gothic sterotypes and what is a goth?

Question

I'm goth and my friend doesn't think so because I don't fit his sterotypes, aka I'm not a satanist, I don't cut myself, I actually achive stuff, and I laugh some of the time, so I'm not depressed 24/7. So please post what your definition of a goth is, and some sterotypes that are not true of goths. I'm going to print this out and show it to him tomorrow

Answer 1

Goth is a way of life, clothing, & music. Goths are really nice most of the time & are very friendly they just choose not to conform, & sometimes they're cynics *but cynics are rad =]*

Untrue sterotypes:
They cut theirselves
They worship satan
They're depressed
They have no friends
They're creepy
They ALWAYS were black
They're emo


Well that's all.

Don't worry about not fitting you're friend's idiotic sterotypes.

♥

Answer 2

Your friend has no idea about what being goth is. I can't say either way if you're goth or not, but being in the subculture for many years, I've never know a goth that was a Satanist, a cutter, or a total slacker. Being goth has nothing to do with what clothes you wear or music you listen to, it is a way of thinking and seeing the world. The clothes that goths wear and the music that goths listen to is just a reflection of that mindset. Goths see that there is extreme pain and evil in the world, along with the good. Instead of condemning it or ignoring it, goths accept these things as a part of life and try and enjoy the good along with the bad, since they can't stop the bad from happening. They are not obsessed with death, they just accept it as an inevitability. They do not try and cause more pain in their (or anybody else's) lives, since there is plenty to start with. Goths tend to be kind, intelligent, non-violent, emotional, and artistic

Answer 3

Go to wiktionary: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Gothic
You'll find, Goth•ic, an extinct language, once spoken by the Goths in what is now Ukraine and Bulgaria.

Wikipedia can tell you what real Goths are: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goths

As to what your friend is thinking that's probably the subculture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goths

The goth subculture is a contemporary subculture found in many countries. It began in the United Kingdom during the early 1980s in the gothic rock scene, an offshoot of the post-punk genre.

The goth subculture has survived much longer than others of the same era, and has continued to diversify. Its imagery and cultural proclivities indicate influences from nineteenth century Gothic literature, mainly through horror movies.

The goth subculture has associated tastes in music and fashion, whether or not all individuals who share those tastes are, in fact, members of the goth subculture.

Gothic music encompasses a number of different styles. Common to all is a tendency towards a "dark" sound and outlook.

Styles of dress within the subculture range from death rock, punk, androgynous, medieval, some Renaissance and Victorian style clothes, or combinations of the above, most often with black attire, makeup and hair.

I hope you can find what you are looking for.

Answer 4

Well like most say goth is a way of life and how you feel. I know I'm Gothic but i don't do any of that i get depressed like every normal person does and besides didn't the original goths believe in the bible? I'm not very sure but they weren't satanists.

Answer 5

They tend to be very easy going and friendly. I never had any bad experience with them. I think they try to avoid conflicts if possible.

They usually don't really follow fashion and wear dark color (red, black, dark blue, purple, gray, etc...) with contrast jewerlies.

Other things I also notice about them is they tend to be really intelligent and very down to earth and realistic. They doesn't seems to be the type who live on cloud. They tend to be very tolerating of others as well.

Your friend sound like a poser. Most gothics I know are agnostic or atheist. I rarely met any that cuts themselve.

Most goths doesn't put on a "Depress" act and are themselve. So it's very easy to spot a real goth from poser. Poser goth are the type I avoid like plague.

Answer 6

I think 'gothic' is a mindset, rather than a particular lifestyle. I would say that it means you have an appreciation for the beauty of thing dark, morbid, and macabre.

Do you have to be depressed to find beauty in death? Many people are, but it's certainly not a requirement.
Do you have to cut yourself to fully appreciate pain? Definitely not.

'Gothic' is not defined by activities, religion, mental state, or style of dress. I think many of those people who deck themselves out in stuff from Hot Topic are not really 'goths'. They are simply going for the shock factor as a means of rebelling. 'Gothic' isn't about rebelling, nor is it about conformity. It's not a political statement.

I think your friend has a very narrow view of what 'gothic' means. One does not have to fit a stereotype to be a 'goth'. Some of us, like myself, prefer to dress normally so that the people we encounter in daily life take us seriously. Some of us prefer not to broadcast something so personal to the whole world.