EMO cult warning for parents

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EMO cult warning for parents
By SARAH SANDS 23:31pm 16th August 2006

Flicking through the autumn glossy fashion magazines, I noticed that some of the models did not look very well.

A few of them appeared to be dead. This is because one of the key looks, especially at the younger end of the fashion spectrum, is Goth.

Faces are chalky white, eyes and lips black. You can wear any colour you like so long as it's black.

To achieve that just-got-out-of-acoffin look, you need corsets, capes, Celtic crosses, an unseeing stare and a prop such as a slightly mutilated china doll dragged along in one hand.

For those of us who have lived through Siouxsie And The Banshees and the Rocky Horror Show, the look is depressingly retro.

Fashion acknowledges those of us who lived through it first time round - Elder Goths, as opposed to Baby Bats, who are the under-30s.

It even nods to a working population, permitting Corporate Goths, who wear black trouser suits.

There is a also a term which is new to me and amounts to a much more dangerous teenage cult.

The Emos - short for Emotional - regard themselves as a cool, young sub-set of the Goths.

Although the look is similar, the point of distinction, frightening for schools and parents, is a celebration of self harm.

Emos exchange competitive messages on their teenage websites about the scars on their wrists and how best to display them. Girls' secondary schools have for some time been concerned about the increase in self harm.

One governor of a famous boarding school told me that it was as serious a problem as binge drinking, but rarely discussed for fear of encouraging more girls to do it.

Although it is invariably described as a 'secret shame', there is actually a streak of exhibitionism about it.

The internet has many sites dedicated to Emo fashion (dyed black hair brushed over your face, layering, black, black, black), Emo bands (Green Day, My Chemical Romance), Emo conversation (sighing, wailing, poetry).

The Instant Emo Kit site gives advice on identity. Wear a child's T-shirt with a slogan such as 'Unhappy Chick' and drive a Vespa. Above all, 'show your inner despair by looking like you are too sad to eat. Obesity and emocity do not mix.'

Adult Goths refer to the Emos disdainfully as 'the spooky kids' or 'moshers'.

The Emo song, by the American band Adam And Andrew, has cult status on the internet, appearing on many personal websites. It is called Dear Diary and is both witty and alarming.

The chorus goes: 'Stop my breathing and slit my throat, I must be an Emo.

I don't jump around when I go to shows, I must be an Emo.

Dye in my hair and polish on my toes, I must be an Emo. I play guitar and write suicide notes, I must be an Emo.'

The courting of misery and death is a long-established teenage tradition. How many bedroom walls have been plastered with posters of drippy pre-Raphaelite heroines, or Marc Bolan or Kurt Curbain?

When death is a long way off, you can afford to be more morbid about it.

Film-makers note that horror films are now more popular than romance among young women.

In particular, Goths and Emos are a rebellion against sporty, manly cultures - which is perhaps why they flourish particularly in North European countries or North America.

The androgynous nature of the Goths is appealing to the young because it is sexually unthreatening.

Teenage girls are frightened of manliness: they like boys who look like girls. Kate Moss, the girl who never grows old, understands youthful taste completely.

There is also a deadly glamour about the Goths. The word femme-fatale is Goth based.

Many of the alluring women of our time - Nigella Lawson, Debbie Harry, Chrissie Hynde, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Lily Allen - have a touch of the Goth about them.

They have a sophistication and depth lacking in the blonde, bouncy chav faces which dominate our television screens and nightclubs.

Who are the male pin-ups for young girls? Johnny Depp and the comedian Russell Brand, who is about 90 per cent Goth. Lord Byron, of course, was the greatest Goth of all time.

Emos have a strong arts graduate bias and are among the few that read poetry (if only of the romantic, morbid kind).

Some pretty terrible Emo poetry is offered on websites. A cartoon of two Emos has a bubble which says: 'What rhymes with razor blade?'

But compared to the music, the poetry is positively cheerful. The Gothic bands have names such as Bloody, Dead And Sexy or Colder Than Death.

There is a genre, popular in Germany, known as Death Pop. Bands include The Knives In The Attic and Love Equals Death.

Although Goths are from the same family tree as punks, they are a lot less fun to be with. While I loved punk for its energy, Goths were too bloodless to lift a finger.

One of the most annoying characteristics of teenagers is their refusal to open their curtains. Their world is dark and airless.

If this environment is coupled with the psychological traits of self-pity, introspection, self-dramatisation and hormone imbalance, you have a fully-fledged Emo, even without the small Tshirt and black hair.

The wondrous thing about being an adult is that you have so much more to worry about that you stop striking poses and get on with it.

Unless you are an Elder Goth - in which case you have fashion on your side and everybody else against you.

What worries me is that teenagers are less equipped to manage strong emotions and a cult of suicide could have real and horrible consequences.

It is irresponsible for the fashion and music cultures to encourage it. If you want retro style, I recommend Ian Dury's song Reasons To Be Cheerful.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 21 August 2006 13:39 (nineteen years ago)

Many of the alluring women of our time - Nigella Lawson, Debbie Harry, Chrissie Hynde, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Lily Allen - have a touch of the Goth about them.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 21 August 2006 13:41 (nineteen years ago)

If you want retro style, I recommend Ian Dury's song Reasons To Be Cheerful.

People have Robbie Williams, what more do they want?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 21 August 2006 13:42 (nineteen years ago)

i bet these children with a touch of "the goth" are smoking "the pot" too

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Monday, 21 August 2006 13:47 (nineteen years ago)

http://users.lycaeum.org/~sputnik/Ludlow/Images/irish.jpg

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 21 August 2006 13:48 (nineteen years ago)

Are you taking the pith?

― dud'Hab'c'Deva To You (With ReGard) (Dada), Monday, 21 August 2006 13:48 (nineteen years ago)

Everything turns into goth in the end.

-- Ned Raggett (ne...), August 20th, 2006.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Monday, 21 August 2006 13:49 (nineteen years ago)

The word femme-fatale is Goth based.
?

― Alicia Titsovich (sexyDancer), Monday, 21 August 2006 13:50 (nineteen years ago)

Roll over Beethoven and tell Lou Reed the news

― dud'Hab'c'Deva To You (With ReGard) (Dada), Monday, 21 August 2006 13:51 (nineteen years ago)

Kurt Curbain

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Monday, 21 August 2006 13:53 (nineteen years ago)

Obesity and emocity do not mix

So why are there so many fat Goths?

― dud'Hab'c'Deva To You (With ReGard) (Dada), Monday, 21 August 2006 13:55 (nineteen years ago)

It's one of the things they're emotional about!

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 21 August 2006 13:57 (nineteen years ago)

I thought fat people were supposed to be cheerful?

― dud'Hab'c'Deva To You (With ReGard) (Dada), Monday, 21 August 2006 13:57 (nineteen years ago)

PAGING PAUL EDWARD WAGEMANN
PAGING PAUL EDWARD WAGEMANN
PLEASE REPORT TO THE EMO CULT THREAD.

― less-than three's Christiane F. (drowned in milk), Monday, 21 August 2006 14:00 (nineteen years ago)

http://myspace-681.vo.llnwd.net/00719/18/68/719488681_l.jpg

Obesity and emocity do not mix

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 21 August 2006 14:05 (nineteen years ago)

One of the most annoying characteristics of teenagers is their refusal to open their curtains. Their world is dark and airless.

If this environment is coupled with the psychological traits of self-pity, introspection, self-dramatisation and hormone imbalance, you have a fully-fledged Emo

but I do all these things and I'm listening to Howling Rain right now!

― bernard snow (sixteen sergeants), Monday, 21 August 2006 14:09 (nineteen years ago)

(sorry, Howlin')

― bernard snow (sixteen sergeants), Monday, 21 August 2006 14:09 (nineteen years ago)

"Many of the alluring women of our time - Nigella Lawson, Debbie Harry, Chrissie Hynde, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Lily Allen - have a touch of the Goth about them."

― Scourage (Haberdager), Monday, 21 August 2006 14:13 (nineteen years ago)

= being touched by a Goth

― Scourage (Haberdager), Monday, 21 August 2006 14:13 (nineteen years ago)

have a touch of the Goth about them = wear eyeliner

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 21 August 2006 14:14 (nineteen years ago)

Emos have a strong arts graduate bias and are among the few that read poetry

OMG

― Scourage (Haberdager), Monday, 21 August 2006 14:16 (nineteen years ago)

This cupcake, as black as my soul
I devour it, my soul grows blacker still
This belly, weighty as the burden of living
It jiggles, and my hopes jiggle with it

― 100% CHAMPS with a Yes! Attitude. (Austin, Still), Monday, 21 August 2006 14:20 (nineteen years ago)

rrrrrrrrrrrrrreasons to be cheerful, part three.

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 21 August 2006 14:22 (nineteen years ago)

where is this article from?

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Monday, 21 August 2006 14:22 (nineteen years ago)

why are my taxes being wasted on educating these fucktards?

― Bashment Jakes (Enrique), Monday, 21 August 2006 14:22 (nineteen years ago)

Nigella Lawson's Goth Bites including Slashed Potato Wedges with Tomato "Blood" Sauce

― Domenico Buttez (ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!!), Monday, 21 August 2006 14:23 (nineteen years ago)

When does the war on bullshit really begin in earnest?

― Scourage (Haberdager), Monday, 21 August 2006 14:23 (nineteen years ago)

right here, and right now, louis.

― Bashment Jakes (Enrique), Monday, 21 August 2006 14:24 (nineteen years ago)

Lily Allen is now this generation's Siouxsie, btw.

― Domenico Buttez (ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!!), Monday, 21 August 2006 14:25 (nineteen years ago)

EMO is about as dangerous as "Top Deck" or Lemonade Shandy

Top Deck
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Deck_(drink)

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Monday, 21 August 2006 14:25 (nineteen years ago)

The Puppini Sisters = Sisters Of Mercy

― Scourage (Haberdager), Monday, 21 August 2006 14:26 (nineteen years ago)

Dom, I laughed for like 5 minutes at that picture and caption.

― Score one for Rodney! (R. J. Greene), Monday, 21 August 2006 14:31 (nineteen years ago)

This article refers to Top Deck, a soft drink. For other uses, please see Top Deck (disambiguation).

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 21 August 2006 14:36 (nineteen years ago)

I misread the thread title as "ELO cult warning for parents". Sorry, the actual thread doesn't come close to measuring up to that.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Monday, 21 August 2006 14:41 (nineteen years ago)

ENO cult warning for parents

― Scourage (Haberdager), Monday, 21 August 2006 14:43 (nineteen years ago)

EMO warning for parents - do hear awful yelping cliched whiney rock music for your teenager's room?

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Monday, 21 August 2006 14:48 (nineteen years ago)

So when does ILX split into Elder Goths and Baby Bats? And who is in what faction? Who is the ILX Elder Goth Leader?

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Monday, 21 August 2006 15:01 (nineteen years ago)

Is there any sentence in this article that isn't completely and utterly misinformed?

― wogan lenin (dog latin), Monday, 21 August 2006 15:27 (nineteen years ago)

the first one!

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Monday, 21 August 2006 15:29 (nineteen years ago)

haha

― wogan lenin (dog latin), Monday, 21 August 2006 15:29 (nineteen years ago)

where is this article from?

Here.

― Shoes say, yeah, no hands clap your good bra. (goodbra), Monday, 21 August 2006 16:48 (nineteen years ago)

Emo bands (Green Day, My Chemical Romance)

...

nah, it hardly seems sporting...

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Monday, 21 August 2006 17:17 (nineteen years ago)

The fact that this article is from the Daily Mail is perhaps my least surprising discovery of the month so far.

― Scourage (Haberdager), Monday, 21 August 2006 17:21 (nineteen years ago)

The Emos

― Sir Dr. Rev. PappaWheelie Jr. II of The Third Kind (PappaWheelie 2), Monday, 21 August 2006 18:14 (nineteen years ago)

Rod Hull with his regular puppet sidekick 'Emo'

― Scourage (Haberdager), Monday, 21 August 2006 18:16 (nineteen years ago)

I saw some Emos gently grazing on the tall grass of the Serengeti on the Discovery Channel the other night.

― harvey (harvey1), Monday, 21 August 2006 19:38 (nineteen years ago)

Serengeti != in Australia

― Scourage (Haberdager), Monday, 21 August 2006 19:41 (nineteen years ago)

They were imported. Emos are EVERYWHERE!

― harvey (harvey1), Monday, 21 August 2006 19:42 (nineteen years ago)

"Many of the alluring women of our time - Nigella Lawson, Debbie Harry, Chrissie Hynde, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Lily Allen - have a touch of the Goth about them."

I can't belive it took me this far in to realize this was Britishes.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Monday, 21 August 2006 19:48 (nineteen years ago)

Please, for the love of God, let Richard and Judy do something on 'the rising EMO cult terrorizing our kids'. they did something on the 'new Internet craze MySpace last month, so I'll set my watch for 2009.

Also, they might get MORLEY on.

― Mippy (Mippy), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 08:39 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.kitchenkaboodle.com/product/Nigella.jpg
EMO

― wogan lenin (dog latin), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 08:46 (nineteen years ago)

I'd like to go down on her sugar eh eh eh am I right guys? Guys?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 08:47 (nineteen years ago)

Nobody's picked up on this yet:

In particular, Goths and Emos are a rebellion against sporty, manly cultures - which is perhaps why they flourish particularly in North European countries or North America.

"Sorry guys, I'm too mentally oppressed for footie today."

― Scourage (Haberdager), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 09:00 (nineteen years ago)

surely southern europe and mexico are more 'manly' than pansy-ass denmark &c.? who would have thought the mail would relegate the southern regions to otherhood.

― Bashment Jakes (Enrique), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 09:07 (nineteen years ago)

"Many of the alluring women of our time - Nigella Lawson, Debbie Harry, Chrissie Hynde, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Lily Allen - have a touch of the Goth about them."

I'd say only Nigella has a touch of Goth about them, and that's mainly because of those black leather catsuits she used to wear before she discovered cooking - well, in my head anyway. DARK HAIR + PALE SKIN = CLASSIC (obviously)

― dud Hab 'C' dEva (Dada), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 09:13 (nineteen years ago)

Although Southern European men show more outward affection and 'homosocialism' towards each other than their Northern counterparts, I can assure you (as a half-Greek Cypriot) that they lose none of their 'manliness'. 'Machismo' is a Spanish word, is it not?

― Scourage (Haberdager), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 09:15 (nineteen years ago)

lily allen is the most goth of them, looks-wise.

― Bashment Jakes (Enrique), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 09:15 (nineteen years ago)

yeah but scourage:

"In particular, Goths and Emos are a rebellion against sporty, manly cultures - which is perhaps why they flourish particularly in North European countries or North America."

says that north is more manly than south, doesn't it?

― Bashment Jakes (Enrique), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 09:16 (nineteen years ago)

Britain is sporty?!?!??!? Ha ha, LOLz!!!!!!!!!

― dud Hab 'C' dEva (Dada), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 09:19 (nineteen years ago)

xpost: Yes, I know, I was pointing out how that section was just as wrong as the rest of the article.

― Scourage (Haberdager), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 09:22 (nineteen years ago)

on their teenage websites

― Øystein (Øystein), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 09:39 (nineteen years ago)

'the spooky kids'

― Scourage (Haberdager), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 09:41 (nineteen years ago)

If I ever form a band...

― Scourage (Haberdager), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 09:42 (nineteen years ago)

You'll name it after Marilyn Manson's band?

― Øystein (Øystein), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 09:49 (nineteen years ago)

*checks Allmusic* FUCK

Would it be at all endearingly ironic?

(Let's forget I ever mentioned it.)

― Scourage (Haberdager), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 09:56 (nineteen years ago)

...Russell Brand, who is about 90 per cent Goth...

― m0stly clean (m0stly clean), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 12:18 (nineteen years ago)

their guru:

http://www.emophilips.com/epk/images/emo-philips-blindfold-refused-sm.jpg

(fact: all emo singers try to imitate his voice)

― StanM (StanM), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 12:37 (nineteen years ago)

And they're all funnier than he is

― dud Hab 'C' dEva (Dada), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 12:38 (nineteen years ago)

I think there is a strong case for Mid 00s Emo to be the most useless teenage rock music fad in my lifetime.

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 12:41 (nineteen years ago)

more than... britpop!?

― Bashment Jakes (Enrique), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 12:42 (nineteen years ago)

Oasis end of Britpop/Lad Rock and Rap/Nu Metal of Limp Bizkit would be in the top 3.

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 12:45 (nineteen years ago)

Russell Brand looks like he smells and has an itchy scalp. That's not goth. That's just a lack of attention to personal grooming. Satan he no like contact dermatitis.

― Mippy (Mippy), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 15:39 (nineteen years ago)

Self-destruction is the answer to this problem. I don't see why anyone would try to interfere.

― IPSISSIMUS (Uri Frendimein), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 17:06 (nineteen years ago)

it's teh funny that the print media seem to be getting emo even more wrong than, say, grime, given that the journalists' kids are probably more likely to be indie i mean goths i mean emos.

― Bashment Jakes (Enrique), Wednesday, 23 August 2006 10:15 (nineteen years ago)

one year passes...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=564611&in_page_id=1770

― Dom Passantino, Thursday, 8 May 2008 19:06 (seventeen years ago)

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1138968.ece

professional journalism, lol

― StanM, Thursday, 8 May 2008 19:43 (seventeen years ago)

Martial artist Mr Bond said he knew his karate fan daughter was in contact with emos worldwide. He said: "She was always very protective of the screen."

― Dom Passantino, Thursday, 8 May 2008 19:47 (seventeen years ago)

The Black Parade is a nickname for the place where Emo fans believe they will go when they die.

― Roberto Spiralli, Thursday, 8 May 2008 19:47 (seventeen years ago)

Karate Fan Daughter would be a great name for a screamo band

― Curt1s Stephens, Thursday, 8 May 2008 20:13 (seventeen years ago)

It's ok to want to be a Suicidegirl, but not like this :-(

― StanM, Saturday, 10 May 2008 08:57 (seventeen years ago)

The Black Parade is a nickname for the place where Emo fans believe they will go when they die.

― latebloomer, Saturday, 10 May 2008 10:31 (seventeen years ago)

three years pass...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-13683387

― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Tuesday, 7 June 2011 11:58 (fourteen years ago)

― ban this sick stunt (anagram), Tuesday, 7 June 2011 12:13 (fourteen years ago)

the photo

― in no way more ancient than fucking space (latebloomer), Tuesday, 7 June 2011 12:55 (fourteen years ago)

nice

― ban this sick stunt (anagram), Tuesday, 7 June 2011 14:12 (fourteen years ago)

BAN BRIGHT EYES

― the fey bloggers are onto the zagat tweets (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Tuesday, 7 June 2011 14:13 (fourteen years ago)

That hair is not just for te emos

http://blogs.suntimes.com/scanners/ach.jpg

― free inappropriate education (Abbbottt), Tuesday, 7 June 2011 14:14 (fourteen years ago)

three years pass...

Stumbled across this 2006 Chicago Tribune article last night:
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2006-05-21/features/0605210442_1_junior-highs-suicide-note-blog

Best section is where it cautions parents that their child is not immune to the scourge. Emo can strike anywhere!

In Chicago, you can find the ever-more-youthful emo trend from Hyde Park to Lincoln Park, Rogers Park to Beverly. In the suburbs, it's in junior highs from Aurora to Schaumburg, Wilmette to Hinsdale, Homewood to Arlington Heights. And it has spread, thanks to the Internet, faster than you can type, "Seeking desolate landscape populated by preteens."
Check out MySpace--a virtual hangout where teens glue themselves to the computer and hook up with kids far and wide--and you'll find some 17,331 groups that identify themselves as "emo."
A group called "Chicago emo lovers" counts 108 members (kids click to belong to a group with shared interests). The group "Emo Kids Cry in the Dark" has 9,955 members, including some from Chicago.

You can Google "emo" and find step-by-step pictorial guides for "emo makeovers." That is, how to transform a geeky guy with a pencil tucked behind his ear, working at a copy store, to a "bona fide emo boy," who is shown dying his hair black, ditching the smile, slipping on a black T-shirt and scarf and, in the final photo, putting razor blade to wrist, from which something red is spilling.

Also for some reason I love this characterization of a middle-school guidance counselor: "He has a deep and poetic understanding of their whims and their worries."

― jaymc, Thursday, 7 August 2014 16:07 (eleven years ago)

"Barbara Mahany is a staff writer on the National Content/Lifestyle team. She writes mostly about gardens and home, family, food, and health. She always loves a great human interest tale, and has spent the best part of her newspaper years gathering and writing those stories straight from the heart."
http://bio.tribune.com/barbaramahany

― jaymc, Thursday, 7 August 2014 16:11 (eleven years ago)

Finding 'emo'

― how's life, Thursday, 7 August 2014 16:24 (eleven years ago)

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