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What do you guys think about the idea that when you adopt a certain style or label, you forfeit your identity? I've had long hair since I was a 10 years old, and I always listened to extreme music, but I never chose to label myself a "metalhead" because I feared people would see me as that label, and not as an individual. It's only now that I don't completely dismiss it.
I disagree with all of you, 60% of the times, the sterotypes on labels are right.
I'm mostly all the same as you, Cure. Long hair, called hippie, likes punk rock, gothic, Thrash Metal, Power Metal, etc. And believes in autocracy.
BUT:
Labeling means that you're assuming that you're part of that group, and while part of a group, it means you accept each and every aspect of the group, so, YES. If you label yourself as something don't ask for people to treat you as an individual. :P
Indeed, sometimes the stereotypes are correct, but not everytime. The main problem is that people have a very bad habit of describing things according to a single label, they don't understand that things like personalities are way more complex than that.
And this doesn't happen only with personalities, people try to describe things with one or two labels, when if you consider everything, you would have to use many different labels, or just simple descriptions, to describe something successfully.
I think stereotypes should be used mostly (or even only) when on generalization or dealing with groups or people you won't get to know and when the person reach a "personal" level of contact with you, the vision you have should be "restarted" or something.
For sometime a few years ago, you could have considered me some sort of half-assed metalhead. I never had been much interested in heavy metal as I pretty much now consider a pile of noise and an affront to my senses. That said, I'd sooner suffer that than Katie Perry's music, mostly on principle. There's nothing I could care much less about than fashion so I pretty much have a black-gray closet and my hair grows only as long as I can suffer it.
On the rare occasion I go out upon my own will, I sport a thin black coat to a length just above my knees with an Imperial Aquila pin on the left collar. I prefer classical music and particularly enjoy most any rock music up until the 1980s. You could mark me some awkward leftover of the late 20th century; minus the LSD, tie-dye, or bell-bottoms.
At most, I've never labeled myself anything aside from a communist or socialist and to whichever end I no longer consider them applicable. You may as well call yourself nothing and only mark others for convenience if you deem necessary out of apathy.
I read that "A black-grey corset" for some reason. Nothing else to add.
With some red silk lining the inside.
I personally like taking a label. So that I can smash the stereotypes people project onto me.
Unless they're true.
Opposing labels and etiquettes is not a bad thing to do,and by all means,an individual with a strong and true identity will know that he doesn't sacrifice anything for the sake of a label or the style he adopts.
Personally,I listen to rock music(particularly metal) ever since i've been a kido in school,trying hard at that time, to adapt and be liked despite the differences with the rest of people.
A style doesn't necessarily define you as a person,it's just a superficial thing. Look to metalheads for example. *OMG OMG,THOSE SATANISTS,OMG,SOO BLACK,SOO CREEPY* ! They may just be fine,educated and likeable persons,you conservative, sheeply morons ! I despise those type of A-holes.