what makes you a goth?
 

Yeah, what you said. Now go create an intro and please don't ask a question that has been answered in a bunch of other threads.

You won't believe how many times that has been asked, but there's the only straightforward, definable answer: Goth is an interest in the dark and macabre from an aesthetic standpoint. Everything else is left to the individual. Now, shoo, go make an intro.

Yes, you are right, now please make an intro if you plan on staying.

goth is all about shoes...and chewing on them? nah...what would i know....i'm a drunk-punk...

I'm goth because I gave an introduction. :P

(No, not really.)

Being serious, I've noticed that many of the people considered "more goth" are those who simply stopped caring what "goth" really meant.

Heh. this is because generally when a person refers to himself as goth, he says so to assure himself of something he doubts or is trying hard to "be" goth.
In both cases, it's clear they're not being true to themselves.
Now, this is not always the case. I like calling myself goth. What made me stay within the gothic subculture was the fact that I have had some of the most fulfilling conversations with gothic people in here. I equate Goth to Savant. It may be arbitrary from my part, but that's my personal feeling behing my being a Goth.

I can agree with the sentiment. I don't call myself "goth" to everyone who asks, but I do think of myself as goth. If someone asks, I tell them that it doesn't matter, and who really gives a fuck? (This usually results in people saying, "Dude, you're totally punk rock." Okay...)

I myself continue to identify with goths because I (usually) find that I have more in common with them than with any other (sub)culture.

Well, see, I have this button on my forehead that says "goth."

Hair, clothing, tatoos and piercings. That is what it is all about. :)

What, me, a goth? Who said I was a goth? ...Well, except for all those people on the streets gawking at my clothes or people scratching their heads in disbelief when looking through my collection of music, books and movies... but they don't count... do they?

*grins*

Nothing can really tell us what goth is, it's not written in stone anywhere. Yet if you take a subculture stance on the whole issue, goth could be all you want it to be, as long as you are creative.
I don't think I worded this right but whatever.
You see, someone is more than likely going to tell me I'm wrong, just because there are so many different opinions of what goth is and is not.
The best thing to do to find out about the gothic subculture is to spend time on this site or around people that "are goth."

People call me goth cause of my hair and clothes...I don't understand it. Its all about attitude.

Goth's in your head, not your clothes...
"Goth is an interest in the dark and macabre from an aesthetic standpoint." Yeah. An appreciation for, or particular interest in, art, literature, movies, clothing, music, etc. that deals with subjects that other people might consider morbid or depressing.

And the dark clothes have roots in all that. Funeral colours. If you're only interested in the style of clothing popular among goths, and it's for no reason other than because your friends wear it or it just looks kinda cool, you might as well not be wearing anything at all for all the 'goth points' it would gain you.

In a nutshell, it's a person with an interest in the dark, spooky, strange, and macabre. People sometimes like to base their lives around these things, dressing in a certain way, listening to certain music, and watching certain movies. Goth could be called a lifestyle. That's how I view it.

Actually, c130, I've heard that the original goths wore black in rebellion to the light and bright colors of disco, which was popular around the time.

There's only way to be a real goth and you must have all of these requisites:

1) Accept the holy trinity of Peter Murphy, Andrew Eldritch, and Rozz Williams

2) Take me as your own personal savior

3) Ceremonially eat a baby seal in every equinox

Everyone here knows that.;)

You gotta understand that "Goth" is normally a view given by those who do not understand ones reasons for doing what they do. I myself do not see myself goth although others do. So we are what we let others tell us. I don't call other people like me goths because people are mirrors. They simply call people different because it is the opposite of themselves. I wonder if that makes sense?

I cry and cut myself and that, like, omgz, makes me a total goth. :) Lol. ~~~*** and I use squigglies and stars. :) ...oh yeah, and I eat seals!!!...which makes me cry some more.....then I cut myself because of it.......omgz...now I am crying...*cuts herself*......*cries because she cut herself*....*then cuts herself because shes crying*.......


okay, im done, this was a stupid post.....but fun. :)

Cake. Cake makes you goth. That is all.



EDIT: Well actually, cake makes you me... but that's just as cool :D

Eating Satanic food. Like Devil's Food Cake.

Angel food turns you into a hippy. :D

YOU FORGOT count chocula cereal!!! OMG!!!



LMAO

Or, as the "Your child may be gothic" list calls it, Count Dracula cereal.

:D :D

I don't know if I can be considered "goth"...Hmm. Ask another question, maybe I can answer it this time. I think I really wouldn't fit in too well with the gothic persona, though I do find I like people who I've found in it. Maybe I do fit, and I just don't know it. If one of you ever is around in my area in a few years, maybe we could meet and you could classify me.

I LOVE that list!!! Soo funny. I printed it out for the pastors wife at my old church, just in case ya know. She almost died of shock. I think I left about that time. :)

liston to a lot of death meatl music and wearing a lot of black

how you look and the way you dress and the music you liston to and the makeup you wear

As Bob from Nice Hair would put it, "GO 'WAY!"

Goth is difficult to define, as it is different for each individual. Though, as someone already said, not set in stone anywhere, there are still qualities about a person which can define them as being "goth". I don't consider myself goth, personally, but I consider myself something close to one. I think I am more into the cybergoth culture, anyway, with my passion for Industrial music, and the cybergoth look (which I vow to achieve one day).

Let me revise my definition:
"Goth, in its simplest form, is finding beauty where most people fail to see it: in the darker aspects of life". That's a quote I heard from someone here a long time ago that's stuck in my mind ever since I heard it.

Some people feel Goth is about the style, others feel it is about the music, and still others feel it is about the way the person perceives life. There is no right answer, but at the same time, there are many wrong ones.

Not everyone who possesses certain qualities of Goth can rightly be deemed Goth, it really all depends on a few different things, but it's difficult to explain, and more difficult to begin defining.

With me I feel that it's all of the above and more. Style,music,ways of life,literature,views on things,appreciation for the darker things in life. As mentioned before in this same thread and probably in 10 others on this site there is no one defination or catagory for goth but most goths usually tend to have similar likes and dislikes.

WRONG!
Death Metal has nothing to do with Goth.

Wow you're quite the babybat.

It is your idea of beauty.

Shit, I think I have to change my name now.

HAHA! Don't worry, not all larvae make it to the pupal stage. It'll croak and leave your name unique again. (ties a bib around own neck, grabs fork and knife and turns around)

Gothicmaggot? Oh, Gothic-MAg-got!!!! Here boy! (whistles)

*pats*

Its ok I wont get you confused.

I think you're fine I'm pretty sure he's not comming back, but as Motherofmercies said: "*Pats*" =P

Lol, okays then. ^_^

I was dissapointed, too, cuz I'm almost at 1000 posts!

Idiot, its more of a personality thing and showing an interest in dark and morbid things than a fashion statement. If "goth" was about what you looked like and what you wore than it wouldn't be unique and anyone could be a goth.

I actually never really called myself a "goth", I just found that "goth" defines my view on life, death, love & all the other stuff involved better. Its about seeing beauty where no one else does.

I'm goth because I don't ask stupid questions.
Actually I'm not goth... because er I said so *hides under desk*

That question automatically deducts 10 points from your 'gothiness'

In my op, What is "who gives a fuck" is the correct answer.

What makes me goth? My diirk personality. JUST KIDDING!
Nah, it's the music I listen to and the clothes I wear. Also, my attraction to the macabre?

In MY opinion:

Goth - an interest in or attraction to the macabre. Not blood and gore, but dark and more intellectual material. Appearance, clothing, musical taste and taste in literature would come after realising that attraction. ^_^

No matter what, most people end up being judged on their looks.

Judging by appearance is good if people are adept in it.
Associating by appearance is the sin.

Yes that's what I meant, you used a better word for it
Seems like the only thing others need in order to define you is your overall style
And here we all preach it's what's inside that counts