Emo: Is it just a fashion?

[Maple Meganium]

From what I can make of it, "emo," under the current use of the word, is, more than anything, a magnet that sucks in depressed teens and reinforces their pessimistic views of themselves. Depression is very real. Bashing these kids because of the way they act is no different than kicking a man while he's down. They still need to be helped despite the appearance of merely satisfying their attention cravings in doing so. Bashing them/insulting them/whatever only adds to the problem.

As far as "modern emo" music goes, I like some of it; it's entirely a matter of opinion. Even Simple Plan's "Untitled," the stereotypical (and OU on YTMND) emo song is, IMO, musically well-written and kinda pretty.

Emo is not a fashion. It is a disease, a cancer of modern popular culture. It is a plague, and, personally, I don't know what the cure for it is (other than boycotting Hot Topic, rounding up suspected emo kids in concentration camps, and ordering death warrants for certain bands). XD

I'd say that anti-emo is as much of a cancer as, if not moreso than emo itself. Sure, some of these kids might just be in it for the popularity, for the fad, but by no means does that mean that there's no one else involved. As I've said at the top, it's like a magnet for depressed teens. Considering its fad status, let's compare to another fad most of us (at least the oldschoolers) should be aware of: Pok?mon. Remember the golden days when everyone brought their Game Boys and Red/Blue carts to school? Now, 98% of those people are the ones bashing Pok?mon as this kiddie game played by losers too wussy to play Halo. (I like Halo, but the point holds. XD) The other 2% are us. Don't generalize emo kids. By doing so, you're condemning some people with serious problems.

Edit: That's a strange censor. "I have a pet ***** cat." ;)

 

[Chairman Kaga]

You want to see the level that emo's pervaded our culture? Marketers are beginning to label anything that's kitschy or nostalgic as emo, even though anything that falls under those categories tends to be something disregarded by emos. It makes me incredibly angry, especially when searching for perfectly normal things on ebay.

Behold: Exhibit A

 

[Chikara]

It's just a fad that people get all into to fit in and be cool kids, like everything else.

But what about the people who are like that because something happened to them? Like me for example, Im half emo, half black and pink punk. Im like that for alot of reasons, and its not because I want to be cool.

I could care less about what people say about me and what I wear, and it definetly wont change your social status just because you wear a black shirt to school one day. I cant stand people like that, who think a persons style is just a fashion statement. ITS NOT.

I hate people whoare overly critical, and judge people just because their different! Its not right, and its not fair.

 

[pokejungle]

You want to see the level that emo's pervaded our culture? Marketers are beginning to label anything that's kitschy or nostalgic as emo, even though anything that falls under those categories tends to be something disregarded by emos. It makes me incredibly angry, especially when searching for perfectly normal things on ebay.

Behold: Exhibit A

That's just a marketing ploy to appeal to a group...and I don't even think it would work O_o;

MetalMario, I agree with everything you said. Congrats on being a nice person =D

 

[Chairman Kaga]

That's just a marketing ploy to appeal to a group...and I don't even think it would work O_o;

It's the principle that they're trying to label normal things as emo that's upsetting; whether it's an effective tool or not doesn't mean anything. It's indefensible.

 

[pokejungle]

If a stuffed 7up can is normal ... x.x;

And it does matter. People will call anything something else if they think they can make money off of it~

 

[DragonTrainer]

Did I ever say anything about people who have had something happen? No, I merely frown upon the kiddies with no problems who turn "emo" to fit in with the flavor of the month.

 

[pokejungle]

Did I ever say anything about people who have had something happen? No, I merely frown upon the kiddies with no problems who turn "emo" to fit in with the flavor of the month.

And it's not always easy to seperate the posers from the real thing, and you usually seem to be scorning both.

 

[DragonTrainer]

And it's not always easy to seperate the posers from the real thing, and you usually seem to be scorning both.

I'm sorry for not making it crystal clear, I'll spell it out word by word next time =P

 

[oni flygon]

Though I must say that the most annoying thing that's happening nowadays is that people think that they're emo so they start labeling everything emo. Oh, emo glasses, emo hair cuts, emo pants, emo music, etc, etc. I get offended when someone says that I'm emo just because I play the acoustic guitar and I have shoulder length hair. But usually I tell them that emo kids don't smile so yeah. It's very irritating and I can't wait for it to die... pretty soon.

 

[pokejungle]

I'm sorry for not making it crystal clear, I'll spell it out word by word next time =P

Thanks =]

Niko~ there are some things that are pretty much emo o_o; Guys with black [possibly dyed] hair combed over one eye, tight pants, all coupled with band shirts.

Yeah. But that could be a metrosexual, a gay/bi guy, or just ... a crazy youth ^^;

 

[oni flygon]

Thanks =]

Niko~ there are some things that are pretty much emo o_o; Guys with black [possibly dyed] hair combed over one eye, tight pants, all coupled with band shirts.

Yeah. But that could be a metrosexual, a gay/bi guy, or just ... a crazy youth ^^;

Isn't that more like labeling now? And being a wanabe stereotype? Wouldn't you consider those posers? >>

 

[Jake Marion]

whoa, i am emo

most of the people are misunderstanding the emo scene
most people think we love suicide and hurting ourselves, thats not true
emo is more like "over" emotional

look at me, i cry at sad but not that sad movies, i am easily to be hurt with words, i get emotional with some songs that reminds me of things

 

[pokejungle]

Isn't that more like labeling now? And being a wanabe stereotype? Wouldn't you consider those posers? >>

Sometimes things spill into labeling I guess.

I'm a big emo poser~ XD

 

[oni flygon]

look at me, i cry at sad but not that sad movies, i am easily to be hurt with words, i get emotional with some songs that reminds me of things

Everyone does, and so do I when I hear songs, but that's just over reacting right there.

And sometimes, you wonder which is more sad: Your skank of a girlfriend breaking up with you or starving kids in Africa missing another meal for today?

Because to me, those are the two kinds of "sad". The sad where, "oh, it's over, get over with it" and the sad where "you have a better life than they do." You get my point?

 

[jasonresno]

whoa, i am emo

most of the people are misunderstanding the emo scene
most people think we love suicide and hurting ourselves, thats not true
emo is more like "over" emotional

look at me, i cry at sad but not that sad movies, i am easily to be hurt with words, i get emotional with some songs that reminds me of things

No, that's just emotion.

People don't know what emo is, emo is "nothing". Everything is emo. You are emo because you have feelings? No. Everyone is emo. Emo is a nongenre.

EMO isn't real, and anyone who labels themself emo is a poser trying to fit into a "scene" that isn't there.

 

[oni flygon]

No, that's just emotion.

People don't know what emo is, emo is "nothing". Everything is emo. You are emo because you have feelings? No. Everyone is emo. Emo is a nongenre.

EMO isn't real, and anyone who labels themself emo is a poser trying to fit into a "scene" that isn't there.

Thank you for explaining that better than I did. :D

 

[Taemin]

Not nessesarily a 'Fashion', just a Trend.... I have alot of friends who walk around going 'Omigod, I'm so emo! Emo! Emo! Emo!' and they dress 'Emo', and take 'Emo' pictures of eachother... However the h3ll thats possible...
Personally, I think the whole 'Emo' thing is stupid...
I don't use the word Stupid most of the time, because it seems kinda low... but I'll use it for 'Emo-ness'.
Emo means 'Emotion', its not like its anything special...

 

[Maple Meganium]

whoa, i am emo

most of the people are misunderstanding the emo scene
most people think we love suicide and hurting ourselves, thats not true
emo is more like "over" emotional

look at me, i cry at sad but not that sad movies, i am easily to be hurt with words, i get emotional with some songs that reminds me of things

Emo and emotional don't have the same meaning, at least in current use. The emo scene is, whether by nature or not, a haven for depressed teens who are often self-hurters or suicidal. This is what we're talking about.

Any type of scene has three main types of people in it: those who seriously turn to it as a means of support (irrelevant to whether it works or not), those who just want to look cool/fit in, and those who honestly like the style. You'd probably be of the third category. What you described was more of a sensitive personality than "just being emo." The first group is the one I'm most concerned about.

Everyone does, and so do I when I hear songs, but that's just over reacting right there.

And sometimes, you wonder which is more sad: Your skank of a girlfriend breaking up with you or starving kids in Africa missing another meal for today?

Because to me, those are the two kinds of "sad". The sad where, "oh, it's over, get over with it" and the sad where "you have a better life than they do." You get my point?

People get sad. Sadness doesn't necessarily line up with what's wrong in the world, it's more personal than that; a kind of hurt. When you watch someone else getting kicked or something, you don't feel pain. Similarly, you don't necessarily become sad when you hear that some total stranger has died. Sadness is a kind of emotional pain. Don't disregard it.

No, that's just emotion.

People don't know what emo is, emo is "nothing". Everything is emo. You are emo because you have feelings? No. Everyone is emo. Emo is a nongenre.

EMO isn't real, and anyone who labels themself emo is a poser trying to fit into a "scene" that isn't there.

Emo is about as real as Goth or Punk, albeit newer. (but isn't that the way trends work?) People often get confused by mixing together different concepts of just what exactly emo really is. You can really see this when you take a look at anti-emo BS arguments: their perspective of the 'emo kid' is constantly changing to suit whatever means of bashing they happen to be using.