emo 101

Emo stands for 'emotional' and not all of them are supposedly wrist cutters, although almost all cutters are classified as emo. Personally, I despise labels, but unfortunately many kids feel the need to try and conform to them. As for the logic with cutting, you've got it a little wrong, which is why it likely makes little sense to you. When I was a teen, years ago, I used to engrave things in my skin. Yup, definitely stupid, there's no doubt .. but it's actually quite easy to explain. I was going through some really unsettling family issues that caused a LOT of emotional pain. For some people, when emotional pain becomes that intense, they can't find a healthy way to release the pain, and so they cause PHYSICAL pain. For them, the physical pain at least makes sense. It's a reason to be hurting instead of hurting so badly inside without any proof that there's a source. Cutting is a serious disorder, and a rather popular one. Although there will always be the ones who do it for attention, many of them are people crying out for help. It's their way of saying they're going through emotional turmoil and don't know how to express it properly. They need therepy and support, not judgements and stereotyping. You can't judge a person based on their clothing. My daughter dresses what most would classify as 'goth' .. she isn't one. If you saw her on the street, you'd likely label her a goth or an emo, without having any clue that she's a happy, well adjusted kid who collects Ty beanie babies and ceramic unicorns. My son wears his hair in his face, and dresses like his friends do. He wears black, the same as I did most of my life. (and still do, more often than not ... it's a slimming color!). He's not emo, even though he fits your description of style. You cannot judge a person off of their clothing, hair, or anything else that you see up front without knowing the person. I'm sure you've heard the line about not judging a book by it's cover? Anyhow, to answer your final question, Emo's aren't doing anything to themselves short of being classified in one small group. All an 'emo' is, by labelling definitions, is someone who is in touch with their emotions. If that's the case, most of us are emo. Your issue is with people who are suffering a disorder relating to cutting. These are not the same thing. Although a cutter might be emo, an emo is not necessarily a cutter. This is the problem with labels and stereotypes. They may be based on vague truth but they're very seldom accurate, and all too quick to spread.

emo is riddiculous '-'

Emo is just a style. Punk is a style. Goth is a style. Most of those things are simply styles. There are some things that also involve beliefs. But all in all it's a style and it's a label. People who cut are not emo as that's a whole other situation.

I have heard of this kind of behavior. I don´t know for sure, but I think it has something to do with how they were brought up. Getting punishment in an extreem way. Being belittled. Then when these people get older, they have a low self esteem. That causes them to want fisical pain. Because the fisical pain goes away and in some cases,they feel like they have been punished so know they are good again. You see this also with S.M. The harder forms of S.M. Other then this, I would have no explaination for it. I think it is sad, maybe some do it to get extra attention. Either way, these people could use some help. Take care,have a nice day.

Emo is a category to put people in in highschool. SOme people do cut themselves. This is very serious problem that needs help. I'm technically an emo. I listen to a lot of emotional music and music that is categorized as emo. Emo music is just emotional pop punk repackaged. QUite frankly I think it is all bs.

Emo has nothing to do with cutting. Emo is basicly a fashion statement. Many many ppl cut. It knows no boundries, the rich, the poor, the preppies, the "geeks", Many times ppl will cut because they are in so much pain and feel they have no control over their lives...cutting is the only pain they can control. Another reason ppl cut, is because they have numbed themselves so much to emotions, that they want to feel something..even if it is pain, another reason is that they need distraction from the heartache that consumes them, yet another reason, is that they hope that with the bl**d that comes from a cut, so will all the garbage and pain they hold inside. My one daughter tends to dress emo style, and both girls have friends who are emo, none are cutters. Not all of them wear their hair hanging in thier face. My daughter loves the Emo fashion, but is not dark. She is a spirit filled christian who is a light of love among everyone she meets. I hope no one ever looks down on someone because they cut. It only means they are a tortured soul.

PUNKs and rockstar wannabes wear black during concerts. They would headbang till wee of hours of the concert. Hahaha. Going back to you. Ahmm normally, the color black or wearing black all the time expresses the void they are feeling. They wear it to mask how they feel, yet, you know that there is something with that. The covering of face through their hair styles can be so typical of a rebellious youngster or of an artist who views the world differently. When they see someone with the same fashion sense, they knew they found a friend. We found them odd, because they are so out of the NORM. But its ok. That's just being them. They needed understanding... maybe not from us, but from and maybe perhaps deeper understanding from their families.

i don't pretty understand why they do that.. sometimes i get nasty and think why not do the cutting "full blast" like in the neck or somewhere else and not in the wrist. Sorry those are just my nasty thoughts like the nasty things they do. like you i don't know the answers. i have a few in class, and i just try to understand them when they approach me for consultation... get to some light conversation :-)