prostitutes due to rumours we've heard about them or just due to unexplainable hatred. For some guys, once a lady rejects their advances, to save face among their friends they lie about her.
Let's say the lady is even involved in the activities she's being accused of, it isn't in our place to judge her and give her names. The damages labelling can cause can be irreversible sometimes.
Calling one Talented
This might sound surprising but it's a label that has lost its meaning. Nowadays calling one talented is just a way of saying he/she is fortunate to be what they are.
You see people say stuff like "Ronaldo is hardworking, while Messi is talented ". I do feel like slapping such people. Talent isn't enough to be at the top of the game for over 15 years. He is a result of hard work and dedication. There are so many footballers tagged "Generational talent" but how many of them managed remain at the top of their game this long?. As the saying goes "Hard work beats Talent when Talent doesn't work hard "
Or have you asked your friend to do something and they reply "Nah! That isn't for me. It's your talent". It's my talent if you say so, but what makes one succeed isn't the talent but hard work. So next time someone says you're talented. Tell him it's Cliche. You're hardworking should be the right word.
How do I stop a label?
Labelling that involves name-calling can be stopped in two ways.
-Speak to them and tell them how deeply hurt you are when called the name.
-Pretend as if you don't care. Act as if it doesn't hurt. They will get tired and stop.
Number one doesn't work most times so two is more reliable.
Labels that involves you being doubted or your effort belittled
There is only one way to change this. Keep on succeeding. Show them over and over how good you are. Let your success speak for you. Someday they will say with their mouth that it isn't luck or talent that pushed you this far, but hard work and Determination.
Thanks for reading!🤗🤗🤗
Do you also want to write on the prompt?. Feel free to join. Tag @JonicaBradley to it and submit to the community . But make sure it isn't plagiarized and the rules of the community duly followed.
Nice write up @Happyboy