Matt106

I'm new to this forum. In fact, this is my first post. I'm a therapist at a mental health facility. I'm a Christian, but the program I run accepts public funding, so sharing my beliefs is against regulations. (wasn't this country founded on Christian beliefs? I guess that's another discussion! ) We all had our fads growing up. Every generation of teens has a fashion or music that tends to upset the adults. Emo is similar in this regard. Emo's wear dark clothes, have hair that usually covers one eye, and many identify themselves as "bisexual." Their music seems to stress/convey, emotional pain, the meaninglessness of life, self injury, and suicide. I have to say that my experience over the past several years has opened my eyes about emo. I my work, I spent the first seven years of my career (most of the 90's) working in an outpatient mental health clinic. During that time, I saw hundreds of kids. My coworkers combined saw many times that number. During all of that time, I was aware of only one case of self injury (harming oneself by cutting, burning, branding, and so on). It was formerly a relatively rare occurrence. In 2000, I transferred to another program in my agency, and we began to see more and more cases of self injury. We also began to see more kids calling themselves "goth", or emo. my colleagues and I then thought that this was another fad, and these kids would look back at old pictures one day and say "I can't believe I wore that!"

A few years ago, my family relocated so I could accept a job as a program director. Since then, my staff and I have seen dozens of cases of self injury and attempted suicide. The only common factor linking these cases is that approximately 90% of the "cutters" are self identifying emo kids. After all of this, I began to question the connection between self injury, suicide, and emo. Once I started seeing the online emo communities, the music lyrics, the poetry that emo's publish, and looked at suicide statistics (increases for teen suicide), I became very alarmed! Of course, not all emo's cut, and not all cutters are emo, but I do believe that there is a connection between emo and some very destructive behaviors. After a great deal of prayer, I've been drawn to try to warn parents about this subculture, because kids are permanently scarring themselves and some are dying. I'd be happy to share my research with anyone that wants it. Thanks for your time, and I look forward to any feedback that you have.

Ausgirl

Matt, you may not be allowed to openly share your faith, but that doesn't stop you praying up a storm for your patients!!!!! I don't know much about the whole goth thing - I work with small children, so fortunately, they aren't into that stuff.

Banarenth

Not goth...emo. Bana is goth, bana no emo'd.

Ok, sometimes I may "feel" a bit on the emo side, but who doesn't from time to time. On the other side, I have been in "the scene" long enough to actually remember the roots of emo, and they have come a long way...in the wrong direction.

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Teck

emo kids are weird, specially the men, er boys, they wear girl pants.

Boanerges

But they are precious to Jesus and so to you and me- I will pray for those girlie panted young men. Do the girls wear guys pants? Either way let us pray!

Teck

no they also wear tight revealing pants.

This pretty much defines emo kids:

Hello, my name is Mr. Emo
Don’t bother waving or saying hello
Feeling bad for myself is all that I know
Sitting here wishing for a black rainbow
~
Emo sucks, Emo rules, I really don’t care
Nothing really matters, not even my hair
Not girl pants, though I own twenty pair
Not even my body, covered in gallons of Nair
~
Leave me alone while I sit and reflect
I feel as important as a tiny insect
Masacara and paint, designed to deflect
Do me a favor and support Emo neglect
~
Cause that’s all that I want, it’s true and you know
Sadness for me is like a warm pillow
In a state of denial is where I’ll wallow
Don’t worry, I’ll keep my razor cuts shallow

Boanerges

Sad. That is the opposite of the life Jesus has for them.

Matt106

Thanks for feedback!!!! I do pray for the kids daily. I have seen the "contagion" effect at work as well. As well as the apparent link to emo, there also seems to be an effect where one kid cuts, then others see and cut as well. These kids get reinforcement from each other as they continue to become more and more involved in the subculture. I do have a website with some more information that anyone can use. visit if you like. Its whatisemo.bravenet.com

Boanerges, thanks for reminding me that the Lord loves all of his children, even those who stray.

Teck, thanks for your humor. I believe that laughter is a great gift from the Lord.

Mom, you're TOUGH! Sometimes it is necessary for people to see, "how the other half lives." Interesting idea, but next to impossible to implement. You do have the progression of the problem down.

Debate and knowledge is good if we are going to help kids. The first step is always prayer!!

smellycat

me..o evil.simple to i.

Banarenth

I disagree. Emo poets pride themselves on the fact that their poetry is generally bad. This was too well done.

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