Larger Than The Label

I was looking at shotgun microphone specs today, trying to decide which model will give me the best value for money. There's only one problem: I know absolutely nothing about sound or mics. So when they rattle off numbers and obscure Latin and/or Greek based words, they've got me right where they most probably want me - well confused. I used to think that these 'specialist knowledge inadequecies' were pretty much genetic and inviolable, but I've effectively proved myself wrong during the course of this year. I've picked up medium-depth specialist knowledge in both filmmaking in general and prosumer camcorders in particular. At the beginning of the year, half of the terms I don't even think about using now would have washed straight over my head. And when I go looking for a camcorder, I know exactly what I want and why as opposed to the look for good reviews and cool names method that was my only resort just four months ago. I'm not particularly gifted in any of these areas, just interested. Which brings up the possibility that we may be limiting ourselves far more severely than our genes do. Boxes make people comfortable because they're tidy and easy. They can also be destructive. "He's a hands on chap", "They're a technical sort", "She's an arty type" can all be intended as compliments, or just as useful reference info - but they can also establish mental roadblocks that limit a persons versatility. The onus to combat this, however, shouldn't be on the 'labeler' but rather on the 'labelee'. Otherwise we'll spend all our time making sure that we never say anything informative about anyone else. We have enough of that already with the PC brigade. No, it is the responsibility of those who have been restrained (by others or themselves) to be larger than the label. We are all different but that idea has been taken much too far, in the wrong direction. Celebrate diversity in others by all means, but don't forget to look for it in yourself.