Old to life, new to Goth.

[Stilicho]

1. What do you do? (Hobbies, job) I read, I paint, I study history. I’m going back to school for a History degree and a teaching certificate, and am student teaching…

2. Where are you from? I was born in New Jersey, lived in California, and am now in Denver, Colorado.

3. Who is your favorite author? I barely know where to begin. Fiction or non-fiction?

4. What are your favorite films? Brazil.

5. What music do you want played at your wedding? We had a very traditional wedding in a wonderful stone church in NYC. Pics available on request. Music was organ-based.

6. At your funeral? See above. Maybe we could get “Bela Lugosi’s Dead,” but with my name hastily dubbed over “Bela Lugosi.”

7. This IS a gothic website, so... how do you want to die? I don’t have a preferred method of dying, but I suspect that my obituary will contain the phrase “in flames” when it happens.

8. What kind of casket would you want? I’m open to ideas. I will, however, insist that it not have the logo of a sports team on it.

9. What's your FAVORITE outfit? I prefer the “classic” look. The last time I taught I wore a black tailored suit, a black dress shirt (of a conservative cut), a black tie with a very slight red stripe (a single 1mm stripe every 3"), a belt with a subtle silver buckle, and high black dress boots.

10. What's one thing you miss about being a little kid? Not having mortgage payments.

11. What's your favorite band? Hm. Fields of the Nephilim, Rasputina, and of course the classics like Bauhaus and Siouxie.

12. What kind of education do you have? What is/was/will be your major? BS in Environmental Engineering, soon to have a BA in History plus a teaching credential.

13. Why did you join? To learn more about the Goth lifestyle I find myself drawn to, perhaps to meet some like-minded people.

14. If the first 13 questions didn't give it away. What is your gender? Male.

[HumanePain]

Welcome. I'd wager I am older than you.
Hope you enjoy yourself here. We are in the midst of a relatively calm spell in terms of trolls, flame wars and general chaos.

I like your taste in music, I saw Siouxsie at the House of Blues in Anaheim in February 2008. She was awesome.

[Stilicho]

Age-wise, I just turned 40. Late to start Goth, no?

After all, I'm a happily married man, a school teacher by profession. Not exactly the stereotype of someone just starting this.

I have known many Goth folks over the course of my life, and some of them became some of my best friends. Sadly, due to circumstances and relocations I have lost contact with them.

While I knew them I distanced myself from the Goth subculture. I didn’t want them to think that I was somehow copying or imitating them.

But recently I find myself inexorably drawn to it. I love the literature, I love the music (it reminds me of my former punk days, but more – sophisticated), I love the style and aesthetic.

Yet I find myself in a quandary. I understand that the whole point of a subculture is that it is a culture, and that implies socialization and interaction with others from that culture. But as a 40 year old married parent, I can’t see myself suddenly running off to the clubs to dance to “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” in the immediate future – and somehow I feel wrong to proclaim membership in a group without being somehow an active participant.

So – any tips on how to make this my own, while at the same time not alienating the non-Goths in my life and/or losing my job? Any fashion tips for a gentleman of a certain age while you’re at it?



And, while we're at it - I'm sadly familiar with flame-wars...

Ever hear of the forum "rpg.net?" Picture 30,000 gamers, all angry, all the time. I'm a forum moderator over there. Here, come sit on the porch steps and let me tell you a story about the 'Nam...

[KontanKarite]

Hahaha. Actually, dude... you'd be surprised as to how much the whole "goth" crowd doesn't listen to the older stuff. Nowadays, it seems to be a lot of harsh EBM copypasta.

[Stitchy.]

Eh yeah true but being myself a Goth I try not to let the subculture define the music I listen to though usually I end up listening to the stuff anyways but as far as older stuff you might like Therion and punk ummmm maybe some older AFI or something I don't go heavy into the punk music side as far as what I listen to good luck and honestly as long as you've proven your a good worth keeping worker and you don't go int he nude or wear a swastika your employer likely isn't going to care to much sometimes it actually garners more respect seeing you having an open mind plus I've always found people respect the people who are supposed to be rebelling yet don't oh and try to keep the peircings down if your into that. sorry for the long reply ^^;

[ART]

Despite also being new here I'd still like to say welcome!

Being a happily divorced man of similar age, with a pack of young ones (who are playing SuperSmashBros as I write this), who actually sometimes do teach (adults and those ... young adults) ... well.

Let me put it this way, I get away with far far more in the interesting dress department now than I did as a young punk back in the early eighties. It is one of the unfair advantages for older males in western culture; us patriarchs are not to be questioned. I suggest you take advantage of this fact just as I do.