I start to laugh whenever I see this, because most of these kids have no idea what they are labeling themselves as in the first place. Why would you want to be so simple, anyway? Most people refuse to speak on this subject because of the immense controversy around it. It makes me sick to see people judging others just because they don't have the latest style or same fashion opinions as others -- goth to prep to punk, too many people get attached to their style and deciding how superior that makes them. Behind these computers, we all are equal, but some kids like to take advantage of hiding behind their cartoon facades to take on others. Provoking them claiming they aren't "true punk" or "true gothic" or "cool enough" in other ways. Well, I decided to do a little research to show everyone how immature all this labeling and judgment makes them sound.

*Goth -- Member of a Germanic Tribe that invaded the Roman Empire in the 3rd-5th century. (Uncivilized or ignorant person.)
Thus proving in this time and day there are no REAL Goths, although there may be some relatives.

*Gothic-- In the style of architecture prevalent in W.Europe in the 12th-16th century. Barbarous; uncouth.
Gothic is more widely known as a form of art and architecture... NOT personality.

*Punk -- 1. A worthless person or thing (often as a general term of abuse).  2. (punk rock) loud fast-moving from of rock music with crude and aggressive effects.  3. Hoodlam or ruffian.
Punk is a type of music... the term punk goes way back to when people would use it as an insult, NOT a compliment.

*Freak -- 1. Monstrosity; abnormally developed individual or thing.  2. An unconventional person.  3. Adopt a wildly unconventional lifestyle.
By calling yourself a freak, you are basically admitting to being "abnormally developed" or "wild" and in my opinion not worth one's respect.

*Poseur (and YES that is spelled right, look it up if you must) -- Person who poses for effect or behaves affectedly.
Most people use the term Poser to say that someone is putting on a facade or front (being someone they're not) or following the crowd. Well, in reality we all would be posers if that's true, because not one person is completely different from everyone else. Just think mass-produced clothes...

*Anarchism -- Doctrine that all government and laws should be abolished.
I know not one kid in our age group really wants the government abolished, and if they do they obviously don't know the results that would come of that.

*Anarchy- 1. Disorder, esp. political or social.  2. Lack of government in a society.
All I have to say is, abolishing the government would also affect our medical resources, and dialing 911 would be considered part of our government. If you were in a car accident and were injured, how would you take care of yourself?

*Prep -- This word is slang, derived from the existence of preparatory schools (prep schools) where some people found the attendants to be stuck up or snobby. Thus the word prep was born.  Basically, it means "from a preparatory school"... so why do people need to assume being prep means being snobby?

On my final note I'd like to ask everyone to reconsider judging and labeling people and realize that life is full of diversity. There will always be people who disagree with you and detest your opinions and choices in life, but that's what makes the world such a colorful and great place. If people weren't opinionated, then everyone would be passive and our society might have not even reached where it is now. Just quit worrying about who others are, compared to you, and worry about who you are compared to them, and maybe you'll improve yourself throughout time and move forwards instead of backwards. Embrace who you are =)

-Roxy130