NEWS: Federal Study Asks: Why Do Kids Go Goth?

CULTURE: Federal Study Asks: Why Do Kids Go Goth?

According to this KSHB Action News account, a federal grant appropriated over a quarter million dollars to a small town to study the dangers of going Goth.

Two years later, "only" half of the grant was used. Although it's not quite clear on what. In her defense, program administrator Allyce Ford had this to say:

I can find out what's going on in teen mall goths' minds quite easily, smack em with their wallet chains till it falls out an ear.

The other half was used on black dye and makeup.

kidding folks.

What has prompted other people on the site to get into the goth scene?

You could always try talking to your kids like human beings. You know, showing nonjudgemental concern and providing sincere advice to the best of your ability, keeping in mind that kids need to learn their own lessons and find themselves.

The only danger specific to Goth culture is listening to a different kind of crap music. Because crap music crosses every barrier anyone's invented for it.

Goth is everywhere now. Like in the latest Real World, and Nickolodeon's latest cartoon Danny Phantom. This could be one case where it is actually the media's fault.

The only real danger I see in "going goth"..I mean "Goth", is that kids may fall into a harmful pattern of not living up to whatever they could become with proper motivation.
Of course that holds true with kids in any group.
And in some cases they sadly DO live up to thier full potential and end up on Springer.

Next thing you know they'll start showing Elvis and his hypnotic pelvis on tv.

I think its great that only did the goverment waste a quarter million on something completely worthless, but also that half of it was embezzled. What exactly is dangerous about goths anyway? I know the poetry really sucks, but I'm pretty sure you can't kill anyone with it....pretty sure.

well what would rather wear Abercrombie or Black...I chose black....im not goth but thats what I always choose...darker colors...for reasons I cant explain

I was bored for a couple of weeks...

Actually... I was never even that goth...

This is another issue that touches too close to home for some people to discuss objectively.

There IS a danger with *certain* children who go goth. Sure you can say that about anything, right? Sort of. There is a bit less danger to the kids who join the chess club instead though.

Am I generalizing? Of course.

The goth culture can be seen in many ways. One way is just that... a culture, fine and dandy. The other side is a culture that many depressive kids get into BECAUSE it focuses on the dark, often twisted nature of things. I am sure I will get a bunch of people saying that isn't what goth is *really* about... but so what? If it is what these kids THINK it is about, then it is still a danger to them to take their fragile, depressive states and jump into something that, the way they practice it, just adds to the depression.

/end statement

Begin flaming now...

One day we'll all be 80 and wondering what the hell is going on with this new Znork scene.

Fucking Znork kids walking down the streets in their fully integrated audiovisual headsets blasting bad Gqark music.

Feh.

Your tax dollars at work..... gotta love it.
I was pretty damn goth when I was in high school (before it was coined "goth") and definitely still have "goth" tendencies still, but there were never dangers to me or from me other than normal teen angst rebellion. It is so past the time to get these buffoons out of the White House.

I would like $273,000 to fund my ongoing investigation as to why goth girls are so hot.

Damn right! I love em' all!!!

There is a great danger to Goth. I mean, what if your goth children end up maturing the same way the music did: beautiful and brilliant for the first decade of their lives, and then descending into annoying and commercialized self-indulgent crap over overly simple techno beats.

Wait, what was I talking about again?

Could I have half of that to study why I am all the day with my cock up?

Heh!! So true!!
Actually, I was in more danger before I "went goth", as a pot-smokin' acid-trippin' headbanger!!!!

bluesprings, mo is not too far from where i live. the whole thing was a knee-jerk reaction to colombine.

I used to be goth, but I'm all better now. I joined the goth scene for two very specific reasons. The girls are:

1) hot
2) easy

The sun will rise, the sun will set, no conclusions will be made with this silly study, and my road will still have unbearable potholes and frost heaves.

*checks bank account* yep, IRS cashed my check.

Im not sure tat kids take themselves as seriously as adults think they do

oh the tragedy of it all.