So when I go through MyMag posts on MyYearbook, I tend to pick categories I can relate to, something I have in common with, or something that just seems interesting to comment on, share opinions and get to know people's perspectives on life. Tonight, I was browsing the "Goth clique" section and found a post about Gothic stereotypes. This is basically, (copy and paste) what the guy said:
"The stereotypical sayings about Goths are getting old... VERY old! I have multiple Goth friends. They like really bad music that scares young children and dress like freaks because it's an obligatory part of the subculture, but that does not make them freaks. Goths are very pretentious and cold-hearted people, just like other people. Just because you say you're Goth for wearing black clothes and having dark make up does not mean you're a Goth because, once again, that's a stereotype."
So, he was basically stating stereotypes about Goths and being sarcastic about it, then went on commenting persistently: "Goth is ONLY about the music."
He didn't actually say this until another user, Angela, had said, "Goth isn't just about listening to dark music and wearing black or a fad kids go through. It's a state of mind, a culture and a lifestyle. I live by wearing what I like and what makes me comfortable. If someone can't accept me for who I am weather it's for my clothing, music, personal tastes or beliefs, they don't need to be in my life. Life is too short to care about unimportant, insignificant things."
He then went on, and actually said, "you are fucking RETARDED. Goth is ONLY about the music."
Another user, Dead FleshBoi(BecomeUndead), had then commented, "I must agree with Nate, people can choose to make it a lifestyle and in some sense you can try to make it a mindset, but the scene was built upon the music, not certain lifestyles or mindsets. Perhaps that may have drawn the Elders to create the scene, but it had nothing to do with the music."
I, in return, commented: I agree with Angela 90%. 100 if she had said that IT DID derive from music. And true, Dead Flesh, you can choose to make it a lifestyle, but it is inaccurate and ignorant to say that Goth is JUST about the music. Yes, we all know, the Gothic style derived from a Punk genre that was later called Goth Rock, but all that proves is how it was started. It doesn't mean that that's the ONLY thing Goth is about. It's not. The style Goth can be many different things, culture, a mindset, a lifestyle, whatever it may be. just like emo, derived from a music genre and became a style of it's own, Goth did and opened up it's own culture and subcultures, that doesn't mean people forgot how it was started? But that doesn't make it the only thing it's about. Goth is only what it means to that individual, some see it as a lifestyle, some see it as just another thing that thrived off punk, others walking around wearing black, blah blah blah. Goth has been around YEARS before the Punk genre ANYWAY. It is recorded in numerous paintings throughout history, even some of the most famous ones. Shit, it's still used today, as it was a long time ago, in our nuns and priests clothing. I think it's very close minded of an individual to think so little of the subculture. If I was to embrace punk, I'd just be happy to look at Goth's and go, "Do you know your stereotypes culture?"
Am I the only person that still thinks this way? I want your perspective. I know there are others out there that are as open minded as I am and pretty much agree, and of course, disagree with some, or all of what I have said. But it seems to me over the years a lot of people who claim to be Goth haven't really lived up to the name in societies eyes. By society, I mean the mainstream. We have SO many negative stereotypes amongst us through the media, I see it as my duty to defy that, prove them wrong, and make a better name for ourselves. No we are not all "cold hearted" or "mean". No we don't all wear black ALL THE TIME. No it IS NOT bad to actually do that lol. Yes there are Goth's that hang out with "mainstream people". Yes there are Goth's that don't necessarily look like the stereotypical Goth! I believe Goths have some sort of obligation to make negative stereotypes known and put to an end in the public/mainstream eye. I myself, again, don't really claim myself as Goth, but because I'm viewed that way amongst all kinds of people including people that don't know me, I make it my duty to inform them, try to get rid of negative stereotypes and let them ask questions
