Subcultures Thread

You know how there's so many subcultures in this world? You know, people like the emos, the hipsters, the geeks, the mods, the shogazers, etc? It seems to me that there's so many of them *

and so little I actually know about them. I'm not sure whether or not we have any kind of people in these subcultures (Save for geeks, nerds, possibly furries and all the other groups associated with the former two) but I really do want to know more about these subcultures; not from big names associated with them or satirical versions of them, real facts from the actual people.

(Sorry if I have been using an 'Us vs Them' mentality, BTW)

Hellote.

I used to think of myself as metalhead, then I used to think of myself as a goth (darkwaver specifically) because of the music I listened to. Fan Dumb drove me away from associating myself with any subculture or fandom and I also diversified my taste in music significantly (thanks Internet!). While I still often listen to metal and Dark Wave, I think the biggest problem with subcultures is that they are less individualistic than they seem. There is as much peer pressure there as in the 'mainstream' society and they'll happily 'convert' you to their lifestyle and system of values. I prefer doing it my way. Also, if you need people to be close to you, instead of finding subculture it's better to find Nakama. From my experience, if only thing that connects you to people is a specific common interest, your relationship with them will be shallow.

"Take your (...) hippy dream world, I'll take reality and earning my happiness with my own efforts" - Barkey

I don't precisely fit into any subculture so much as I borrow from a number of them. As I've (over)stated before, I identify with goth the most - I've had a taste for black and morbidity that stretches back as far as I can remember, so it's hardly a phase. It's telling, however, that most friends I met through the nearest goth 'scene' that I still remain friends with have all abandoned said scene and pursued shared interests in their own ways. Believe me, there's certain aspects and personality types within subcultures I have a level of contempt for that would make Andrew Eldritch blanch further.

But, ultimately, I think subcultures are a good thing. It provides a way out for those alienated with the dominant culture, but still want a support network in doing so.

And thanks for creating this topic. Finally, my obsession with the superflous elements of identity will be coralled .

edited 5th Jun '11 9:54:31 AM by DarkDecapodian

Aww, did I hurt your widdle fee-fees?

I too borrow from a couple of different subcultures but I dare not join any of them for two reasons: conflicting interests and the fact that I was never keen on the idea of a group of people getting together in a homogeneous circle jerk to tell each other they're awesome.

"It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt." - Some guy with a snazzy hat.

That's so awesome! You're right there! Let's not conform together!

Absolute nonconformity is a lost cause anyway, it's all about finding something you want to follow.

Aww, did I hurt your widdle fee-fees?

Not necessarily. I stopped caring about subcultures because I didn't wanted to follow them. It's not about rejection of all influence, it's about having your own opinions

edited 5th Jun '11 10:06:22 AM by nzm1536

"Take your (...) hippy dream world, I'll take reality and earning my happiness with my own efforts" - Barkey

I think you missed the unintentional irony of so many people saying just that same thing already.

Argument? No. it's just an observation.

edited 5th Jun '11 12:43:53 PM by blueharp

True, but no matter what you choose, there's plenty of people who'll have chosen the same (and plenty of people who want to kick your face in for the same reasons as well). Finding someone with the same set of opinions is a near impossible task; finding people with significant overlap in opinions, and enough goodwill to compromise with conflicting opinions is a considerably easier one.

Is this some obtuse argument that freedom of choice is no freedom at all? It's quite a Catch-22, I admit.

edited 5th Jun '11 10:23:28 AM by DarkDecapodian

Aww, did I hurt your widdle fee-fees?

I'm pretty casually a metal head and I know a lot of emos, what do you want to know?

Is using "Julian Assange is a Hillary butt plug" an acceptable signature quote?

I prefer keeping my own opinions and living with people who disagree. You can be friends with people different than you

"Take your (...) hippy dream world, I'll take reality and earning my happiness with my own efforts" - Barkey

@thatguythere47: General stuff about all subcultures and what they're really like

@Kitsune Inferno: Which ones?

Anyway, so far a self-identified Goth (Dark Decapodian), a casual Metalhead who's cool with emos (thatguythere47) and someone that used to be both (nzm 1536). So far, alright.

Hellote.

I sorta liked the hardcore punk subculture before everyone and their dog started going straight edge.

Now I'm closer to the death metal/grindcore scene.

You exist because we allow it and you will end because we demand it.

I'd say I'm a mish-mash of hip-hop, metal, and general nerd culture.

"It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt." - Some guy with a snazzy hat.

I think TV Tropes is a subculture all its own. We even have our own slang!

I don't think I fit any other specific subculture—I've tried a few of them, but I've never really felt comfortable in any of them. I get the feeling that a lot of people would call me a furry, but I've also discovered that I do not understand furries' thought processes (though I do find it amusing how many Berserk Buttons they have.)

edited 5th Jun '11 2:38:12 PM by feotakahari

That's Feo . . . He's a disgusting, mysoginistic, paedophilic asshat who moonlights as a shitty writer—Something Awful

I find it distasteful for a person to derive their personal appearance and other aspects of their identity from their preferred style of music. Or from any single source, for that matter.

inb4 people responding with 'it's more than X, it's a lifestyle'

"Take your (...) hippy dream world, I'll take reality and earning my happiness with my own efforts" - Barkey

In its most common usage, the word "conformity" means deliberate adherence to some existing standard, not simply being similar to some other person or group of people by happenstance.

I find it distasteful for people to derive their lifestyle from their preferred style of music, or any single source, for that matter.

I agree with that

"Take your (...) hippy dream world, I'll take reality and earning my happiness with my own efforts" - Barkey

Odds are, you'll hang out at a bar that features your preferred styles of music.

If a sizeable part of your group of friends comes from the pub (and many people's social circle does), odds are they'll be part of the same musical subculture.

I like to drink beer, smoke weed and listen to punk and metal while talking about stuff with friends. For some mysterious reason, most of the friends I hang out with are either punks or metalheads.

You exist because we allow it and you will end because we demand it.

There is a difference between hanging out with people who like similar music (some of my friends like the same music I like). What me, and probably Tongpu, are against, is changing your lifestyle and worldview for the subculture.

"Take your (...) hippy dream world, I'll take reality and earning my happiness with my own efforts" - Barkey

I don't understand what makes a person revolve their lifestyle around music anyway, probably because I've never experienced it. (I do tend to obsess over things, but not to that extent, I don't think)

edited 5th Jun '11 5:29:57 PM by AnonymousUser

They really like it? I unno.

let's see, actual facts about metal heads

1: Not everyone grows their hair out.

2: We do in general have an obsession with metal shirts/black jeans combo and it's what 99% are wearing at shows.

3: Not everyone is an idiot, the technical death metal and it's sister sub-genres have a lot of university educated musicians. (Believe it or not you do learn that shit in school.)

4: Concerts are rarely violent.

5: Drinking/drugs are the rule, not the exception.

6: Most metal heads aren't freeloading, those concert tickets/cds/shirts/merch aint cheap you know.

So the picture most people have of metal heads as violent, drunk punks or stone birds banging their heads all day? About half right. The subculture has a lot of drinking/drugs and metal heads can get rather loud but violence/sloth isn't as common as people think.

Is using "Julian Assange is a Hillary butt plug" an acceptable signature quote?

I can certainly understand and appreciate the appeal of associating yourself with people who share your values and interests. I just wish that this didn't tend to come with a generous helping of othering and the "us versus them" mindset, which seem to be all too frequent among subcultures.

Nerd is probably the only teen subculture that I've ever purposefully identified with, though since I no longer believe that nerds are particularly smart or accepting, I'm not sure what value there is in describing myself as such.

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