In recent years the popular media has associated emo with a stereotype that includes being emotional, sensitive, shy, introverted, or angsty.[17][18][19] It is also associated with depression, self-injury, and suicide
To be fair Drisgirl they weren't all emos, but I do agree that it is a sad situation that so many teenagers are entranced by the magic and wonder of cults. Personally I would like to blame it on the health system and the schools because neither were there when I really needed help coping. Other schools of thinking would blame it on the parents. Emoism could be described as a cult, with the number of slash marks on the wrists being a determining factor to membership, but that is generalisation, a dangerous business at the best of times, least all when self-harming is involved.
Emo is someone who likes listening to emotional rock essentially. All the other bits and pieces like the dark eye liner and floppy fringes are just fashion. And Shadow, I think it's chavs not people in general that hate emos lol.
My 17 year old son is definitely not a chav and he really does hate emos (and says 'hate' doesn't do it justice, he says it's more of a loathing). He hates chavs too.
Emo's are emotional rockers, and Dris's made a point about them. As opposed to goths, I understand that they prefer to self harm - i.e. carving names into their arms with knives, and so on. Nothing wrong in wearing clothes that are viewed as being "different", but when it comes to that - no way.
I think people in general underestimate the power of following the trend which is being an Emo.
I am only concerned as a bystander -I dont have teenagers to be concerned about -so I am ansolutely neutral but 16 suicides in a town like Bridgend is exceptionally sad and all seem to be linked to Bebo and all appear to have neeen enos.
Now this isny sensationalism -try telling the families -the latest 2 were cousins.
Read up on it yourself and then make an impartial judgement.
I have read up on it -long before this post -and it concerned me deeply and I was thankful that I wouldnt have that angst as a parent.Its a tad tooo much -I had it rough but this was never in the equation ever.
I'll post the pop of Bridgend and the details so people can make up their own minds.
All that said, not every teenager becomes an emo, and not all emos kill themselves/hurt themselves. I seem to have survived my teenage years, even though I am punk, never self harmed, and got into a pretty darn good uni. Most of my friends have survived their teenage years, and the ones that didn't it was nothing to do with emoism, or cults.
No offence meant to your son MK66! Personally I don't really like the whole labelling thing, or prejudice against one group thing, I'd never hate someone just based on the fact of 'what' they are
So who self-harmed before emos? The label only came about 3-4 years ago. I may be contridicting myself here (I do that a lot), but the label is meaningless without the understanding. Why? Yes it is a 'cult', and yes it is dangerous, and yes I agree teenagers in that label do seem to have more self esteem issues then most, by why? Why do self-harmers seem to group together? Isn't that going to encourage them to harm themselves more in a way to become more 'cool'. Where are the parents? Where are the schools? Where are the health services that you all pay taxes to? (I'm a student so you also pay for me! Thank you by the way).
Hi Sophie - no offence taken. I've just asked my son why he hates emos - he said because he can't stand how miserable they all are and because they all want to be the same, for instance, dress the same, behave the same, listen to the same music. They have no individuality.
He hates chavs too for the same reason - no individuality.
I am the only person here who doesnt have anything to concern myself with ergo I am neutral.
amy -my kids are probably about your age give or take.
I was a punk a rocker -we were harmless -although I gave my parents sleeples nights I daresay.
Emos -do self harm and if a teenager finds themselves in a vulnerable position they will follow the trend and if that happens to be included with a 'group'they will embrace it -then the indoctination begins.
I am sorry teenage years are full of angst rebellion but ultimately fun
It shouldbt cetnre around self harming and then potentially suicide -its way too dark and disturbing.
I don't think you'll find a quick answer to all that Amy. I personally think that all youngsters with no self esteem haven't been given encouragement and support by either parents or teachers. I was off partying at the age of 12, but I was brought up properly - in that I always knew where to draw the line and didn't follow older friends into a spiral of drink and drugs. A lot of teenagers want to "belong", because they haven't the confidence to be their own person or to stand out from the crowd.
I agree Drisgirl. The last month of my teenage life is going to be fun, and the majority of my teenage life has been ace. I am concerned with the number of young people self-harming and potentially commiting suicide, but as a student of behaviour and mind I am also looking for other peoples insight's into why?