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Sailor79 · 09-29-2007, 03:09 AM

I know this is a long post but for some reason I felt very compelled to explain these certain thoughts about a particular aspect of “Emo”. I’m sure there are tons of other factors to consider & I’m not claiming that I know everything about “social cultures”, and I mean no offence to anyone with this post.

I have never been an "Emo" which I believe is different than "Goth". Though it’s possible to blend any "social culture" be it “Emo” or not. I grew up being what most people would call "grunge" or "alternative" or “punk” by the way I looked though if I was to describe myself I would say I was more of a "Hippie" growing up. I had & still have a large circle of friends that is composed of many "social cultures" including the ones I was discribe as & how I discribed myself but many of these friends were of other "social cultures" as well that did not have the characteristics of a rebellious nature as some of the others among us did, being more clean-cut & not listening to rock & roll or what have you, but we all supported each other & didn’t drag each other down. Our circle is composed of people who are from Christian, Atheist, Agnostic, Buddhist, Wicca & Celtic Druid backgrounds & we all accept each other for who we are. We have had MANY theological/religious debates over the years, but I cannot really remember getting into an argument or getting mad at one another while expressing our beliefs of theology/religion to one another. My oldest friend, whom I’ve known since I was 3 years old, became a Christian before I did but he dressed like me, had long hair & listened to rock & roll or what have you. He was generally tossed into the “grunge/alternative social culture" catagory by people who judge a book by its cover; though he may have looked a certain way he still kept his Christian values. Before I continue I'd like to say I'm sure there are good "Emos" out there & don't have any root causes that I am about to discribe & would never become a bad "Emo" regardless of inffluence. Here goes: In alot of situations "Emo” may not be the root of the problem but the actual root (what ever it may be, example: clinical depression) of the problem caused a domino effect that lead to the person to be an “Emo”. The line gets crossed when a person takes it too seriously. & I agree the influence of a “hard core Emo” can possibly rub off on a “less serious Emo” causing him to possibly be a “hard core Emo” as well. But let’s say the “Emo social culture” never existed. Some of these people who would have been an “Emo” would still have their root problem but would still attach it to some “other social culture” & find another person who was more “hardcore or extreme” within this “other social culture” causing the person to possibly be a “hardcore or extremist” of this “other social culture”. I’ll give an example of a similar situation. (& again I mean no offence to anyone) take “Rednecks”. There are plenty of types of “Rednecks” out there. I grew up in a very small town filled with them. Some were good people some were not so good. Let’s say “Redneck Chuck” has some anger issues but he never really took them out on anyone, maybe he had a punching bag to blow off steam. Then one day “Redneck Chuck” met “Redneck Billy”. The two of them had many things in common such as the cloths they wore or the trucks they drove or the music they listened to & became friends. But “Redneck Billy” also has an anger issue and “Redneck Billy” directs his anger issue through racism (rather than a punching bag) maybe even physically attacks people of other races. Well “Redneck Chuck” could possibly get pulled down by “Redneck Billy” & start directing his root anger issue through racism as well. I guess what I’m trying to say is: most of these people probably already had a root problem & there is always going to be other people worse off that might drag someone down with them if they arnt careful, even if there was no “Emo”. One of the best ways to avoid this would to be to surround yourself with people of positive influences, though that is easier said than done. I have seen people in real bad times hanging with some real bad people but once they "woke up" they began surrounding themselves w/poeple with sincer Love & understanding & patience (which I believe all 3 are the keys) they came around & are no longer up to no good as they were before. If you can just get someone to try & they sincerly keep trying, there isnt much else you can ask of a person. At that point that person would gain more respect (from me atleast). Maybe I've been driven to write this long post because my favorite Parable is the one of the lost/prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). Which I think really applies here as it applies to so much of life.