whydo people act gothic?
155564
Pray tell, how do you "act gothic?"  Maybe what you concieve as people acting goth, is people just being themselves.
732300
I mostly blame it on Chavs being stupid. They seem to be the only ones who really get abusive towards people who dress differently to them. I got attacked once for standing outside a Goth nightclub - I was wearing blue jeans and a red shirt! \nPeople shouldn't be bothered about how others look. I know a goth girl, and yes, she is a bit intimidating, but she's actually really nice, yet people cross the road to avoid her. It really gets to her.\nThe thing with stereotypes is, people judge by first impressions, and your first impression of someone is seeing them. So you think "He's a chav/emo/whatever, stay away" even though he could be an ace person and just dresses differently to you. You can't really get past stereotypes till you talk to someone, but if you really don't like the way someone looks, why would you make an effort to prove your first impression wrong?\n\nNot that I'm defending people who are like that, it's just everyone does it to a point, some just take it too far and get abusive.
628105
Cuz they are searching for identity.  I never classify myself, although others call me punk most or the time cuz I wear lots of black and gray, but sometimes I have been called a Goth. or if I am dressed up for something conservative, Metro.\n\nI don't really care, I dress the way I like, and I like chicks who dress the same way too.  People also say I only go for Punk of Goth chicks, but that's not it.  I like chicks in leather and vinyl, and corsets and stockings, so they are the ones I am seen with.  I am not inclined to want to meet some bare legged sneaker and jeans chick.  I leave them for the preps.
36822
Gothic couples run the gambit in terms a happiness, kindness, weirdness, ect., just like any other couples.  Both my husband and I are commonly refered to as gothic, and most people of our aquantence say that we're nice, albeit quiet.  Yet I know some that are completly disfunctional.
249467
because people are vain.
276919
Gothic culture actually started out as an offshoot of punk culture in the early 80's.  They have the same roots and share a non-conformist attitude and unconventional clothing.  The big difference is the way the two groups deal with the messed up world we live in.  Goths tend to get depressed about it, and often use sarcastic humor or emotional behavior to cope with it.  Punks are more likely to be angry and confrontational about problems.  From this fundamental difference comes the distinct clothing, music, and lifestyles that epitomize the two cultures.
430127
Goth is not a religion. Gothic is a time period that coincides with the victorian era. It`s also a design theme that involves the use of dark, rich colours and elaborate, intricate details.  And it so happens that a lot of wiccans dress in the gothic style. But that doesn`t mean everyone that dresses Goth is wiccan. It`s usally a choice of dress and they can practice ANY Religion.
949729
Being "goth" makes their anger and bitterness the "cool" thing to do.\n\nPlus black is actually slimming.
204941
There are good and bad goths just like any other group of people.  Some are productive some aren't.  But lumping us all into one group is foolish and shows how small minded and foolish some people are.
603774
JA is pretty much making fun of gothic novels.  The main character wants her life to be more like the novels she usually reads, so she imagines everything to be darker than it really is.
427325
These are stereotypes, so this can only be based on opinion and society... so please nobody say I said something wrong or "hey, I'm goth/emo and I'm not _____".\n\nGoths are usually people who dress in black and hate other people. They only open up to few people. They do not show off their hate or sadness. They wear dark makeup, but they don't necessarialy scribble all over their faces. The girls wear skirts a lot. Fishnets are also "gothy". Boys and girls both wear baggy pants with chains. Real goths would never call themselves goth, and if someone was to call them as such they may get angry. The feeling of goth is more of anger.\n\nEmos are pretty much people trying to be goth. They write dramatic poems and many are "cutters". They basically show off their emotion. They can wear black, but they also wear tight, tight, tight pants a lot. It is usually said that the emo boys "steals their sister's makeup and jeans". They are also usually vegan or vegetarian. They too wear dark makeup, but a lot of times it's eyeliner lines representing crying. Most emos will call themselves emo, but a lot of times people will be like "Giggle!! I'm so emo!!" but they're just posers. The feeling of emo is a lot more sad than goth.
1178007
I recently answered a similar question about what Goth "is". I think it addresses your question regarding subcultures. I've quoted it below.\n\n"There are a lot of different ways to answer this question because "Goth" means different things to different people.\n\nFor some, being "Goth" is simply an extension of a musical culture that had its roots in punk rock. It's a way of identifying yourself to others with similar interests. For example, when I was a teenager (80'-90's) if I saw someone wearing Doc Martins or black lipstick, the odds were good that that person liked the same music I did. At that time it was things like The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, New Order, Nine Inch Nails etc...\n\nThe look of "Goth” usually consists of a lot of black. There are, however, plenty of sub-cultures within the Gothic and each has their defining characteristics. Some of the variations are:\nMusical (dress like the bands you like)\n\nVampire (classic Goth sometimes with prosthetic fangs and a belief system drawn from Vampire lore)\n\nPagan (will often dress in a Goth manner, but will often display images from the Pagan belief system or worship of the Earth Mother. The Pentagram is one of those symbols)\n\nFetish (Gothic appearance, but with an S/M twist. These people often have a focus on relationships involving power exchanges. Fetish wear often consists of clothes made of leather, latex and vinyl. There are varying symbols that can be worn to indicate one's preferences. A collar if you're a bottom or a confident swagger for a top.)\n\nRebellion (some young people are simply looking for a way to stand out, or be identified with a group outside the so-called "mainstream"\n\nThese are all HUGE generalizations and not hard and fast rules by any means. As to the point of dressing Goth, it's no different than any other fashion choice. It identifies one with a particular group the same way a string of pearls and a cardigan sweater identifies someone to a different kind of group. And sometimes, someone may just think it looks cool and there's no ideology behind it at all.\n\nI was a "Goth" for many years and now I'm not. I don't disdain those who are, but I simply didn't need to distinguish myself in that fashion anymore. Some of us grow out of it, and some of us make a style for life. Either way, it comes down to the person you are inside and not what colors you wrap yourself in." \n\nAs for your specific question, I've always been fond of the dramatic look of Goth as well as some of the belief systems that accompany the various subgroups of Goth. \n\nWhat I'd dislike about Goths, is that they often have a very exclusionary attitude. I find this ironic since many people become gothic because they have been excluded from “so called” mainstream society because of their beliefs or aesthetic preferences. I also dislike the notion that they are somehow superior. Every new generation of Goth thinks they are the first in the world to discover it.  \n\nThere's also a certain knee jerk anti-establishment set of ideals that goes with the Goth persona. Many Goths simply adopt the views of their fellow Goths with out actually investigating the information for themselves and drawing their own conclusions. Again this is ironic since, outwardly Goths often preach open mindedness, but all too often fall into the sheep like mentality that they claim to be escaping in the first place. \n\nI only know these things from my personal experiences as a member of the "Goth" community in its many forms. It is only in retrospect that I have been able to come to these conclusions. Obviously I have no objection to the Goth look or lifestyle, but you specifically asked about dislikes as well as likes.
133548
thats cool man\ni am a gothic and  I dont mean\nan stupid white boy who dresses on black\nI hate those guys\n    ..:: Gothicdevil ::..
396238
The people involved with the Romantic artistic movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries has many of the same attitudes that modern day goths do.  They love life, accept death, and are deeply emotional.
40928
I think got peeps r cool but they are not that friendly to people who are not goths.  They tend to be a bit scary too.
988955
To some ppl it is like putting up a flag to other "freakies" that they are one. I think it is a waste of time to put that much effort into your looks, esp. to look so weird. The look is music-based, so that has something to do with it. The whole mindset is industrial-music based anti-mainstream (which is no longer true) with drug overtones. It is not common to come across a goth that doesn't do drugs or at least drink. This is another reason to put up the "flag"- drug connects. They also are (for the most part) elitist...and kinda snobby. That is also an appeal for some people\n\nMost grow out of this Goth thing by their mid twenties at the latest. The ones that don't are the ones you should REALLY look out for.
602940
It seems like you're arguing semantics to be, but here's my best guess.  Goths have a mindset that accepts death, while dark guys actually like death.