KGRGTheDon
08/08/04, 04:29 PM
Society amongst young people is constantly changing. Every 20 years it is reborn as a new generation takes root. It is born, grows, matures, and finally collapses and is reborn akin to the phoenix of mythology. Every generation goes through all the same stages. We are approximately 10 or 11 years into our generation. We are in the final yet strongest part of the "Emo" stage.
The stage before this was "Self Discovery", and was marked by many changes amongst the thought processes and actions of youth, the most marked being new piercings and tattoos and styles of dress (the same is true in almost every generation. In the early to mid 70s it was sexuality). However, having discovered who they are, much of our generation was left dazed and confused in the wake of it. It made many feel that once they knew who they were, they were alone. This led to what we call "Emo", or a focus upon emotion above all else (not the music).
Once again, these are my opinions, not insults, so I am not bashing anyone. In my eyes, emo-ness is weak. Not weak as in "Roll over and die" weak, or "You are my bitch" weak, but weak in the "Too tired to go on" sense. Most emo youth literally need a hug and a vacation. Many of them were lost during the self-discovery phase and need to do it over again by themselves. Here are the facts: Everybody has emotions. We all sometimes get so wrapped up in them that we for a moment forget who we are and that we are not alone. The strong manage to rip out of this shroud of deception and move on. However, it does take energy. Those that have lead especially tough lives may have run out of energy or lost the will to tear away. This leads to their emotions eating away at them from the inside.
Emo-ness wouldn't be such a bad thing if it weren't for the psychological affects it has upon its victims, especially perhaps the scariest (and disturbingly popular) of them, cutting. For those of you who don't know, cutting is the act of slashing ones body to relieve tension. Sadly, it is all too common. Rarely are these acts supposed to cause death, but sometimes they do accidentally. Accidents are scarier and sadder then anything else, because they are random with no logical pattern. This is why we should avoid these practices at all costs. Even sadder then cutting is suicide. Taking ones own life is not a victimless crime, as many argue. True, it is the victims’ life. But what many don't think about is the affect it has on those around them. Suicides are infectious. I have known people to kill themselves and then a close friend kill him/herself. We need to help these people.
The thing that drives me crazy are the "jerks" and "bullies". These are present in every generation, and they are a constant. I am a shortish Asian fellow, and as such, was bullied in schools. What kept me sane was that I am also a smartass and fast on my feet, so I survived pretty well. Many aren't so lucky. Every day they get up to go to school or work and have people constantly taunting and jeering at them. These bullies need to grow up. Most of the bullies are emo's with muscles. They pick upon whoever they can so that they can feel better about themselves and numb the pain. They too need a hug and a vacation.
My point in all this is that kindness in and of itself will lend itself to a better future. True, you cannot let people walk over you. Stop them and befriend them. Some of my best friends in life were people who used to pick on me. Kindness, folks. It goes a long way. Unfortunately, many see it as stupid or dumb. Not so. Ignoring other peoples pride is dumb. And to all the emos: take it easy, peeps. Life is way too short as it is. Don't rush it by taking risks. Find some friends, a bf/gf, and a vacation. Things WILL work out.
Peace,
The Don
The stage before this was "Self Discovery", and was marked by many changes amongst the thought processes and actions of youth, the most marked being new piercings and tattoos and styles of dress (the same is true in almost every generation. In the early to mid 70s it was sexuality). However, having discovered who they are, much of our generation was left dazed and confused in the wake of it. It made many feel that once they knew who they were, they were alone. This led to what we call "Emo", or a focus upon emotion above all else (not the music).
Once again, these are my opinions, not insults, so I am not bashing anyone. In my eyes, emo-ness is weak. Not weak as in "Roll over and die" weak, or "You are my bitch" weak, but weak in the "Too tired to go on" sense. Most emo youth literally need a hug and a vacation. Many of them were lost during the self-discovery phase and need to do it over again by themselves. Here are the facts: Everybody has emotions. We all sometimes get so wrapped up in them that we for a moment forget who we are and that we are not alone. The strong manage to rip out of this shroud of deception and move on. However, it does take energy. Those that have lead especially tough lives may have run out of energy or lost the will to tear away. This leads to their emotions eating away at them from the inside.
Emo-ness wouldn't be such a bad thing if it weren't for the psychological affects it has upon its victims, especially perhaps the scariest (and disturbingly popular) of them, cutting. For those of you who don't know, cutting is the act of slashing ones body to relieve tension. Sadly, it is all too common. Rarely are these acts supposed to cause death, but sometimes they do accidentally. Accidents are scarier and sadder then anything else, because they are random with no logical pattern. This is why we should avoid these practices at all costs. Even sadder then cutting is suicide. Taking ones own life is not a victimless crime, as many argue. True, it is the victims’ life. But what many don't think about is the affect it has on those around them. Suicides are infectious. I have known people to kill themselves and then a close friend kill him/herself. We need to help these people.
The thing that drives me crazy are the "jerks" and "bullies". These are present in every generation, and they are a constant. I am a shortish Asian fellow, and as such, was bullied in schools. What kept me sane was that I am also a smartass and fast on my feet, so I survived pretty well. Many aren't so lucky. Every day they get up to go to school or work and have people constantly taunting and jeering at them. These bullies need to grow up. Most of the bullies are emo's with muscles. They pick upon whoever they can so that they can feel better about themselves and numb the pain. They too need a hug and a vacation.
My point in all this is that kindness in and of itself will lend itself to a better future. True, you cannot let people walk over you. Stop them and befriend them. Some of my best friends in life were people who used to pick on me. Kindness, folks. It goes a long way. Unfortunately, many see it as stupid or dumb. Not so. Ignoring other peoples pride is dumb. And to all the emos: take it easy, peeps. Life is way too short as it is. Don't rush it by taking risks. Find some friends, a bf/gf, and a vacation. Things WILL work out.
Peace,
The Don