No

by J.L. McKenzie

Created on: June 14, 2010   Last Updated: June 16, 2010

The emo “culture” is far from something to worry about. It is hard to get worked up over a subculture of people that just want to whine about how horrible their lives are and write bad poetry. Frankly, metalheads worry me more and that is just because they will tap the keg first.

Being a goth, I saw the rise of the emo and found that it was a break-off of our own culture that we could finally have beneath us. We were no longer at the bottom of the culture food chain and that does make us happy. Perhaps, in time, they'll grow up and became a part of something bigger and more meaningful. That is, if they do not kill themselves first.

Now I'm not saying that all emos are suicidal, but it seems they have the market cornered on tendencies. I cannot even really think of a good emo band or trend. Hot Topic has taken advantage of this culture and is selling them overpriced gear and they all end up looking alike. Not really an individual-driven culture, to be honest.

This is probably a fad that will run its course when these kids have grown up and realized how pathetic they were and move on. At least I hope it will. It does make for good humor, though. My husband said he wanted to get a tee shirt that read, “I wish my lawn was emo so it would cut itself.” I laughed so hard I started crying.

Emo is not something to be threatened by. Far from it. We should pity these individuals and steer them in other directions and outlets for this angst. You like to write poetry? Good. Work on it a bit, stop writing in glitter pen and maybe get some of it published. You like to listen to dreary music and talk about it with your friends? Get ahold of some albums by The Cure, Bauhaus, Siouxie and the Banshees and Joy Division, and then we will talk about songwriters that really have their finger on the pulse of depression.

In short, emo is nothing to be afraid of. They are not subversive or planning to take over the government. They do not have that much motivation. Emos are to be shunned and pitied. Also, never give them a perfectly good clove cigarette. They do not deserve them and probably are not of age to smoke them.

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