by Nicolette Witowski

Created on: March 05, 2007   Last Updated: April 30, 2007

How to be emo...?

Good question. And yet, there is no REAL answer behind this, because there are so many different visions and opinions on what is "emo" and what is just "depressed and suicidal". Or what could also be the "scene emo", usually pertaining to the music they like and lifestyle they lead. Being as I myself have been labeled an emo kid, I have an idea of where most of the stereotyping comes from. It's based on a look you have and the moods you project publicly to the society around you.

I've often walked through the mall, sorting out the cliques and groups and naming them based on what people would usually call them out on: the preppies, the collar-poppers, the gangsters, the goths, the fakes, the nerds, the outcasts, and the emos, of course. However, 'emo' unfortunately stands out more because society in general automatically assumes that because of the way they dress (ah, yes, the black, the fish netting, dark eye makeup, black rimmed glasses, Chuck Taylor's, etc), these cliques are put into the category of emotionally screwed up. Yes, they do wear a LOT of black usually. I own mostly black or something that has black in it. Their style is a little more out there- including the stand-out dark eyeliner and fishnets over arms and studded belts not put through belt loops. However, this does NOT necessarily make them depressed, suicidal, or messed up emotionally at all.

I hate this judgmental thing with the emo scene.

The term 'emo' comes from the word 'emotional', which can mean many different things: "pertaining to or involving emotion or the emotions"; "subject to or easily affected by emotion"; "appealing to the emotions"; "actuated, effected, or determined by emotion rather than reason"; or even "showing or revealing very strong emotions". Are these the definitions by which we judge the 'emo' clique? No. Although, that is where the term has come from. To be 'emo' should mean to be 'emotional, to show emotion, express emotion', not to be 'suicidal, depressed, and dark.'

Society has to decided to define emo as: "a loner whom chooses to listen to depressing music and often times is suicidal and cuts themselves to relief emotional pain that has been inflicted upon them, although it's really nothing to really get upset about." Society can have their opinion, and we can make up our own terms and definitions; after all, it is a free country. We do this with many different cliques, not just 'emo' ones. Jocks are often thought of as bulky, meat-headed, dense

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