1) A germanic tribe who invaded the late roman empire along with the vandals, visi goths etc and actually became more civilized afterwards.

2) An building style used in medieval times and later in victorian times.

2) A literature style of which Dracula and ther supernateral horrors were written in.

3) A music genre that came about in the 80's as an of shoot of punk.

4) A subculture of people who originally listened to Goth music. Now has increased to fit Industrial and Black/Death metal followers. Goths are typically seen as morbid, wearing black clothes almost all of the time, and wearing make up regardless of sex. Also seen to be more open minded to other cultures, sexualities etc.

5) Prententious people who listen to Nu metal who think they are goths but really teenagers who know nothing of music.

’Goth’ is not about Satan worshipping, scaring people or shocking them. It is a lifestyle, an art. It's beauty, showing people who you are. ‘Goths’ tend to have true depth and insight and an opinion worth listening to. There thoughts are darker and they perceive things differently to how other might do. ‘Goths’ have a way of recognizing the beauty of things that seem so morbid and tragic to others, although anyone can see these things ‘normal people’ usually tend not too.

REAL GOTHS
...Are victims of streotypical assumptions
Do not worship Satan
Are not depressed
Are quite happy
Can have friends
Don't always listen to Gothic music
Dress how they want to dress, not always in black
Don't sit around complaining about not having friends, they don't want friends, a real Goth is happy being a social misfit
Often don't want to be referred to as a Goth

POSER GOTHS (Sometimes known as emo)
Will call themselves goth, note they don't use a capital letter to start the word
Pretend to worship Satan, although its rare that they actually believe in Him
Will act depressed all the time, no matter what he/she is really feeling
Will dress in clothes purely from Hot Topic, Planet 13, Starsnstripes and places like that
One Band Wonders, think that they're so Goth coz they listen to a band that is sometimes labelled as Gothic, such as Slipknot, where as in actual fact Slipknot are nu/death metal
Dress only in black, pure attention seekers

Someone who likes the darker side of things. They usually listen to death metal and goth music, such as Dismember and Bauhaus. Marilyn Manson is NOT goth. He's just...weird. Real goths are not depressing and suicidal like the posers you see at Hot Topic. Goths are fun to be around and aren't afraid to laugh at themselves every so often. They don't worship Satan and aren't evil despite what some ignorant people might say. Goths don't all dress alike either. They like to create their own unique style. Goths are also very intelligent and creative. A lot of them are writers and artists. Goths DON'T envy the popular people. They are what they are because it makes them happy. Goths would rather stay who they are and be among the so called "freaks" than be like everyone else and be popular. They understand that there are more important things in life than popularity, and usually succeed in life while the popular ones don't become much of anything.

If someone becomes "goth" because they couldn't get any friends or are depressed and angry all the time, they are most likely a poser.

The goth, that thing that lies at the opposite end of the spectrum of society to the chav.
A goth will walk alone where a chav will hide inside his herd and though the goth may take a beating at least that goth was never a coward.
A goth will insult only those who have earnt it whereas a chav will insult people for things as shallow as the clothes they are wearing.
A goths insult will be witty and cutting, a chavs insult more often than not will consist of the chav making a repulsive noise.
A goth will enrich their mind, a chav will watch soaps.
In the morning, a goth will ask themselves “what do I want to wear?” whilst a chav will ask themselves “what in this selection of clothes is the most acceptable thing to wear?”
A goth will have a friend because they are good for someone, a chav will have a friend because that someone is good for them.
A goth approaches new situations with a willingness to think and find the best way forward, a chav will react with aggression to that which it does not already know.
A goth will listen to music that is meaningful to their life and thought provoking, a chav will listen to music which will tell him how to behave.

Goths have no interest in popularity whatsoever. They think outside the box. People aspire to be popular and dress in certain ways that are ‘in’ with everyone else simply because it has never occurred to them how pointless societies values really are. In truth, there was never any point to any one of us being born. We’re doomed to struggle onwards in our skins, attached to life only by mechanisms put in our minds by evolution never to find any relief and never to find any meaning. We’re just all stuck with it now, together (and yuk to the simply stunning amount of ignorance I have to put up with). Conformity assumes that what another has thought of is better than what you can think of on your own but why is one mind better than another? (the conformist who argues that their own opinion is truth is a hipocrite, a really ridiculous laughable hipocrite) Its not is the truth. I am a goth and I aspire to value my own intuitions as much as I would value anyone elses (as much, not more you fools!) therefore I don’t care if you don’t like me because I DO.

I look strikingly different to everybody else, you chavwits think I am attention seeking when in fact I look different because of my total lack of interest in you lot, you lot and that vile sort of dress code that is ‘the norm’. Its not that I want you to notice me, its just that I haven’t bothered to noticed you!

I do as I please! But then again, so say the chavs.
The difference in effect is that I have a brain.
I realise that randomness of behaviour (as in anarchy) is a force of pure destruction without the input of thought. I know what I want for myself, plenty of cash, love, freedom, peace and I know that that’s pretty much what everybody else wants too. Therefore, I treat others as I wish to be treated myself. I would never stand in the way of anothers achievement because if I did how would I deserve to achieve anything of my own? Goths, in my experience (others as well as myself) are thoughtful, intelligent, hard working, kind, honest, well mannered. I have an education and I like when it shows!
As a goth, all you various ‘rude’ forms of life make me sick. Goth is what the individuals do- and as for the idea of the wannabe goth these either revert to conformity or evolve.(I mean slipknot/korn fans, as for manson fans I think those who say he isn’t gothic just don’t know enough about him- sure listening to manson WILL NOT make you gothic, but give that poor dark philisophical soul some credit! He’s certainly not gonna un-goth you!) Wannabes are a transitional category but if they are to be acknowledged at all, they are not goths.
Goths make the greatest friends. Goths have the unusual ideas. Goths just don’t suffer from the same afflictions of ‘normality’ as you self-mirroring lot- change for once. down with mediocrity.

Just another person in this world....
Lives, Breathes, Dies.

THE END

A great bunch of people once you get to know. They aren't pathetic and stereotypical like the ones criticising them.

Goth isnt...

Slipknot
wearing black every day
trying to be scary and intimidating
ICP
Green Day
black eyeliner
punk music
baggy pants with chains
Being evil
black lipstick
SI
Marilyn Manson
devil worship
being depressed
pale white foundation
rugs and alcohol
hating life
heavy metal
Hot Topic
Mudvayne
blood guts and gore
emo


Goth isnt about how black your clothes are, how many piercings you have, how crappy you can make your eyeliner look, being tough and intimidating, acting or being depressed, listening to mainstream metal or punk, or even acting elite and better than everyone just because you know who Bauhaus is.

MUSIC:

The Sisters of Mercy, Bauhaus, Fields of the Nephilim, The Mission, All About Eve, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, London After Midnight, (some) Siouxsie and the Banshees, Faces of Sarah, Inkubus Sukkubus, Merry Thoughts, Manuskript, Clan of Xymox, Midnight Configuration, Suspiria, Ausgang, Danielle Dax, Carcrash International, Specimen, Mephisto Walz, Rozz Williams, March Violets, The Creatures, the Birthday Party, Black Tape For A Blue Girl, Die Laughing, Death in June, X-Mal Deutschland, Lene Lovich, Nina Hagen, And Also the Trees, Batfish Boys, In the Nursery, Ipso Facto, Flesh for Lulu, Ordo Equium Solis, Rossetta Stone, Tones on Tail, This Mortal Coil, Killing Joke, Current '93, Dead Can Dance, The Machine in the Garden, Gene Loves Jezebel, Véronique Diabolique, The Cure, Joy Division, Cinema Strange, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Smiths, Coil, Cocteau Twins, The Damned, The Tear Garden, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cruxshadows, The Pixies, Legendary Pink Dots, Moev, Love and Rockets, Ministry, Sleeping Dogs Wake, The Church, and The Cassandra Complex.

Despite the fact that outward appearance does not constitute gothness, many people within the subculture do choose to dress a particular way. Its not usually a matter of conformity, but for aesthetics. For instance, while its tacky to wear white foundation, people within the subculture often seem to find natural paleness more attractive than a tan for whatever reason. Its more aesthetically pleasing, therefore a goth who tends not to venture into the sun without protection may not be doing that to seem overtly goth, but only because pale skin makes them feel more beautiful. The same goes for style.

The gothic "uniform" varies from person to person, for those who choose to wear it. (Its definitely not required.) In fact, its not even a uniform, since creativity, innovation, and style are embraced. Goth style isnt the black t-shirt and baggy pants that the Hot Topic generation would have you believe. Thats not very creative or unique at all. Nor is it aethetically pleasing. Also, black is NOT a must. Other commonly worn color are emeralds, navys, purples, crimsons, and even white and cream.
Various types of materials besides common cotton and polyester are often incorporated into style too. Crushed velvet is popular, along with leather, pvc, lace, rubber, latex, and silk. Bondage fashion is worn by a few, and that doesnt mean wearing Hot Topic pants with those stupid bondage straps in the back. Corsets are a gothic staple for ladies and men. In many instances, Victorian and Edwardian fashions are adopted and modified to unique styles as well. Gothic style is style. Its about looking good, well dressed, made up, gorgeous. For those who choose to don the goth apparel, throwing on Manson t-shirt and some black lipstick isnt going to cut it.

Recently, goth fashion has evolved into something more inspired by other genres like electronica, ebm, darkwave, and industrial as well as goth. Its not always the classic velvet and lace look.





Please do not use certain internet sites to further perpetuate ignorance. Just because a site has the word goth in the URL or somewhere on the page doesnt mean its the ultimate master on all things goth. For every decent website giving good, informed info, there are 10 more passing off stereotypes and nonsense to whoever wants to listen. Use common sense. Find out whats up from people who actually know whats up. You wouldnt ask a preschooler their thoughts on cognitive neuroscience, would you?

To a Scally: Someone wearing black clothes, and make up.

To a 12 year old Linkin Park fan: Someone who likes Korn.

To a goth: I'm not a goth!

Really: A tribe of eastern european barbarians that sacked rome in the 4th century. The name of an artistic style, associated with clothing, and architecture