Look about your surroundings, you cannot venture far before discovering the ethereal alter-ego of gangsters. The group whose members contain the negative-image of the delinquents we see in our ghetto-esque areas, the one, the only, the emos. These kids who are silhouettes in an otherwise lively crowd drag down the mood of themselves and others because of their “terrible lives that nobody understands!”
Many of our local “emotional folk” are distinguished by a few things: spiky protrusions, hanging chains, and a sullen yet fake look of weakness. These bastions of “pain and sorrow” claim that they have a terrible life and that they need to hurt themselves to relieve the pain. Frankly, these exoskeletons of malice and melancholy are ploys to attract attention to themselves in a feeble attempt to make themselves feel better. I have met many of these “emos” and found them to have great lives, wonderful parents, and good grades! This disregard of their own success is rather hilarious, as they force themselves to believe their facades of darkness solely against them and no one else.
Relating to the nineteenth century German affair the kulturkampf (cultural struggle), these children are struggling for acceptance in a world that procures stereotypes out of thin air to throw at these black-laden kids. However, clothing is negligible, as there are those few who maintain a regular mindset, but share the same taste in clothing, makeup, etc. These kids, however, are worthy of some condolences, as their taste in fashion has synthesized hatred from many all targeting them due to one little similarity.
In short, the issue is that many kids choose to adorn themselves in a cloak of isolation, while blasting music into their ears that supports their “apparent” sadness. Morally, many find that tuning others out helps them deal with their “pain”, but how can they do that when all they do is prolong their inevitable sadness? Is this what we want? A gloomy world where no one understands each other and one little problem can send somebody’s morale to the pits? A pathetic excuse for avoiding life?
Alas, j’ai parlé trop, adieu! (I have spoken too much, good bye!)
-MATH
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_fable
The psychology of psuedo-troubled suburbanites, ahoy!
As considered an emo myself at points in my life, I beg to disagree with some of your viewpoints. I understand that frustration may occur due to some of these characteristics you point out but for my first point, how can you understand these peoples’ lives? You aren’t them. And second, your generalizations of spikes, chains, and fake weakness are apallng. Consider first that these are fashion statements and chosen ideals of figure in some cases. In others, it is far from fake. Ever heard of eating disorders caused by stress? Third, ‘claims’ to a horrible life aren’t always fake. Domestic abuse, divorce of parents, confusion and peer pressure at school? I myself have a pretty accurate claim to a bad life and have turned towards self mutilation. I never once have voluntarily shown my injuries to anyone and I’m personally ashamed I ever did them. But at the time they were a good mental distraction from the things I was dealing with. Fourth, your mention about grades; I’m successful in school but that doesn’t make me bright as a sunny day. Good grades aren’t important to everyone. Your fact is unfound. Fifth, tuning people out is one of my favorite ways to DEAL with life. In my personal opinion, if you’re using this article to vent your own frustrations for things that are, to be honest, quite ridiculous and badly supported. Also, stop trying to be smart using French and historical references. We can all do as much.
Sorry for the bashing! -K
edit: apalling, “In my personal opinion, you’re using this article..”
dazzlestars, thanks for bringing up the other side of this argument, and backing it up with concrete situations. You really brought some good opposing facts to this article, so I guess it’s a balance now
As considered an “emo” myself at points in my life, I agree with some of your viewpoints. dazzlestars, as you point out, some people really do have crappy lives; but it seems most people who partake in this counter culture fad don’t really have things to complain about. They often seem to have bundles of friends, and parents who care for them. I know this perfectly well, I myself once took the embarrassing persona of the people described in the article.
If you’re life really is bad though, what help is acting depressed, and making yourself an outcast? Self mutilation and depression doesn’t help at all. Instead of something like that, you could take the mature decision and stop caring so much. Take a more laid back approach to life, or be more driven by goals. Success can lead to happiness, wallowing in your own s**t can’t.
Admin note: This comment is a little rough… I’m only allowing it for the good of discussion.
dazzlestars, If you read the article, I am not only venting, but bringing up supporting facts of the “other side” of the fad as well. I quote the kulturkampf to show that NOT ALL of these “emos” are reclusive and melancholic. I do point out that I have met those of a (and I do agree is a harsh overstatement) “normal” mindset.
On another note, dazzlestars, your utterly unsympathetic attitude towards including historical references and other cultural aspects is rather upsetting, as these inclusions are for supporting the article and adding a “character” to the piece. Your quote:
“Also, stop trying to be smart using French and historical references. We can all do as much.”
This only leads me to believe this offends you, in which case I do apologize, but I shall not submit in this argument, as your claims are negligible at best.
Scott: Thanks. :]
Fruit: Why does it matter if people with perfectly good lives act this way? People have a choice to act however they want. If you don’t like it, well then fine but this topic of annoyance towards these attitudes is moribund and overused. Also, sometimes people can’t conciously make themselves happy. There’s hundreds of medications, like Zoloft, for depression which is caused by chemical imbalances in the body. As humans we also go though hormonal emotion cycles and being sad is just one of the stages in it. We are all individuals and sometimes people are sad longer than others. Sucess and being laid back alone can’t help someone be happy. Live and let lve.
Math: I’ll give you kulturkampf but the French sign out?? No way. That was overzealous and unnecessary.
Why does it matter if people with perfect lives act depressed? Because it’s stupid, and it’s volunteering to make your life worse. Having clinical depression or a troubled life is one thing, but blowing everything out of proportion, being over dramatic and making things worse than they are? It’s just immature.
Hmm I’m not sure if this discussion will ever have a resolution. I see where both of you are coming from, but it seems like each emo has a different story, so it’s hard to categorize them all into one ideology.
someone should write the “emo manifesto”
I mean, it worked for the communists…erm…sorta xD
Fruit: Well, I guess you’re entitled to your opinion and I do agree personally about the overdramatics being immature but I don’t necessarily think it could make your life worse.
Scott: I think it all just boils down to people are people. They’re all individual and groups can never be speciffically defined.
Omega: Maybe like a Comintern even though that didn’t work.
I’td make everything black and white!