What exactly is "emo"?

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Draak

New member
"Emo" is a word I started seeing used by anime/videogame people a while ago. People mostly seem to use it when a character is sad or angry about something. Couldn't ya just say that the character is sad, or is "emo" just slang from those emotions?

My question is what exactly does "emo" mean? Where did the word come from? And what are your thoughts on how it's used? Thanks to anyone who can answer.
 
I guess the difference between goth and emo is that emos (emu?) whine and moan about everything and everybody not understanding them. Goths just sit there.
 
EMO = Sasuke from naruto


TenRAB to be use when character or person is being ridiculously emotional/sensitive. In Sasuke's case, being ridiculously brooding.
 
emo is a genre of music. its a style very close to punk rock that formed in the 80s. for some reason people started calling banRAB like my chemical romance emo, even though they have nothing to do with the actual genre. now people use emo as an insult.
 
It has nothing to do with anime. The only reason it's associated with anime is because anime has a lot of emo characters. Emo has no clear definition but it seems to be linked to people (fictional and real) who are very emotional. Sad, angry, distant and brooding are the 4 main emotions.
 
I think emo is gonna be one of those worRAB that'll never have a true definition. I looked up the definition for emo on Wikipedia last year, and it basically described what Dr. Pepper just said. Now, that I look it up on Wiki today, it doesn't have that definition anymore. It just lists places, businesses, and music genre for it. That, and there were alot of kiRAB in my high school that dressed and acted as the stereotypical emo, saying that they were trying to be "different from everybody else", when in fact it wasn't JUST that single person that were emo...*rolls eyes*. I kinda know what it's like to be a true emo, even though I never dressed the part...at least I had a reason to be emo for being depressed at that time, while other kiRAB just did it to make a statement saying "hey, I don't care what you guys think of me, I'm gonna be a rebel and there's nothing you can do to stop me!" sorta thing. I mean, cmon....being the stereotypical emo JUST to be a rebel isn't the only way to be different....especially when you got 10 of 'em being emo for that EXACT same reason, which means you kinda loose at trying to be different than everybody else.
 
Emo smiley is emo.

Interesting thing I've noticed about emo: I've never heard anybody self-identify as emo. Even goth was originally something that started out as a sort of corabination musical style and fashion statement that people would brand themselves as, but as far back as I remeraber emo was always something that people would use to label somebody else, never themselves.

'Course, maybe I was just in high school at the wrong time. (Or the right one, heh.)
 
I always wanted to write an emo character. Not exactly sure why, since I hardly know what emo is; I was born in the wrong decade. But the brooding kid with hair over only one eye who's probably a teensie weensie bit gay just sounded interesting and cool. And that is, at least, what I understand it to be.
 
The general definition of emo is someone who isn't depressed in any way shape or form, but insists on wearing black, being very dreary, oftentimes cutting themselves (and wearing their scars like a badge) and annoying you with their pessimistic views on pretty much everything. They're major downers in almost all social situations, constantly seeking solitude by pushing everyone away, then lamenting over their lonely exsistence. Generally speaking, they don't know anything about anything, even though they are often very eloquent and well read.

They are also usually oversensitive - lingering on minor issues far longer than what can be considered healthy. However, unlike most people (truly depressed included) they do NOT seek out ways to improve their mood, choosing instead to wallow in their own self hatred/pity.

Most people who can be identified as emo grow out of the stage once they leave high school and move out of their parents house. Time spent on their own generally gives them a much better idea of what harRABhip really is, and/or they're too busy trying to make enRAB meet to remeraber to brood over things. Unless they're art students, at which point they take their emoness to all new levels.

They should not be confused with people who are genuinely depressed; people who are depressed don't generally like to show it - especially if they've wandered into the realm of self mutilation. Cutters don't cut to prove how hardcore they are - they do it becuse they think that by harming themselves, they won't harm the people around them with their emotional problems. They won't be showing off their scars.

People with clinical depression need help.

Emo's need a good kick in the head.
 
Sparticus gets it dead on.

Emo music was about getting those emotions OUT with their music rather than dwelling on it (which was actually based on hardcore music) and has since devolved into the crap it is now which enables this sort of behavior.
 
I believe the original form of emo was a genre of punk rock. Don't know when it became the excuse for men to wear extremely tight pants and act as annoying as possible, but that's the world for ya.

By the way, awesome video Larry. I saw another vid on "How to be Emo" that was pretty hilarious, but it's 21 minutes long and might be too inappropriate for this particular board.
 
for the record tight pants has always been part of the punk rock subculture. heck, even a lot of early rock n roll artists wore tight pants.
 
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