Media Stereotypes

Media Stereotypes damage Goth Culture and closely related subcultures. Newscaster announcing anyone is insane, weird or slutty confirms suspicions related to a few people; thereby, damages people physically and emotionally. The media is respected and can change people's opinions regardless of personal experience. The worst part of media stereotyping is when people within the subculture believe the hype.

Goths are not fictional beings who show up at night for exciting sexual flings. Not everyone does drugs and several Goths are sensitive with high aspirations in life. Many want to achieve fame or live a quality life with all the amenities. Growing up, a classmate who always wore black leather and had a Mohawk was extremely religious. He liked the music, saved him self for marriage and refused to date anyone who smokes. He is extremely straightedge.

A guy with spiky, multicolored hair became a supervisor at the call center I worked at a few years ago. He was kind, respected, owned a home, was in a loving marriage, had three children, worked hard and was in a band. Working the night-shift, while going home to his family, a police car ran into him at full speed. He was killed instantly. The police said they were in a chase, yet their siren was not on. It seemed deliberate and several people in the office united to make sure the police officer was disciplined. That is how much he was liked.

Spiky, multicolored hair guy does not promote drugs. He promotes marriage with three kids and working hard. The media promotes drugs, because they say spiky and multicolored hair equals degenerate.

Goths might be guilty of establishing a higher sense of ethos. Most Goths enjoy topics related to subculture and horror. This willingness to probe past popular culture propels people to think about the outcome of personal actions. Most people have the same goals of love, companionship and accomplishment. This stimulates the response of, "What would I do in this situation?" Melancholy and despondent thoughts are created by not knowing; therefore, thought stimulates epiphany. Assuming emulation is incorrect. Instead, Goths are gentle people who do not understand how the real world can be so awful.

People inside the scene want to say negative media attention doesn't affect them. The media reduces Goths into villains, a character, because they do not acknowledge the majority with standard values who are important to their friends and family.

As a teenager, I went to raves. I don't use drugs. I don't go to raves or clubs for one-night-stands. Going to a rave with a friend, reporters setup a sex education booth. Most people had no interest in condoms, because they didn't plan on having sex. The press assumed we were fornicating. I was wearing a short skirt over short-shorts. Dancing is apart of my entertainment and workout. It is also an opportunity to talk with people outside work or school.

The news bent everything out of proportion. Their paranoia created unwarranted personal attacks and slanders against teens and young adults. After the broadcast several people were sexually harassed at raves. A year later, the rave scene had virtually disappeared. Meanwhile, people portrayed in the broadcast are still being harassed. Why should anyone suffer because of unproven paranoia? A young woman or man's life could be destroyed if they were raped. News reporters are promoting sex and drugs.

Despite this the most devastating continuation of Goth stereotypes are performed by people claiming to be Goth or members of Goth culture to promoting clubs or businesses as sexual. Operating under the assumption, "Sex Sells," the consequence of this action are explained in "Accurate Promotion." Shortened version is, "Sex shortens the live span of a normal business."

Knowing ourselves is not good enough. People must have a higher sense of ethics and thoughts about life to become proactive in undermining stereotypes. People who want weird sex, drugs and degenerative lifestyles are beginning to outnumber everyone else. It feels like people who change back into regular clothes on the weekdays, because society views Goths as inexpensive sex-workers, are trying to control everyone and limit our potential.

Related Article
Accurate Promotion
Developing Ethos
Hypocrisy of Goths
Media Emulation