Goth IMO

[The Void]

I did not know quite where to put this, but it was my response to what a friend of mine said, thinking he was saying something harmless and it got me a bit wired. I posted this in my Livejournal today.

It is amusing, but I'm still a tad miffed. I'll get over it and so will he. :grin

I WROTE:

Ok, goth is such an overused, overexposed, misunderstood, 80's term. But, a pal o' mine had to say something and now here comes the river from my mouth...

IMO Goth is a way of life, a way of being and feeling about the world. No, it does no mean depression central, but unfortunately many that I have met are depressed. I was...before...now, it's a different story. But anyway, moving on...

I am not slamming this person, but it got me thinking about stuff and a little pissed, which many in the goth community are sick of the posers who claim goth when they are NOT. Again, goth is a state of mind, way of life and being, period, imo.

[Yes, some will criticize me because I have pretty much retired my black lipstick and black clothing, but I used to wear it and still do on occassion, but I am who I am on the inside to this very day, clothing or no clothing.]

Here are some general guidelines for all goth wannabes:

*Owning a pair of leather pants or a black frilly shirt does not constitute being goth.

*Wearing black does not = goth.

*Dressing up at Samhain like a goth does not mean you are.

*Just because you know a goth, you are not goth-by-association.

*Just because you've gone to a goth club a few times with some friends does not mean you are goth-by-immersion.

*Pretending or dressing up to be a vampire means you roleplay and are not a vampyre, therefore nowhere near anything goth. (disclaimer: goth does not = vamp, as vamp does not = goth)

*Reading Edgar Allan Poe does not make you goth.

*Hanging out in graveyards does not make you goth. (although we often like doing it...yea yea)

*Shopping at Hot Topic (puke*gag*arg) does not make you goth! In fact it makes you the anti-christ!

Rule of thumb, unless you ARE goth, don't claim goth because you'll piss of goths. :doh

In fact, I don't even use the term myself these days since like I stated, it is so overused and is now trendy I hate it.

To all my goth friends, I hope you had a laugh.