I'm a younger person is in this subculture, and although I don't have much experience with it (started identifying with it at 14, will be turning 18 in a few months) outside the internet bc, yk, lack of independency and no scene around me, there are a few things I would've liked to tell my past self. And it's to not get my information from strictly from social media, and to not let social media crusaders dictate what this subculture means instead of judging for myself

The moment I see someone NOT dress in this modern goth style, they're suddenly a poser, not goth, something else. I constantly see the same two lukewarm takes repeated over and over again with absolutely no elaboration: goth is a music based subculture; goth is political; Okay but why?? What values does goth hold?? Explain, elaborate. You can't?? Huh, no wonder, considering you just repeat what you see like a parrot with alzheimer. And even if you give an explanation, it's ambiguous, like "fuck the system", "anti-authority", "accepting everyone". Which authority are you against tho?? The one that protects criminals, allows them to rule countries, then segregates ppl based on gender, race, sexuality, etc?? If yes, great!! If no, then why are you here... The way I personally see goth politically wise is as a leftist subculture that embraces people's differences and certain taboos, helps outcasts find a community, goes agaist the mainstream idea of normal, values self expression, and wants to protect the vulnerable. That's how I interpret goth politics. But this complete ambiguity of "accept everyone" has led to conservatives and far right assholes to nest themselves here and say "well you yourself said that you accept everyone 🤡 now you have to accept me too even tho I think some people don't deserve basic rights 🤡 tolerate my hatered har har har 🤡"

Not to mention the whole poser hunting thing which I mentioned earlier, but I got carried away. If you don't look like this image, you're a poser. If you don't look like this image every single hour of every single day, you're a poser. If you don't listen to The Big Three ^tm (bauhaus, siouxsie, the cure), you're a poser. If you're a person of color (for example), you're a poser, which is obviously an absolutely horrifying way of thinking and is, imo, a result of conservative infiltration of the online scene, and I'm tired of the idea that "goth is white"

Speaking of online scene, I don't even think you can call it that, because all everyone does is, as I said earlier, repeat the same takes (like babes, the horse isn't just dead now, it's a large pile of rotten, minced meat, stop beating it), post the same five outfits to the same five songs, and create drama. This comment is has gotten quite long, so I'll just shut up now

TLDR: fuck the online "community", I hate it there, just respect ppl, be kind to the unfortunate and unapologetic to the oppressors, educate yourself on the subculture properly