Emo and scene found it's way into the mainstream media one or two years ago, and as could be expected the media went on a frenzy of bad stereo-typing and cliche assumptions. There were public warnings to parents issues by high schools, colleges and universities as well as religious communities, and instead of trying to understand the culture the media seemed to log-on to some websites and pick up on the stereo-types that were being spread online.

Here are some news articles and videos which were directed at the emo and scene culture but have no idea what emo really is. Some you can't help but laugh at, some are accurate and some are just plain annoying.

This one is my favourite. The writer obviously has no idea what emo really is or where it even originated. I laughed myself through 3/4 of this article, and then just ended up feeling sorry for the writter making themselves look so stupid.

EMO cult warning for parents

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.

Source : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-400953/EMO-cult-warning-parents.html

Another brilliant example of someone who thinks they know what emo is, making themselves look foolish. 

In response to the article Family fears school suicide pact I would just like to urge parents totake notice of the "Emo" movement across the country, and across the world.

The whole "stigma" of the group, is about people dressing and acting in such a way as to get attention, and yes, suicidal acts are part of it.

The Emo movement is a very dangerous group to be in, as quite a number of people have been killed during their involvement in this regard. Anyone can find out about these deaths - mostly suicides - on the internet.

I have read up quite a lot about the Emo setup, as I am totally against it, because it is people who would go through great and drastic lengths to get attention, including among the most popular hanging and cutting of wrists.

There is a certain set of music associated with it as well. Mostly it's about failed relationships with people - whether boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, parents, friends whatsoever.

They do dress in a specific way, focussing on black as well as very bright colours, and also follow a distinct way of wearing their hair. In such a way, it usually hangs over one of the eyes, and for men/boys, the back hair is usually shorter than the rest of the hair, and might even be bright colours. The bright colours are more common among the female part of the group, and they go through some radical styles.

I could go on for very long about their habits, dress codes, music and others, but please, parents - be aware for the safety of your child. Emo is dangerous!

Quintin

Source : http://www.news24.com/News24/MyNews24/Letters/0,,2-2127-2129_2484890,00.html