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As someone who has embraced the Gothic Subculture for several years, I know exactly what it is like to be judged. I know what it's like to be sitting on the subway train being gawked at by passengers; I know what it's like to be minding my own business only to have someone whisper to their friends about the way I look; I know what it's like to be snarled at with a discontent face.

But on the other end of the spectrum, I know what it's like to be smiled at; I know what it's like to be complimented on my hair and on my jacket; I know what it's like to be appreciated, celebrated, and embraced by those who pass by me and by close friends in the Gothic subculture.

I have personally dealt with it every single day - both embracing and disregarding both ends of the spectrum.

Whether we should be judged or not has an obvious answer - but that doesn't change reality. And reality is that every single person on this Earth is judged within the first few seconds of seeing them - it's called the "First Impression". Do we deserve this? Of course not - appearances say nothing about our personalities. But the fact is, there really isn't any way that we can stop people from thinking what they want, especially when they don't say it out loud. We are always going to be judged - we just have to do our best to be judged in a positive manner, or to disregard those who judge without justification.

Looking back, I re-call a lady who met me for the first time. She met me on the subway, and with no seats left she was forced to sit beside me. She turned her head, and upon speaking she said, "You could be such a pretty girl if you just dressed like...", and than she stopped in mid-sentence, completely embarrassed. I knew what she was going to say.

...If I just dressed like what? Just like you?

If I wore the latest over-priced apparel from Dolce and Gabbana, dyed my hair beach-babe blonde and wore a sexy pair of Gucci sunglasses? Your flawed perception of beauty is exactly what I am trying to get away from. A perception that has been designed and sold by the very people you buy your over-priced clothes from. I don't want to be a product of the assembly line. I don't want to be a victim of what the media SAYS that I should wear. I don't want to be a product of trends or fads.

I dress the way I do because I am trying to get away from this concept of beauty that the media has placed on our heads. The whole "this makes you attractive, this does not" mentality to me is very unhealthy,

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