Labels are the tool and tactic of the weak. Attaching labels to people and ideas isn’t a new temptation, but, lately, it’s become standard operating procedure. But, it isn’t helpful or productive.

Attaching labels to fruits and vegetables can be a powerful merchandising maneuver. Such messaging as “organic,” “fairtrade,” “sustainable,” “pesticide free,” and “locally grown,” can lure shoppers ...

In May this year, Meta announced that it would start attaching labels to AI-generated content on its platforms. It specifically introduced a “Made with AI” label at the time, but now the company has ...