Goth-what is your concept of it?

[Tink]

[color=#ff0066]Goth is defined loosely on dictionary.com as "Of or relating to a style that emphasizes the grotesque, mysterious, and desolate. Barbarous; crude."

I used to be goth. I enjoyed the attention and the pseudo-individuality it brought me. It was a point in my life when depression, despair, and self-hatred were inherent in my life. Luckily, that period of time is loooong gone. But I know so many people who appear to be goth who AREN'T insecure or attention-craving, who simply dress the way that they do because it's they style they enjoy. In fact, I have several friends who I met at a Steubie conference in 2003 who are SO in love with the Lord, and are positive, upbeat, happy people. They are labelled as 'goth', and it really makes me somewhat sad because of the negative connotation that the word implies.

Goths....

They are children of God to pray for, sisters and brothers in Christ (even if they don't acknowledge Him).

They are friends and acquaintances and strangers.

They are people. Just people.[/color]

[Fixxxer]

you can live with goths, but not emos

[Cow of Shame]

[quote name='peach_cube' date='Oct 29 2005, 07:39 AM']I find it it funny that "Hot topic" is all goth now when like 7 years ago it was all about boy bands and bubble gum pop.
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I don't like that they play totally sucky music....some of the clothing is interesting. I go gift shopping for my sibling there

[photosynthesis]

lumping people into categories based on what they wear, where they shop and what music they listen to is something I'm trying to avoid.

To be honest, it doesn't matter what you are, whether you're a goth, punk, hippie, stoner, lacrosstitute, whatever... it's just a transient identity people put on when they don't know who they are.

[OldFashionedGirl]

Yeah, sometimes it can be taken to a point where it is against Charity, but I mean, let us call a spade a spade.
Personally, I think the whole Goth thing (unless we are talking about a style of building) is all rot.

[photosynthesis]

if people want to dress up in silly clothes and listen to sappy music, I don't think it's indicative of mental illness or social adjustment problems. Often it's just a sign of the identity confusion some adolescents go through.

remember when you attack the lifestyle you attack the identity and the person behind the lifestyle, because to some people, that's all they think they are.

[Anastasia13]

[quote name='OldFashionedGirl' date='Oct 29 2005, 11:39 PM']Yeah, sometimes it can be taken to a point where it is against Charity, but I mean, let us call a spade a spade.
Personally, I think the whole Goth thing (unless we are talking about a style of building) is all rot.
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what is all rot? More than just clothing?

[OldFashionedGirl]

To put it bluntly: yes.

[Anastasia13]

what other than clothing?

[OldFashionedGirl]

The ideas and beliefs that go along with it.

[Fixxxer]

[quote name='Cow of Shame' date='Oct 29 2005, 11:36 PM']I don't like that they play totally sucky music....some of the clothing is interesting.  I go gift shopping for my sibling there
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When i was looking for a pantera shirt it was like hidden under all those goth/emo band shirts. They are trying to keep the good stuff away

[Tink]

[quote name='photosynthesis' date='Oct 30 2005, 12:44 AM']if people want to dress up in silly clothes and listen to sappy music, I don't think it's indicative of mental illness or social adjustment problems.  Often it's just a sign of the identity confusion some adolescents go through.

remember when you attack the lifestyle you attack the identity and the person behind the lifestyle, because to some people, that's all they think they are.
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[color=#ff0066]Well, I think there remains a fine yet blurred line between goth and pseudo-goth. Dressing up in what you subjectively deem as silly clothes and listening to music that isn't of the cultural norm is not indicative of being goth. That's a misconception that the lumping into categories brings, which, no offense intended, is what you and so many others do. What IS indicative of the gothic culture is the social problems or emotional insecurity or identity confusion that you speak of. The despair and darkness and bleak outlook on life is what I believe the gothic culture entails, the outward appearances concerning clothing, taste in music, makeup, etc. are only physical manifestations of something much more intrinsic.

I hope that makes sense and I'm not coming off as a witch or anything! I don't mean to step on any toes or make anyone cross with my words. [/color]

Edited October 30, 2005 by Tink

[cmotherofpirl]

The bleak outlook is far more serious than the clothing style.

[zabbazooey]

When I speak of 'goths' i'm speaking of the ones I knew in high school........not of any of the good ones out there

[ofpheritup]

[quote name='photosynthesis' date='Oct 29 2005, 11:55 PM']lumping people into categories based on what they wear, where they shop and what music they listen to is something I'm trying to avoid.

To be honest, it doesn't matter what you are, whether you're a goth, punk, hippie, stoner, lacrosstitute, whatever...  it's just a transient identity people put on when they don't know who they are.
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I agree. It is transitory. As a teenager or young person, fine do it.
When you are 40 and you are "still doing it" then we need to talk.

It is a way people choose to find themselves or express who they believe they are at a particular time in their lives.

Much like the cashier at my local Barnes and Noble that had blue hair for awhile. When he asked me what I thought I told him he needed a lighter shade of blue. He changed it.

Two years later, no blue hair. Life evolves, so do we. If it "fits" we keep it, if not we find something that does.