Labels and Obfuscations

From: Gil Lawton (gillawton_at_earthlink.net)
Date: 02/19/05 

Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2005 18:40:33 -0500 (EST)

Labels can be wonderful tools for
compressing voluminous, complex
parameters into a single whole --
even a whole that may be greater
than the sum of its parts. A
label such as "natural selection"
or "existentialism" or "freedom"
can speed the surfing intellect
on a valid and beneficial course,
by avoiding the necessity for
voluminous redundant
explanations, and frequent
disclaimers.

In their beginnings, labels can
be the most obsequious of good
servants -- honest, dependable,,
accurate, efficient, undemanding,
unintimidating, benign...
But, alas, unless great care is
taken by the originators of great
ideas, and also by those who come
along after them, and utilize
their legacies, these formerly good
servants can, and almost always
do, transmography into sinister
enemies of their master, eclipsing
his fame, twisting his words,
obscuring his intents, resisting
against the furtherance of his
legacies.

Do we not do greater honor to the
intellectual giants onto whose
shoulders we would climb if we
take great care to explain ourselves
clearly as we drop the labels that
were their names and the names
given to their contributions. And
do we not show proper respect for
them only by making certain we
misrepresent them accurately, and
make clear where our own ideas
depart from theirs, and serve
our own agendas.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Labels on handknit item to sell
    ... I was reading a "Sell Your Crafts" book and there are Federal Trade Laws ... about labels on fiber content and care. ... If I had fabric labels stitched in small items it would be to big, ... Should I ask the tax people about the labels? ...
    (rec.crafts.textiles.yarn)
  • Re: Cant keep up with the group
    ... guilt about not being there for anyone right now - take care of yourself. ... Do your range of motion exercises, try to walk a little (even ... heart - labels with your name on are signatures. ... As for feeling guilty about Denise - you are the best friend ever but you ...
    (alt.support.arthritis)
  • Re: New SonyBMG Masterworks Website (throwing myself on the sword)
    ... Matthew B. Tepper wrote: ... especially considering most of the other labels have no idea who you ... nor do they care particularly. ...
    (rec.music.classical.recordings)
  • Labels on handknit item to sell
    ... If any of you sell hand knitted,crocheted, fiber crafts, what type of content and care label do you have? ... I was reading a "Sell Your Crafts" book and there are Federal Trade Laws ... If I had fabric labels stitched in small items it would be to big, ...
    (rec.crafts.textiles.yarn)
  • Re: [ANN] iCab 3.0.3 final released
    ... Sander Tekelenburg wrote: ... This might be interesting to those of you who care about labels like ... (I don't work for iCab. ...
    (comp.infosystems.www.browsers.mac)