The Swarm

March 28, 2008

Flashback: U.K. Roots of the Emo War

TDS Editors

Daily Mail: EMO cult warning for parents (8/16/2006):

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’.

NME: The Week EMO became Public Enemy #1 (9/16/2006):

Some of the biggest attacks on this movement come from its own backyard. ‘I’ve never heard any band ever call themselves ‘emo’,’ says Mike Davies, presenter of Radio 1’s The Lock Up. ‘It’s a derogatory term.’

Indeed, the phrase ‘emotional hardcore’, as it was first dubbed by the US underground hardcore punk scene in the 1980s, has since evolved, been upgraded, amended and bastardised until the word ‘emo’ itself has come to stand as either a lifeline for misfits everywhere or the music you hear on The OC depending on which side of the fence you sit. Mike Davies doesn’t mind Fall Out Boy ‘because thay write really good pop songs’ and thinks MCR are ‘a straight-up rock’n’roll band’, but believes P!ATD ‘appeal to the lowest common denominator..’. He regualrly disses them on The Lock Up….

Put all this hatred together with the genre’s tendency not to fight back (because they’re, you know, emo) and you’ve got one hell of a lot of isolated people. But the freaks are growing in number and influence….

Even scene godfather Gerard Way thinks it’s time to break free of the ‘emo’ shackles – he denounced the genre tag in last week’s NME while discussing MCR‘s deranged new rock opera ‘The Black Parade’: ‘I think we’re bigger than that (emo),’ says Gerard, ‘and I think all these bands and all or our fans…are bigger than just one subgenre that’s hot for a minute.’

It’s unlikely his words are going to stop the Daily Mail’s witch hunt turning introverted rock kids into public enemy No.1. Or thugs in Whitechapel beating up our bands because they look different. But hopefully it’ll be enough to stop the fans fighting the fans. After all, when we all signed up to rock’n’roll in the first place, was it not based on an open mind, a shared feeling of outsiderdom and a hatred of intolerance? Even if we were all cutting ourselves, would we not all bleed the same?


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Previous comments include

#1 FUCK EMO says:

I agree. All these EMO fucks do deserve to be wiped out and yes, maybe they do need a good ass whooping to show them the light. You've gotta fight for your right to dress the way you do, think the way you do, talk the way you do and what you believe. And when I say fight for your right I mean physically fist fight with ME for your right. If you can't beat me, tough shit. Change your clothes.

#2 emily says:

daily mail article = BWAHAHAHHAHAA!
dang kids.

#3 V says:

Actually, I'd rather shoot Fuck Emo from behind, just in case he emirically finds why the violation of life is not fun.

Those who do not believe in Liberty, do not deserve it.

And yes, I did say from behind, since for those who believe in victory, it is victory that is the objective (not fighting) and tactical, assymetric warface that DOES NOT give the enemy a chance to react is of cource the logical action.

It is time the emo kids get some guns.

#4 craig david says:

DiS also did this interview with MCR
http://drownedinsound.com/articles/11...

#5 Piggy says:

you!
fuck emo i will fight you!!!

#6 A voice of reason says:

Uh....this is really ridiculous, and stupid. Leave the emo kids alone, they haven't done anything to anyone. I'm surprised people are so intolerant. Is emo the next Civil Rights movement?

#7 brittney says:

dude. just shut the eff up. everyone likes their own thing. and something else, this article makes me want to rip off the head of whoever wrote this and shit down their throat. because they've got it all wrong about "emo kids". i've been reading a lot about these mexican attacks, and it seems like everyone has the idea that every emo kid is middle-classed. not really. in my city, it's mostly people who've had a hard life. people who live in trailor parks. THE WORKING CLASS. the blue-collars. got it? not every emo is rich, or nearly rich, or “comfortable”, or middle-classed. also, not every emo cuts their self, all right? and not everyone who cuts their self is emo. it all really boils down to narrow-minded people, ignorance, and the fear of the unknown. who cares if someone is homosexual? if they’re not trying to get physical with you, it’s not a problem! NOT ALL EMOS ARE HOMOSEXUAL. and not all homosexual people are emo. i dress emo, and i don't hurt myself. i'm straight. and i am VERY MUCH HAPPY. i just like the way the style looks. did the emos do anything to anybody? no. let them do what they want to do. you don’t see them trying to change anyone else. the only time a culture or sub-culture needs to be changed or dealt with is if it endangers life or liberty. the emos do not endanger other lives or liberty. however, the anti-emos endanger both life and liberty. something needs to be done about them before we have another holocaust and/or Hitler.

#8 brittney says:

oh, if anyone wants to contact me about my comment, you can find me here: http://www.myspace.com/rockstarxwannabe

bring it on, bitches.

#9 para hispanohablantes... says:

sea justo callado. todos quieren su propia cosa. y algo más, este artículo me hace quiero arrancar la cabeza de que escribió este y caga hacia abajo su garganta porque ellos lo han conseguido toda injusticia acerca de "niños de emo". he sido leído mucho acerca de estos ataques mexicanos, y parezco personas tienen la idea que cada niño de emo no es mediano-clasificado. realmente. en mi ciudad, lo Las personas que han tenido una vida dura. personas que viven en parques de trailor. ¡LA CLASE OBRERA! el obrero. comprende? no cada emo es rico, ni casi rico, ni "cómodo", ni burgués. también, no cada emo corta su ser, comprende? y no todos que corta su ser son emo. todo se reduce realmente a personas cerradas, a la ignorancia, y al temor del desconocido. que cuida si alguien es homosexual? si ellos tratan no conseguir con usted, es no un problema! NO TODO EMOS ES HOMOSEXUAL. y no todas personas homosexuales son emo. visto emo, y yo no me dolí. soy directamente. y soy TANTO FELIZ. acabo de querer la manera las miradas del estilo. hizo el emos hace nada a nadie? no. permitió que ellos hacer lo que ellos quieren hacer. usted ve no ellos tratando de cambiar nadie más. el único tiempo una cultura ni la subcultura Es cambiado o es tratado con es si se pone en peligro la vida o la libertad. el emos no se pone en peligro otro vive o la libertad. sin embargo, el ANTI emos se pone en peligro tanto la vida como la libertad. algo necesita para ser hecho acerca de ellos antes nosotros tenemos otro holocausto y Hitler.

#10 pope fuck says:

emo? binge drinking? ithought there all sxe! what the fuck! punx and drinking now that lines up:] (pabst blue ribbon). but seriously going back to black flag who wrote "SIX PACK" is anyone confused

#11 Nurse says:

I’m a school nurse & you wouldn’t believe how many of the “emo” kids cut. They call themselves “emo,” by the way. We’ve sent at least a dozen kids to the local psychiatric hospital for self-injury and suicidal ideation just during this school year. About 90% of those kids were self identified “emo” kids. I was pretty confused about the whole “emo” thing until one of the kids showed me the website http://whatisemo.bravehost.com/. Once I saw that site, I understand the issue much better; please take the time to view this and protect yourself and your loved ones.

#12 Erique says:

I personally would skrew every member of P!ATD. Hell! There's a hot emo guy in my class that I'd fuck, if given the chance.
You don't see them complaining about how the Goths are fucking scairy, the punks and the skaters need to lay off the pot, the preps need to get their heads out of their asses, and the gang-banges need to pull up their fucking pants. Or even the little tini-boppers with their too-short shorts, flat-chested clevage, and their ugly ass braces. No, but they love to poke fun at the emos.

#13 Ashee-qah says:

Fuck this im living in South Africa a place of dem0cracy and freedom of speech.we come from a history of apartheid.why worry with what people have to say.why dnt u just carry on with ur lives.Everyone should be entitled to the way they want to be...

#14 suki says:

what does it really matter what phases teens go through? all thats changed is now phases have definitions. And when something is defined there are atomaticcally people who will hate it.

#15 scientology says:

oh
nice
bry
nice

#16 YOU GUYS ARE SO STUPID!!!!! says:

OK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am tired of hearing this bull crap!!!!!!!! I'm emo that doesn't mean you have to talk like that to us!!! Most of our lives have been crap and are sad because we feel nobody cares about us!!! Not all emos cut themselves!!!!!!!!!! You should really get to know us before you describe because its going to be you who feels like us one day......Black Tears of Death are better than Red Tears of Blood from killing innocent emo people or any kind of people!!!!!!!!
Other than that hope you have a great summer!! :D

#17 Nu metaller says:

I REALLY FU.... HATE EMOS, THEY ARE A LOT OF QUEERS HOMOSEXISTS

#18 sebastian says:

i totally agree with brittney..
btw the uk has some serious problems at the moment..
this gonna be hard to solve..
i mean look at the teenage gangs ,in london f.ex., who kill each other..
every week you hear of a new incident..
and all in all these "emo wars" are total nonsense and attest to total intolerance..

#19 Amanda says:

I think gerard way isnt really dissing the emos.
hes actually saying that we stereotype people who dress in that fashion to easly.

#20 RWIN says:

EMO ROCK

#21 mini me says:

Emo = fail at life

#22 Catherine says:

FUCK EVERY ONE WHO HATES EMO
I'M EMO
DESPRESSION AND FEELING SUCICIDAL CAN HAPPEN TO FUCKING ANYBODY NOT JUST EMOS
EMOS SHOW HOW THEY FEEL AND ANYONE WHO GIVES THEM SHIT FOR DOING THAT IS JUST TOTAL BASTARD !!! LIKE EVERYONE WHO WORKS ON THE DAILY MAIL AND AGREES WITH THIS FUCKING ARTICAL

#23 AshleyAutopsy says:

Ok really all this for a fucking STYLE?!?! Everyone says emo want to kill themselves or cut and all of that stupid bullshit! NO! ANYONE can kill themselves I mean I had a preppy friend who killed herself! I mean really what about the punks with their violents and fucking music? What about goths with there black lipstick? What about skaters with the pot? What about preps with there stuck up assholish lives? What about the fucking gang-wanna be fucks who are just killing people for the hell of it? Ok emos/scenes don't cut themselves! It's a style! Just like punks/preps/skater/etc. so why not start a whole riot against the world because NO one is fucking prefect. Preps are fucking bitches that give everyone hell. Goths don't believe in YOUR god (RIGHT ON!) Scene kids like to go hardcore and get piercings and listen to amazing music (Scene baby!) Gangsters are the ones killing people too! What about them! Emos dont harm anyone! Not even themselves man! But the gangsters are the ones raping, shooting, and all that other shit for FUN!! They have NO motive! And the stupid schools and fucking idiotdic parnets are scared of the emos telling kids to kell themselves? Hell if i heard someone telling me to kill myself I'd beat some fucking ass. The only reason emo has the "Suicide" name is because the posers pulled it off like that! Look back at all the suicides and youll fucking see that not all are emo! So get a fucking life and stop fucking on the emo kids! You're more worried about a style then the real problems! Like youresleves, or the gangsters, the abusers, child melsters, THE WAR THAT SHOULDVE ENDED A HELL OF A LONG TIME AGO! So I think all you fucking goverment low-lifes and fucking rocker wanna bes and anyone who fucking picks on emo kids need to get your head out of your fucking asses and fucking deal with the shit you dont like! We all have to fucking do that! You dont like music but it plays DEAL right! This world is even more pathtic than i thought.....remember Karma...what comes around goes around 50x harder...You'll see

AshleyAutopsy


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