Why do goths have to deny that they're goth?
930233
lol why does it matter anyway? i no wt ya mean tho a lot of them do deny they are but i guess it could b to do with not taggin yourself? maybe they think that how they dress is normal as it must b normal to them? i dno tho eh! x
27268
Yes, you most certainly can.  I even dated a devout Catholic goth guy.  The two are not mutually exclusive, since being "goth" has nothing to do with beliefs or morals.
863399
I get what you're saying, but its not that easy.\n\nHow do you propose people be who they are?  How do they know who they are?\n\nAnd more importantly, WHY are they who they are?  We are who we are BECAUSE of society.  Like the person above me said- you wear clothes because its the norm in this society.  Your views are almost definitely influenced HEAVILY by society. Appearance is the same.  \n\nI used to be all caught up in this "be yourself" BS, but I think the majority of the people in the world ARE being themselves, even if somewhat subdued around those they don't know.  For instance, people choose clothes on the basis of what appeals to them and what THEY think looks cool.  One person likes something, and another person doesn't, yet the first person wears it anyways.  Just because a large number of other people- discounting the one in the example- wear similar clothes doesn't mean he/she likes them any less.  Trying to be different just to be different is fun, but often it's a load of crap.\n\nHonestly, it's best if we don't even worry about stereotypes.  I try not to stereotype others, and I don't stereotype myself, because I realize there's more to me than just the way I dress or the way I act, and the same goes for the dumb, blonde cheerleaders, the "individual" punks, the goths and emo kids, and the big, stupid jocks.  You say they aren't being themselves, but do you really know their selves so well that you can make that judgement?\n\nI'm all for individuality, but being an individual doesn't mean changing so you're different than others, and it's not all about appearances.  Nobody can tell anyone else that they aren't "being themselves", because how the hell do they know?
423387
No real goths are Satanists, the two outlooks just don't mesh.  You can't think be sensitive and artistic while purposely offending people.  It just doesn't work.  To answer your question, the problem are the pseudo-goths (aka Mansonites) who claim to be goth and Satanists.  Since there are ten of those fakers for every real goth, how goths really are gets ignored.
378145
One thing that must be understood about human nature is that people thrive in the understood, and that which is not understood is to be feared.  That being said, the "Goths" of today (they should learn more about the culture from which they believe they are derived) are seeking to be that which is misunderstood; it's part of the mystique.  Many a teen-ager has felt that they are the only ones feeling this way, that they ar alone and misunderstood; the darkenss of tehir clotes and culture reflect that.  And the fact that their superiors (parents, bosses etc) justify this feeling.\n\nI am not putting down Goths.  I have been friends with many and this is what I derive; they are more cynical and pessemistic.  Instead of trying to change their situation or point of view, they strive for more proof that their lives are negative.  \n\nIt's just a countermovement, a 180 degree twist from the perky, chipper, and often sickening presence of the cheerleaders and other preppies.
36926
Gothic is just a label.  There are nice goths and mean ones, just like every other group.  Most of the ones I know are nice.\n\nYes, you can be gothic an believe in God.  I know a couple of Christian goths, including a very devout Catholic.
1111110
The other day I looked in the mirror and saw a goth. She was wearing a suit because she's a grown-up now and does not go to clubs and shows and cemetaries as much as she used to. Goths come in all shapes and sizes- I just wear my fishnets on the inside these days. Maybe you passed by a polite looking business-woman on the street the other day, not knowing that she was listening to The Mission UK on a blacker-than-her-soul iPod.
1034198
goth is a stereotype of people who hate the world and wear black and listen to marilyn manson...blah blah blah...but i dont believe in stereotypes so you can just disregard this whole answer.
336511
in a sense you have answered your question,  denial.  they intentionally deny the existence of something they know is real. their heart tells them that they are wrong so they feel the need to outwardly express their opinion to believers. it makes them feel better about their denial of the truth.
595576
People who choose a media-label to define themselves do so to hide the fact that they are really shallow, insecure dumbasses with no personality whatsoever of their own.\n\nThat also goes for people who define themselves as goth, punk, "rebel", emo, alternative, etc. \nDefine yourself by your acts and ideas, not by choosing an ambiguous label to hide behind.
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.
1014141
they dont want people to know who they really are.
181576
Would you judge someone for wearing a suit? I wouldn't "judge them", but people were clothes to make a point. if your going to the trouble of dressing like a goth, then you WANT people to know it, and you can't blame them for having an opinion about it.
792984
the answer is rather simple--they are mean because they do not understand and fear what they do not know---i am misunderstood for my "gothicness" all the time and i am in my mid 40's  but those whom i allow to know me know that i am not scary at all--i just look that way.
531763
Some people equate being goth with being evil.  As anyone who's ever really know a goth will tell you, goths are kind, good, and often very devout Christians.  Stand by your daughter and keep trying to make people realize that being Gothic has nothing to do with someones morals.
19447
Goths personify depression and anger. Their look shows that they want to be 'different' than everyone else. My personal view is that everyday that you wake up in the morning alive is a blessing from God. Being alive is a chance to see the beauty and love that the world has to offer. People that dress Goth appear to have lost all connection to what is good in the world.
1016423
Is just that people like to put tags on other people foe the simple reason that they cant be happy with their selfs..but im gonna tell you one thing.. I like to wear black shirts with jeans and just for the fun of it do my nails black sometimes , and my granmother told me that I'm gothic  and I simply answerd to her that when she learns the diffrence between gotlic and headband rock then we can to talk about it and she had nothing to say , which simply means or they are not happy with their selfs and thats why they critisize others or they just don't know any better!!!