Hello fabled masses of the world.
My name is Kaleb, better known as “Mind your own business and don’t ask for my real name.”
This blog does not aim to deconstruct social norms or allude to some grand design of the universe of which I believe needs to be known. Rather I require a space to vent my troubled young mind from all the nonsensical melodrama that has created foggy patches that need navigating....and of course comment on things I may find amusing or even disturbing. . .Well I guess that could be regarded as the deconstruction of social norms then, doesn’t it? And who am I kidding, I am a social scientist.
That being said, why the title Accidental Emo Kid? Well that’s exactly what I am.
For years, like many of you, I struggled with self-confidence...blah...blah...blah. And one thing that you should know is that I have always had big ears. And only now, at the lovely age of 25 (otherwise known as ‘downhill from here,”) I am proud to say that my head has finally caught up. Anyway, part of that transition was the notion of the ‘right clothing.’
In my somewhat vague adolescent years one could have said that clothes ‘make’th the Clan.’ Yes you guessed it, your clothes place you into a category that you cannot merely escape even when you try your level best to do so. I am proud to say that I was, needless to say, a geek in high school. Why a geek you may ask? Well does society not classify those of us that enjoy hours in front of a screen, typing away and dislocating from the real world as such? Hello, why else would I have a blog? As if my lack of social life has anything to do with the fact that I enjoy books, computer games and the like?
Moving on swiftly. Well those prejudical categories identified by clothed markers of identity are so richly woven into our social fabric that we naturalise them through our practice and speech. Even now, in my perpetual student status at University, ever chasing that illusive career, I am placed, through no means of my own, into such a group. Insert the Accidental Emo.
Emo kids by definition are skinny, gloomy anti-socials with a strong tendency to shy away from the crowd and drift into their own alternative states of being. They wear skin-tight jeans, dark-dramatic shades of black, blue, red and purple and sport heavy angular fringes, that pulls ones head down into a shameful disposition. The style somewhat inspired by emotive and sometimes confessional rock music. Furthermore, they are androgynous looking and often the male of the specie is confused for the female of the specie. Hence, the title of this post.
Yet a darker side looms on this definition of the classic emo kid. This, now fashionable, trend is often associated with serious psychological problems and through popular media and, in my view, through misconceptions of unconscious and conscious uninformed which leads to the belief that serious self-harming activity. is fashionable. ‘What is the unconscious and conscious uninformed?’ you ask. Well simply put they are the unenlightened and the ‘know-it-alls’ of society. These psychological problems include cutting, depression and even suicidal tendencies. As we know, it is the unconscious and conscious uninformed that propagate faulty and popular social opinion and thus adding these real indicators of moderate to severe psychological disturbances to the definition of emo kid and our youth consume it in one simple phrase "It's on Wiki, therefore it's true!".
Is it just me or is cutting oneself unfashionable? I mean how many people do you know of that do it? Many people who are real ‘cutters’ try not to stick out and in case you haven’t noticed emo kids do stick out quite clearly. Many cutters don’t talk about their problem for fear of ridicule and prejudice and let’s face it with our quick tendencies to judge who can blame them? Remember a real cutter could be the sweet girl in French class or the guy next to you in the lunch room. Not just the skinny dude that looks like he just struggled into his little sister’s jeans. I'm just saying we must be careful how we categories things as it not only creates the problems we have, but blinds us to the unseen and the vulnerable members of our society. Real Emo’s, for lack of a better term, need our help not our distain and ridicule.
Moving on swiftly... yet again. The point of my story is when I had eventually decided to drop my geek look I went the gothic route...but let me tell you something, it’s not the best idea in a very hot climate, such as South Africa. Who would have thought, right? (Insert cynical grin). Besides getting up an hour before you should just for hair and make-up is more work that what it is worth. So I gave up on that adventure. A friend then convinced me to buy some skinny jeans. Now be aware that I was never one for the skinny look as I'm firm believe that as a man one can simply not afford the lack of blood flow to essential part of you anatomy. However, if you do wear them in your actual size and fit there is no need for such discomforts. Anyway I blended it with my already dark wardrobe and vois là an Accidental Emo. I love the look and the way I dress. I feel sexy and confident. Isn't that all that matters? Why ridicule people for doing what they like?
Today was a case in point. A friend told me that I am emo, even though I haven’t worn skinny jeans in a while. Then she said I have reformed myself and that she was impressed. So my question is it then by my dressing in a certain way gives you the right to ridicule me and treat me as if I am diseased? I don’t do it to you. No wonder emo kids are loners with friends such as these. I need new friends evidently.
I guess what I am saying is before you use terms and categories be sure you know more about them and the real implications thereof.
Kaleb.
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