I know I'm probably really clueless...

[author_by_night]

... but what exactly is "emo" anyway? Nerdy?

Comments

[delleve.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure it stands for emotional. It basically means angsty. Used in a sentence: that teen is emo.

[norwegianblue47.livejournal.com]

Or in a type of angsty music. Usually used in reference to nowadays "punk" music, i.e Weezer or Good Charlotte.

[norwegianblue47.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah. *Friends back*

[alyssalina.livejournal.com]

I find it interesting that people call themselfs emo, when basicaly they're saying that they're moody teenagers...

[genesse.livejournal.com]

I've been wondering that too lately. Thanks for asking, since I don't think I'd have ever said anything.

[delleve.livejournal.com]

Evanecense (know I spelled that one wrong), is a prime example of this. ;)

[katrinabadina.livejournal.com]

As far as my stereotypical highschool goes... emo means you are depressed, but you arent sure what youre depressed about, you're rebelling, but you arent sure what you're rebelling against (most emo kids would say, "um, society?", you listen to bands such as yellowcard, and Takingback Sunday, (groups of kids who are really bands, but their music sounds pop-y), and you try to be different not because you are really unique, but just to cause reaction. As in, you hate a fad just for the the sake of hating a fad.

They are about as fake as the "popular" kids they they hate.

[vertigo-struck.livejournal.com]

It's a type of music. It's short for emotional. It's applied to lots of different bands - some of them are pop-punk and some are alternative. I've never heard it used to describe a person unless s/he listens to emo.

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

Ah, okay - thanks!

[auvergne.livejournal.com]

You're right, though, the look is very nerdy (or it was). Thick black rimmed glasses, argyle on occassion... usually very dark hair. Pale. Sweater vests.

[scionofgrace.livejournal.com]

Could it be said, then, that "emo" means defining yourself by what you're not?

Sure does sound fake. Instead of letting society define you by following it, it's letting society define you by rebelling against it for no other reason than that it is society.

[alyssalina.livejournal.com]

You are officially my hero, because this is what I try to say to these people, but it always come out jumbled. You took my thoughts and now they make sense.

[stella-nova.livejournal.com]

longer hair, straight-leg pants (not baggy), those sneakers (the softer kind, i don't really know how to explain it), and whoever said it before is right, lots of argyle. most of the emos in my school are rather fashion-sensible. ;)

btw, i've friended you. i'm artemis from SQ.

[kasuchi]

Ah, not so much. Emo music usually more whinging. New Found Glory is probably a better example. Evanescence is more goth rock.

[gryfny.livejournal.com]

Don't worry I also had no idea what emo meant.

[kasuchi]

I think that's more because of it's goth-rock roots. I've always seen emo music as more whinging about how a girl left you. As for the people...the thick glasses and the argyle are probably part of the pseudo reballion; wear exactly what society tells you not to wear, yeah?

Emo???

[abigail-isa.livejournal.com]

I had no idea "Emo" was a word used for people, per se. Emo is short for emotional, as someone said earlier... I like listening to Emo, and that doesn't mean I'm nerdy, or fake, or trying to be something I'm not, or trying to be "unique to 'cause reaction"... or any other adjective you used. And, BTW: I think emo music is very powerful, there's absolutedly nothing wrong with it... Taking Back Sunday? It rocks, they're lyrics are amazing... And it's not just dingy bands like Yellowcard and Good Charlotte (I don't blame you for not liking them), there's also a couple of FINE bands that can be labelled as "Emo" as well, such as Bright Eyes (have you ever listened to Bright Eyes? It's simply breathtaking)

Ah, well... I guess it's up to you to decide. Just don't go making steriotypes, 'cause you never know...
Abby