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most commonly recognised was mosher, mini-mosher, skater (we'll come to Avril in a second) and a variety of other names I cannot print!

Linkin Park was a spinning top that turned into a vortex, which began to encompass Marilyn Manson and was responsible for Metallica's brief reincarnation, but now it has stopped spinning and we've all put it to the back of our minds because, well it's not nice to admit that you've been had!

Skip ahead 10 years and we have exactly the same thing. The man from EMI has now signed (and dressed up and stuck his up hand up the backs of) My Chemical romance, Bullet for my Valentine etc and behold the new generation are Emos'. Yes, theoretically, it is a good idea to be in touch with your emotions, it's also nice that so many people have been persuaded to take an interest in who they are as opposed to what they own (in this bling bling culture. However, note, they all own i-Pods). On the other hand it's not such a good idea to con impressionable age groups (en mass, so they can't resist) into questioning themselves to this extent before their ego is fully developed. Even Sigmund Freud knew that 100 years ago.

Emo is beginning to get dangerous. I am an avid fan of grunge music, riot grrl, even burlesque- I'm not some glow tick toting nut. But having watched this movement from the sidelines I can see a disaster looming. The gender conventions that every other generation conformed to are being blurred; we now have boys acting on sexual impulses before the impulse has properly developed, thus increasing the chances of eating disorders and personality hang ups later in life. Girls are encouraged to put up and shut up or jump about like a child because their only role model is Avril Lavigne. And what's the obsession with death? Yes Kurt Cobain was a manic depressive, but he didn't exploit it, he was exploited. The last thing he would have wanted was to see you in the afterlife.

This craze has gone beyond wearing eyeliner. There is a generation of young people who are actually becoming emotionally retarded because they cannot think for themselves. Nice way to make a quick buck, Mr Record Company. Ask yourself, if your record collection comprised of Led Zep and Floyd, would you have ever thought these same, disturbing thoughts?!

Learn more about this author, Melanie Katrina.
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