Shallowest Scene You've Been a Part Of

[ShiningIdeal]

Plenty of genres over time have spawned their own little communities or else the communities gave birth to the musical styles but in either case our musical history is certainly littered with them. Some are not even decided amongst themselves as to what does or does not count. And I'm willing to bet most of us have gone through one or two in our musical lives... so which was the one that was most about the look and the pretty for you?


See - for me its no contest. I was a total glittergoth back when I was in that clueless 14-17 or so range. "There's meaning to this, you se---" "Who cares, did you see the pretty fishnet shirt and the awesome shimmery eyeshadow over here?" Okay - so I have always had a dangerous attraction to pretty shiny things. And a lot of the music was fun to dance to on top of that. Though in retrospect if I'm going to live in the sweltering heat of the gulf coast, next time through in reincarnation - less makeup for the inevitable sweat of the afternoons.

Currently most of my friends would accuse me of being a hipster but my clothes are way too nice for that - see I own an ironing board (kidding, kidding). It's certainly a fair overlap in a lot of things but I really lack the generally accepted outlook so one could argue against that. Though I have dated a number of twee girls.... hmm.

[afterstasis]

definitely the west tennessee hardcore punk scene.

i started going to shows in 1995, based off a longtime (but out of reach) fascination with bands like minor threat, dead kennedys, and even the buzzcocks. i was attracted to the politics and ideology in addition to the music so i was very excited to meet quite a few very active and seemingly inspired individuals.

over time i became much more involved in the scene by joining a band, starting a very respectable food not bombs group up in two cities, and working with several other activist groups best not mentioned here.

there were always people who just seemed to be there for the parties or due to absolute boredom, and that's cool. i can relate to that, but it seemed like with each pasing year after '97 or so these people became more and more the norm...

by the time i was in college i had left everything behind, and am left with a glaring memory of my last tennessee punk show in which the room looked like hot topic had barfed into a punk club. i played a solo minimalist drone set that night and purposefully went on for over an hour due to obvious disinterest in the music as opposed to cellphones, ipods, and comparing newly-bought $20 sex pistols t-shirts.

i have no problem with these kinds of people... not everyone is always going to be 100% "there for the music", but i do typically choose to avoid sharing my most precious personal moments with them... which is why i felt angered when even in a crappy club that has "DIY" spraypainted on it's front-door i have to expect these kinds of crowds.

[Soror_YZBL]

Once a goth, always a goth. :) I was a total goth scenester for about 10 years. I was also very shallow. That part hasn't changed any, but I have a much more diverse wardrobe now. I even unironically own pink.

Oh and everyone was part of a scene, unless of course you had no friends. :) Even the three people who really really love Hawkwind in Chillicothe Ohio make up a scene. As John Bender says, Demented and sad, but social.

[hmxhenry]

As is the case with any social group, there are kids in certain scenes I felt a kinship with and other kids that I wouldn't touch with a ten foot poll. There's some elements of the punk scene I agree with and others that I disagree with.

As a result I've always felt more comfortable identifying myself with individuals rather than a scene (clique, sub culture, call it what you will) as a whole. I am not all of hardcore punk, and hardcore punk is not all of me.

I will end this post with two quotes:

"I wouldn't want to be a part of any club that would have me as a member."

"Love the music, hate the kids."

Also, this is one of the most thought provoking topics I have seen on these forums in a long time. Awesome.

[ShiningIdeal]

definitely the west tennessee hardcore punk scene.

i started going to shows in 1995, based off a longtime (but out of reach) fascination with bands like minor threat, dead kennedys, and even the buzzcocks. i was attracted to the politics and ideology in addition to the music so i was very excited to meet quite a few very active and seemingly inspired individuals.

over time i became much more involved in the scene by joining a band, starting a very respectable food not bombs group up in two cities, and working with several other activist groups best not mentioned here.

there were always people who just seemed to be there for the parties or due to absolute boredom, and that's cool. i can relate to that, but it seemed like with each pasing year after '97 or so these people became more and more the norm...

by the time i was in college i had left everything behind, and am left with a glaring memory of my last tennessee punk show in which the room looked like hot topic had barfed into a punk club. i played a solo minimalist drone set that night and purposefully went on for over an hour due to obvious disinterest in the music as opposed to cellphones, ipods, and comparing newly-bought $20 sex pistols t-shirts.

i have no problem with these kinds of people... not everyone is always going to be 100% "there for the music", but i do typically choose to avoid sharing my most precious personal moments with them... which is why i felt angered when even in a crappy club that has "DIY" spraypainted on it's front-door i have to expect these kinds of crowds.

This list really breaks my heart. I think because its a lot of why I never got involved with a punk scene here. I was always very attracted to the political ideology - very firmly an activist even when my other interests were more shallow. But every person who self-identified where I lived viewed punk as nothing but 'an excuse to get really high and violent to no end.' Thanks, I'll pass.

Though when I was in college in New York I did get into a fair bit of Postpunk - more people assumed with at the time a few dozen metal things shoved through various body parts that I was more into industrial/punk hybridization than I was. (Minor painful memory to share here - with thirty two piercings heightened security at LaGuardia going home for the holidays in 01 was a painful, long process).

[Gowienczyk]

I was not part of any scene, to be honest. But if I found people similar to me I think I'd mold into the hipster scene decently at times.

[ShiningIdeal]

"I wouldn't want to be a part of any club that would have me as a member."


One of my favorite quotes of all time. Also probably part of why I admittedly only really find myself nibbling at the edges of a scene. On the other hand there is a lot of comfort to being able to identify with a larger whole for many people.

I really found bouncing around scenes when I was younger - while not at the time the best - provided a lot of self-awareness later on. I was able to figure out my feelings on group identity and personal identity through it - sure at the time it was more about the parties and the fun but now I have more time for navel gazing. It really expands beyond just the music listening to a degree. I've long been involved in theater, been involved in making music, been involved in independent film. Am I a theater person, an film person, a musician? Okay now I'm starting to babble a bit and the crazy is getting out so.. onto...


Once a goth, always a goth. :) I was a total goth scenester for about 10 years. I was also very shallow. That part hasn't changed any, but I have a much more diverse wardrobe now. I even unironically own pink.

Well that's pretty true, I still do own plenty in the goth wardrobe though now its more reserved for specific nightclubs than every day wear. Though I've spent about six weeks working on probably my coolest Halloween costume I've ever done (The first year after college I was working as a costume designer before getting a more regular paycheck as a lighting designer so I take that comment very seriously when bandying it about). Now I just need to lose five pounds to do the dead fairy outfit justice. To be the crown jewel of all my glittergoth wear through the years.

[Soror_YZBL]

I really found bouncing around scenes when I was younger - while not at the time the best - provided a lot of self-awareness later on. I was able to figure out my feelings on group identity and personal identity through it - sure at the time it was more about the parties and the fun but now I have more time for navel gazing. It really expands beyond just the music listening to a degree. I've long been involved in theater, been involved in making music, been involved in independent film. Am I a theater person, an film person, a musician? Okay now I'm starting to babble a bit and the crazy is getting out so.. onto...

That happened to me a lot as well. When I was in high school, I wasn't in a scene, because the entire scene was "the girl in the corner wearing too much black". It wasn't until I graduated high school that I met someone else who had a sisters of mercy poster on their wall. I'm gonna sound like my grandmother, but it's true, back in my day we didn't have fancy scenes! we were either jocks, nerds, or speds and we liked it!




Well that's pretty true, I still do own plenty in the goth wardrobe though now its more reserved for specific nightclubs than every day wear. Though I've spent about six weeks working on probably my coolest Halloween costume I've ever done (The first year after college I was working as a costume designer before getting a more regular paycheck as a lighting designer so I take that comment very seriously when bandying it about). Now I just need to lose five pounds to do the dead fairy outfit justice. To be the crown jewel of all my glittergoth wear through the years.

Oh that's awesome! I wish I still did the club thing, it's so much fun. I haven't been to a goth club in a few years now, and that was a crappy long island club that my friend was playing at. I never did make my own clothes, that's awesome! You need to get some falls to go with the dead glitter fairy! :)

[ShiningIdeal]

That happened to me a lot as well. When I was in high school, I wasn't in a scene, because the entire scene was "the girl in the corner wearing too much black". It wasn't until I graduated high school that I met someone else who had a sisters of mercy poster on their wall. I'm gonna sound like my grandmother, but it's true, back in my day we didn't have fancy scenes! we were either jocks, nerds, or speds and we liked it!

I don't know - I think there were plenty of scenes throughout the seventies, eighties as well. (Not charging you the extra years but a lot of people just sort of give the break down into scenes into the nineties so =p). They just were a little less iconic and clear. I mean early metal, disco, classic punk, new wave all had their own styles devoted to them though it may have been a little less bleedover. Also - what happened to music posters? Maybe its just my experience but I have two younger sisters who are developing into the have their own tastes ages and neither have music posters anywhere - nor any of my teen cousins. It makes me feel both a little sad and a lot old.


Oh that's awesome! I wish I still did the club thing, it's so much fun. I haven't been to a goth club in a few years now, and that was a crappy long island club that my friend was playing at. I never did make my own clothes, that's awesome! You need to get some falls to go with the dead glitter fairy! :)

Oh absolutely! Already have a few hair pieces picked out. Probably going to go the full cross dressing route as I'll already have to be waxing my legs for the fishnets anyway so no reason not to go the full route. At least a concerted push towards androgyny.

[afterstasis]

Probably going to go the full cross dressing route as I'll already have to be waxing my legs for the fishnets anyway so no reason not to go the full route. At least a concerted push towards androgyny.

hold on now! no matter what any female tells you, waxing hurts! :mad:

[ShiningIdeal]

hold on now! no matter what any female tells you, waxing hurts! :mad:

Bah! Not once you've done it enough you are pretty sure you've yanked out those nerve endings. Really, if there was some sort of award for 'most times you've waxed as a male without actually being transgender' I'd have it by now.

I had to actually wax from my adam's apple up to the pate of my head for one full latex makeup job once. Ripping out everything in your face, eyebrows and a fair bit of your head after the initial trim still makes you want to punch a few walls.

[afterstasis]

Bah! Not once you've done it enough you are pretty sure you've yanked out those nerve endings. Really, if there was some sort of award for 'most times you've waxed as a male without actually being transgender' I'd have it by now.

I had to actually wax from my adam's apple up to the pate of my head for one full latex makeup job once. Ripping out everything in your face, eyebrows and a fair bit of your head after the initial trim still makes you want to punch a few walls.

:eek:
i've worn more than my share of skirts, but you're obviously in a whole 'nother league!

[CrimsonIdol]

I live in the middle of nowhere, so have no people to hang around with who could be classed as a scene really... I know thats not what a scene really is but meh, if you're on your todd what scene are you really in?

I've always worn Jeans and a T-Shirt... since I started getting heavily into music the only shirts I have are band/gig related so yeah. I wear Jeans, Gig Shirts, Trainers, Sweatbands and the odd studded Leather wristband.... best description I could come up with for myself....?? Metaller/Rocker.

Why does everything need to be lumped into some sort of group anyhow... grumble.

[afterstasis]

I live in the middle of nowhere, so have no people to hang around with who could be classed as a scene really... I know thats not what a scene really is but meh, if you're on your todd what scene are you really in?

I've always worn Jeans and a T-Shirt... since I started getting heavily into music the only shirts I have are band/gig related so yeah. I wear Jeans, Gig Shirts, Trainers, Sweatbands and the odd studded Leather wristband.... best description I could come up with for myself....?? Metaller/Rocker.

Why does everything need to be lumped into some sort of group anyhow... grumble.

well, being involved in a scene doesn't necessarily have anything to do with fashion...
during my time working with the aforementioned punk scene i had long metalhead hair and just wore cheap thrift-store clothes that fit me well with very little regard for design.
i really enjoyed meeting somewhat like-minded people and working with them to keep punk shows coming to our area, though i quickly became an outsider when the scene turned the way i described.

[CrimsonIdol]

well, being involved in a scene doesn't necessarily have anything to do with fashion...


True... but its the most common way of defining them that I tend to have noticed :/

[ShiningIdeal]

True... but its the most common way of defining them that I tend to have noticed :/

Scene has a lot more to it than fashion. The reason I've sort of boiled fashion into a starting point for the thread is because the thread is really meant to be about the shallower parts of certain scenes. As a bit of a fashionista I'm happy to make it clear that it doesn't get much more shallow than accessories and clothes as a definition.

[Soror_YZBL]

True... but its the most common way of defining them that I tend to have noticed :/

But even the "jeans and concert t-shirt" look is a fashion contest. It's why the guy wearing a Nirvana t-shirt to a Sonic Youth concert is much cooler than the guy wearing the Sonic Youth t-shirt.

[ShiningIdeal]

But even the "jeans and concert t-shirt" look is a fashion contest. It's why the guy wearing a Nirvana t-shirt to a Sonic Youth concert is much cooler than the guy wearing the Sonic Youth t-shirt.

Or the person who has a real concert shirt versus the generic band logo shirt available at the mall.

[Runesmith]

I've never been part of a music scene because none of the people around me (at least to my knowledge) are interested in the music I like.

High school on a whole was pretty shallow, though. I guess that could count as a scene.

[Hungryfreak]

I've never been involved in any scene really. I don't like conforming to a group (too much work, too few rewards). Even with metal now, I can't find enough metalheads on average to be a part of any clique.

[polishdog90]

Haha I haven't really been in any scenes, but I would have loved to be able to witness the glam scene. I occasionally sport designer leopard print clothing. None of my friends do this so I guess I could be a 1 man scene.

I've also been known to sport a lumber jacket and khakis. Would that be grunge? And when it comes to friends I talk to different friends about different music. I don't just stick to one group.

[Joshua12]

See most of you are say I was never part of a scene. And that it self is a scene to me. The people who always try to be different scene which makes them all the same. I have trouble believe you guys never could be grouped into a scene. I for one was a "skater" and a "hardcore" kid.

[afterstasis]

See most of you are say I was never part of a scene. And that it self is a scene to me. The people who always try to be different scene which makes them all the same. I have trouble believe you guys never could be grouped into a scene. I for one was a "skater" and a "hardcore" kid.

well, i think a lot of us are defining scenes differently.
some would say just regularly listening to a style of music makes you part of the scene, whereas others consider it more of a fashion statement, and then i was personally thinking more along the lines of being more active with booking shows, playing in bands, etc....

i guess it's open to interpretation, and if someone doesn't feel that they are a part of any scene then that's cool, and probably pretty admirable in most cases.

[CrimsonIdol]

The people who always try to be different scene which makes them all the same.

I never tried to either be part of a scene or NOT to be part of a scene really, didn't really think about it full stop. As mentioned by someone above (and me earlier), with no-one around there isn't really a scene/group you can latch onto... you may be part of a wider scene across the general board but when you're pretty much on your own you can only really be.. well.. on your own. Can't merge in with the crowd if theres no crowd to merge with so-to-speak.

[RedRaptor]

Well for the better part of my early life (ages 12-16) I was just that guy that kind of stuck to his self, a bit on the nerdy side. But now (age 19) ive kind of found myself and figured out who i really am. In not really part of a clicke or group, im just myself. I tend to hang with people i feel are good people reguardless of thier "scene". You could call me the surfer/rock type long hair, jeans, shell necklace, the like. Call me what you want, but I consider myself me!

[Jordashebasics]

While I played music through high school, I don't think we had anything to do with any scene. Me & my friends had our clique, which was loosely affiliated with a more heavily academic crowd, as well as a touch of the theater crowd.

But I was into Phish, which did push me into the hippie group.
However, despite this affiliation
- I didn't indulge in any drugs.
- I have any spiritual leanings, and I tend to view most of the stereotypes of hippies with disdain.
- I didn't have any real political leanings during high school.

I still enjoy the presence of the crowd at those shows, similar to the way that I enjoy the atmosphere at a good comic convention. We're all brought together by a common interest.

[thedoorsdk]

I don't think I've ever been a part of a scene, really.
I mean, in middle school/the early part of high school I was really into punk, but I always thought the whole leather jackets with patches and spiked hair uniform that most 'punk rockers' ascribed to was hilariously silly. I dress the same now as I did then, for the most part. I've never been attracted to scenes, it was always more about the music.
Yeah, that sounds really bogus, but it's actually true.

[momo217]

ok, I am sooo out of touch. What is a hipster?

In my younger days I was never part of any one scene. I would hang out with the jocks, the rednecks, the nerds, the goths, the metalheads, the hiphop wannabes, the potheads, the hippies, the thespians, the musicians, the ravers, the skaters, and people of all races and genders. Come to think of it, I guess I was actually part of many scenes. Oh well. I never limited myself to just one group. I never judged people for their style. Mainly because I had no style myself. The one group I found to be the shallowest and most narrow minded were the country folk, who were also the jocks. Living in the south has it's downsides.

[Soror_YZBL]

out of touch? hipsters have been around forever. they are the people who join scenes for status, or to make them seem hip.

That was in the old days. Hipsters nowadays are pretty much like 90's slackers who care about status. a pretentious apathy - they want everyone to know that they don't care about anything. This, of course, is ironic, as they're supposed to not care about anything. This irony goes well with Pabst Blue Ribbon, but I don't think that's hipster anymore. They may be drinking MGD now.

I frequently refer to myself as an "aged hipster", because I run in some of the same circles (with people 10 years younger than I, how sad), but my sense of irony is limited to my spice girls record collection.

[Nourez]

Never really been part of any scene, personally. Mostly just cuz I can't be bothered to fill stereotypes.

[Soror_YZBL]

there are people pretending to be apathtic? they are giving me a bad name, because i serisouly dont care about much of anything.

Oh you're missing the irony! They care about being apathetic!!!

[King_Nuthin]

I never really considered myself part of any scene in particular, but the Orange County rockabilly scene is perhaps the shallowest scene I've ever been around. All fashion and very little sense of history. Sometimes I wonder if some of them even like rockabilly and old rock and roll at all. The worst was perhaps the Hootenanny in 2004 when a significant chunk of people were shouting at Little Richard to get off the stage in fear that he was cutting into Social Distortion's time. Social D then went on to put on perhaps the worst show I've ever seen them play, and they ate it up.

[WhiffleBallTony]

I'm only 14, so I've never really been part of a "scene". I mean, I'm a big doom/stoner metal fan, but I'm still relatively new to the genre and have also never smoked, which is closely associated with the two genres. There is no real particular dress style or anything for doom metal, either, since it has such a small following. Maybe in two or three years, I'll be a member of a scene, but I doubt it. I listening to a lot of everything. Metal is just my current preference. I might be into a lot of jam bands a year from now, who knows.

[hmxhenry]

Why does everything need to be lumped into some sort of group anyhow... grumble.

There is in many people a deeply held desire to identify themselves in a certain way especially as a part of something bigger than themselves. It's about being a part of a community, having a network of people with similar beliefs or goals, and (in the simplest form) not being alone.

It's why people wear sweatshirts with the name of their college emblazoned on the front, it's why people have tattoos of the flags of the countries of their ancestors, and it's why people wear pins and patches of bands they like.

At it's best, self identifying like this gives people a sense of self ("I can relate to THIS") and allows for a bond with people who share the same interests. "Hey, you like to skate? I like to skate too! Let's hang out!" A strong sense of community gives some people a much needed support group, a safety net, or just a solid group of friends you can count on because you were cut from the same cloth. How many people on this board have made friends simply because two of you like the same band? That's a really powerful bond that goes far beyond the fact that you both happen to be part of the same scene.

But at it's worst this is just another way to separate people into different cliques and single people out as "different" because of superficial reasons. It's also a really convenient way to lump people together and ignore any sense of individual personality. "Oh, that kid likes Dashboard Confessional? He's an emo kid and he probably cuts himself." Maybe he just likes acoustic love songs, but why bother actually getting to know him better when you can just rely on a convenient label? It works the other way as well, where some people will actually identify themselves with a scene just to let the scene identify them rather than the other way around. Some people will think that in order to fit in they need to listen to Band X, and wear Cool Article of Clothing Y, and have your haircut like Actor Z.

Every scene has it's good and bad elements, but no scene should ever put an emphasis on the group or on that hive mind mentality before individuality and self expression. /Rant. Sorry for going off. This kind of musical / sociological line of thinking is fascinating to me.

[afterstasis]

There is in many people a deeply held desire to identify themselves in a certain way especially as a part of something bigger than themselves. It's about being a part of a community, having a network of people with similar beliefs or goals, and (in the simplest form) not being alone.

It's why people wear sweatshirts with the name of their college emblazoned on the front, it's why people have tattoos of the flags of the countries of their ancestors, and it's why people wear pins and patches of bands they like.

At it's best, self identifying like this gives people a sense of self ("I can relate to THIS") and allows for a bond with people who share the same interests. "Hey, you like to skate? I like to skate too! Let's hang out!" A strong sense of community gives some people a much needed support group, a safety net, or just a solid group of friends you can count on because you were cut from the same cloth. How many people on this board have made friends simply because two of you like the same band? That's a really powerful bond that goes far beyond the fact that you both happen to be part of the same scene.

But at it's worst this is just another way to separate people into different cliques and single people out as "different" because of superficial reasons. It's also a really convenient way to lump people together and ignore any sense of individual personality. "Oh, that kid likes Dashboard Confessional? He's an emo kid and he probably cuts himself." Maybe he just likes acoustic love songs, but why bother actually getting to know him better when you can just rely on a convenient label? It works the other way as well, where some people will actually identify themselves with a scene just to let the scene identify them rather than the other way around. Some people will think that in order to fit in they need to listen to Band X, and wear Cool Article of Clothing Y, and have your haircut like Actor Z.

Every scene has it's good and bad elements, but no scene should ever put an emphasis on the group or on that hive mind mentality before individuality and self expression. /Rant. Sorry for going off. This kind of musical / sociological line of thinking is fascinating to me.

100% agreed.

there always seem to be individuals in every scene who are able to embody the best and the worst.

there's always that goober metalhead who will slander his peers for buying the new metallica album or wearing a dress shirt to a death metal gig, but there's always also a few really awesome dudes around who will likely be involved in the scene far longer than the sheepish metalhead (who will likely move onto something else to better define him, such as golf or nascar).

[WhiffleBallTony]

There is in many people a deeply held desire to identify themselves in a certain way especially as a part of something bigger than themselves. It's about being a part of a community, having a network of people with similar beliefs or goals, and (in the simplest form) not being alone.

It's why people wear sweatshirts with the name of their college emblazoned on the front, it's why people have tattoos of the flags of the countries of their ancestors, and it's why people wear pins and patches of bands they like.

At it's best, self identifying like this gives people a sense of self ("I can relate to THIS") and allows for a bond with people who share the same interests. "Hey, you like to skate? I like to skate too! Let's hang out!" A strong sense of community gives some people a much needed support group, a safety net, or just a solid group of friends you can count on because you were cut from the same cloth. How many people on this board have made friends simply because two of you like the same band? That's a really powerful bond that goes far beyond the fact that you both happen to be part of the same scene.

But at it's worst this is just another way to separate people into different cliques and single people out as "different" because of superficial reasons. It's also a really convenient way to lump people together and ignore any sense of individual personality. "Oh, that kid likes Dashboard Confessional? He's an emo kid and he probably cuts himself." Maybe he just likes acoustic love songs, but why bother actually getting to know him better when you can just rely on a convenient label? It works the other way as well, where some people will actually identify themselves with a scene just to let the scene identify them rather than the other way around. Some people will think that in order to fit in they need to listen to Band X, and wear Cool Article of Clothing Y, and have your haircut like Actor Z.

Every scene has it's good and bad elements, but no scene should ever put an emphasis on the group or on that hive mind mentality before individuality and self expression. /Rant. Sorry for going off. This kind of musical / sociological line of thinking is fascinating to me.

It's fascinating to me, as well, and I very much agree with you. That was a nice read.

[AxlVanHagar]

Great topic op! Well done.

Back in high school I didn't really fit in with any one "scene" or group of like minded individuals. I didn't drink or do drugs so that excluded me from the "stoner" crowd. I liked glam bands so that excluded me from the "metal" crowd. I liked metal so in turn was excluded from the "glam" crowd. My like of metal and glam excluded from the "new wave" crowd etc etc lol

I got along with all the little cliques and would float in and out of them. Mostly hung out with the other practicing musicians in school. Most commonly I would be thrown into the "glam" or "hair metal" crowd by people that knew me and that was fine by me. I certainly dressed the part and did my best to look the part.

Never tought I succeeded until years later I was hanging out with one my best friends and we were talking about high school. I mentioned that it was funny that we hadn't met until after high school and were just aquaintences that bumped into each other at the different clubs. he went on to say that he thought I was the coolest guy in school back then. He was a grade or two behind me and he admitted that he was kind of awe struck by me and wouldn't talk to me to which I laughed til it hurt and continue to bust his balls about to this day. He told me he and all his buddies thought I was a total "rock star" back then and that i had the image down and was playing Uncle Sam's and Front 54, the two local clubs, and they were all convined I was the king of cool. LOL! Too funny. I told him that while that may have worked for me living here the few months in LA trying to make it with the band it didn't at all. Now those dudes were rock stars and we looked like poseurs in comparison. :D

Today I probably get pegged for the same "scene". I may not wear eye liner or skin tight flasy clothes and a can of Aquanet Super Hold in my hair but I still look like the "rocker" type. Hair is still long, leather jackets etc.

[Kiraweirdo]

I wasn't really in any scene...I was just really shy and played my vidya gaems..hurr

no seriously, I guess you could say the "goth" I wore black a lot and people called me goth, so I was "well ****, okay? I'm goth =o" I still am "goth" sorta if you call it that. I wear more colors now but Black and red is still my main. I listen to metal, but now it's metal and Gabba, goa-trance....well anything in the electronica genre.

but yah, I was in that stereotype. The goth, loner chick =/.

It's weird though because in high school..I just hung out with other gamer/goth people..

now all my true best friends are just nerds =p I'm definitely the weirdest looking in the bunch.

[FourstringOrion]

Hmm, that was really interesting Henry.

Me? Well... Kinda embarassing but i'll tell anyway.

About a year ago I was :GASP: A emo:eek:. No I wasn't one of those people who was emo because of fashion or because it made them popular. I didn't cut myself... I didn't even like emo music(still don't), But infact I was actually depressed over about 6 things that were actually depressing(not going to go into detail about those things).

So i've been apart of that clique and I know how it works, Everybody was shallow pretentious and snobby. I absolutely hated that clique but got lumped into it because they thought I was one of them.


Now I am apart of no clique, I am myself.

(I'm not emo anymore, I cut my hair and got over that stuff lol)

[Soror_YZBL]

LOL stoner metal. I have a scene of that in my living room, only without the metal.

[DasKonstruct]

Worst scene I was ever involved with was the fetish scene which was just an offshoot of the goth/industrial scene. It was fun at first, I would go to the shows and dance in cages but then after I got out of the cage and got to know the people involved and attending I really began to dislike all the drama. The music was generic EBM/Dance music which was repeated each night and nothing interesting was being played for fear that the crowd wouldn't dance. Rampant drug use was everywhere which I never got into. Lots of people screwing each other over for a girl, drugs, or money.

Now I regularly attend our old school goth night and its so much better and laid back. Friends chatting with friends over drinks and cigarettes with new and old music from more eclectic bands. Do I consider myself part of the scene, not really but I enjoy its music and the people attending aren't there with agendas.

[tofubot]

with my nature of being absorbent to all around me that i like, i didn't belong to A scene, i belonged to as many scenes as possible. i was sorta like james duvall in SLC punk, where he wasn't a punk, he wasn't a mod, no one really knew what the hell he was.

basically, every new thing i got into i threw on another layer to my style and swagger. so now, i'm more an amorphous blob of... whatever.

i was a rocker and metal head due to my parent's influence for most of my life. 94-96 in jr. high i wore flannel and chucks and listened to "alt rock/grunge". 96-00 in high school i discovered goth/industrial/post-punk and tossed fishnets and black nail polish in the mix. due to my new love of electronics (and use of acid and ecstasy) i fell into the rave scene and started wearing candy and chokers with my grunge/goth/punk gear, as well as the european electronica stuff and trip-hop. my younger brother started showing me all the skate punk stuff him and his friends were listening to, as well as some ska core, and i adopted the camo shorts and cargo pants that were huge in the mid 90's skate scene. then at the tail end, being a life long metal fan, as well as being a pissed off at the world teenager, i bit into the nu metal scene, got some body piercings, started dying my hair and wearing it stupid.

then once i got out of high school, started working at a music store, and really began learning about everything i'd been merely introduced to. now i'm a collage of everything without the stylistic additions. unless wearing shorts, chucks, and band shirts is some scene uniform i'm unaware of.

the only scene i belong to now is my group of friends who all listen to vastly different things, dress vastly different from each other, and we all make totally different music. it's nice getting older, because peer pressure is less of an issue.

[Rev0lver]

the modern "emo" scene. it's filled with a bunch of kids who think it's cool to be different, although they're conforming to a huge crowd. it's also partly filled with alot of people who believe themselves to be intelligent because they follow things such as obscure political idealologies that in actuality are full of ****. also, it is beyond me why such a large group of people would continuously make themselves feel sad, then complain about it. it's a step up from "gangstas", but not by much.

[Soror_YZBL]

The fact that people *perceive* them as conforming probably says as much, if not more, about the observer and their own prejudices than it does about the individuals within that clique, especially in a counter culture, like Emo, goth, punk, or something along those lines. I highly doubt that anyone would become an emo to "conform", especially since conforming to the a counterculture alienates you from the rest of society. Someone is "conforming" to the guy who got his ass kicked for wearing eyeliner? Sounds counter-productive to me.

Hipsters are a little different, because they're like an ethnic group, they have their own cities now. I've never been to emo-ville, but I hang out in williamsburg a lot LOL.

[afterstasis]

I've never been to emo-ville

washington, DC's a pretty place. :)

[Soror_YZBL]

washington, DC's a pretty place. :)

I dunno, I'm a washington outsider. A maverick, even.

[ShiningIdeal]

There were some really interesting ideas here and I want to explore a couple ideas for a moment.

How many people who have said they are not part of a scene identify themselves as gamers? Are involved with gamer/geek culture? There are a few other likely one's I'd ask about but lets go with the most probable. I'd even argue the subgenre of Rock Band fans - people who have Rock Band parties, push it to their friends and come to the forums and things like that. No there isn't a dress code for this - but its certainly a group I think many would be a part of.

For myself - I'd definitely fall into the second genre. Most of my friends are gamers and I do conform to a certain degree just for the social aspect, something to do but it was more as an observer. Rock Band changed all that.


Now to the more (to me) interesting area. The nature of scenes and exclusionary behavior.

afterstasis, Henry and a couple others have touched on this and I'm going to start with the metal scene as its certainly the one where - to an outside observer - it seems most prevalent. (Followed relatively closely by punk). There is this great urge it seems to codify what it is to be a part of a group, a codex of requirements if you will. This group is not metal, this group is, if you like this group you don't really like metal. You can't possibly be a metal fan if you don't like this group.

I think the large problem of this is an offshoot of mob mentality. A scene as a self-identifier is one thing, but in some ways the more marginalized or at least perceived to be groups come up with these as a safety measure it seems. (Useful to note geography plays a relatively large factor I have to imagine - I can't count the amount of times I was proselytized to here in the bible belt/south. For me it was fun because I love to argue and debate but I do appreciate that others have it worse. Also not everyone can be a smartass with the sureness they won't face any reprisal as I was.) Anyway, digression aside - I think the basis of this is to ensure that the scene is protected from 'outsiders'. I don't think its a conscious thought so much as a bit of reptilian brain. By excluding others you are keeping purity for the thing you consider important.

The real nebulous factor comes in when you branch out from musical tastes or fashion and into actual lifestyle. Its something I don't think is really an aspect necessarily of the scenes themselves but an aspect of one or two strong personalities in a small group laying down 'guidelines'. In my experience it was more something that started along - Oh you can't go to this club, you have to go to this club. Oh you have to read this poet. Certainly non-starters, but I later spoke to a couple other people in the group to learn that the girls were all a lot more pressured. Oh you have to sleep with this person. You have to drink this absinthe with us and have to do this. The more isolated the scene, the easier the control is to exert - to the point where a strong enough figure can make certain scenes their own cult of personality.

This really goes an interesting other way. Many in scenes are unwilling to acknowledge other things. One doesn't have to look far to see this - just wander into DLC announcements or the Ultimate Setlist forum. The violent reaction to something outside your personal realm of experience really intrigues me. Of course the anonymity of the internet and the sense of entitlement both exaggerate gestures but I find it unlikely that anyone has gone through life without meeting at least one person of the: "I like this and only this" variety. Whether this is an offshoot of a scene or just a sense of elitism is a little unsure for me.

[polishdog90]

There were some really interesting ideas here and I want to explore a couple ideas for a moment.

How many people who have said they are not part of a scene identify themselves as gamers? Are involved with gamer/geek culture? There are a few other likely one's I'd ask about but lets go with the most probable. I'd even argue the subgenre of Rock Band fans - people who have Rock Band parties, push it to their friends and come to the forums and things like that. No there isn't a dress code for this - but its certainly a group I think many would be a part of.

I guess that is a good point. I would consider myself to be apart of the rock band group (I mean wouldn't all of us that post on the forums?). I used to be a big gamer, but I have sort of lost interest in gaming. I still play other games occasionally, but I only really play rhythm games seriously now.

[tofubot]

though i've been a gamer for the last 22 years of my life, i never felt that i was a part of "gamer culture", since i don't think that even existed till about the late 90's when it was the cool thing to do to own a playstation. the "gamer culture" was furthered by the release of the first Xbox.

video games and music have been my 2 most consistent loves in my life (predating beer and women), but i've never really associated with the gamer side till recently, and even then i feel kind of alienated due to my age.

mostly because when i was growing up, it wasn't cool for me to play nintendo, it wasn't cool to hang out in my room and play sonic the hedgehog and final fantasy 3 all summer instead of hanging out at the beach. it was something i had to take a lot of crap for actually, so i dunno, i just never associated with "game culture" since i never thought it existed where i lived.

[JerryBrudos]

Well I listen to metal and dress in t shirts and jeans but its really not a scene, I'm the only one thats even heard of most metal bands outside of Metallica and maybe Black Sabbath. Most kids at my school are either ghetto or "hipsters." pretending to be cool laid back people that wear flip flops and listen to alternative rock and eat organic just so people think they are cool and laid back. There used to be some stoners that sort of listened to metal mostly punk though but I never attempted hanging out with them since I very very rarely drink or smoke. I have my friends but we more have humor in common than interests in music or tv or anything. I suppose I've never been a part of any established scene a rocker or metal head would be closest just going on music but theres no one else around into it.

[Soror_YZBL]

Most kids at my school are either ghetto or "hipsters." pretending to be cool laid back people that wear flip flops and listen to alternative rock and eat organic just so people think they are cool and laid back.

This of course begs the question - are they pretending, or do you just stereotype them as such? It's actually not uncommon nowadays to be "laid back, listen to alternative rock and eat organic food".

Is it possible for anyone to use the words "Im not part of a scene" without throwing out accusations regarding others who they perceive to be in "a scene"? It sounds petty, and says more about you than it does the scenesters.

[culturedog]

I'm a dyed in the wool metalhead, and for the most part the 'scene' has been positive and deep. Though I have seen my share of shallow behaviour at shows - particularly OzzFest 2005 in Hartford, which turned into a mudfight / male cockwalk with dudes screaming "show us your ****" at every passing girl.

I was pretty embarassed to be a metalhead after that show, especially after hearing about how dudes were knocking people unconscious with clumps of sod and would specifically target anyone who came to help.

This kind of ties into a fairly recent thread about a European study of personality types and the music they listen to, but I've found that the heavier the music, the cooler the fans tend to be. I've never gotten into a fight at a metal show, but I have made friends and had a lot of good times.

As for 'scene' behaviour and such - I would love to stand up and loudly proclaim that "I'm my own man who has no brand" and all that B.S., but the truth is this - if I'm going to see Arch Enemy tonight, I'm totally going to put on my long sleeve Carcass tour shirt from '92 and 'reprazent'.

[Soror_YZBL]

arch enemy is playing in connecticut tonight?

[culturedog]

I wish! No, it was just a hypothetical situation based on what I did the last time I went to go see them (and perhaps the time before). :D

[afterstasis]

contrastly, if i pay any attention to how i'm dressed at a show it's typically to go against the grain...

it's not all that impressive if someone compliments my beherit shirt at a black metal show, but if it gets picked out at an indie rock show then i've probably met a more interesting person.

and yes, i also have the guts to wear my slowdive shirt to black metal gigs. :)

[Soror_YZBL]

contrastly, if i pay any attention to how i'm dressed at a show it's typically to go against the grain...

it's not all that impressive if someone compliments my beherit shirt at a black metal show, but if it gets picked out at an indie rock show then i've probably met a more interesting person.

and yes, i also have the guts to wear my slowdive shirt to black metal gigs. :)

I wore a pink floral print dress with a huge magen david necklace to a death in june show, while my boyfriend at the time wore a yarmulke. :)

[Soror_YZBL]

I wish! No, it was just a hypothetical situation based on what I did the last time I went to go see them (and perhaps the time before). :D

Dude, I would totally go if there was LOL. It's just a ferry ride (and the drive, f course) away from me. Then again, if they're playing there, they'd be playing in manhattan and that's much closer to me.

[afterstasis]

I wore a pink floral print dress with a huge magen david necklace to a death in june show, while my boyfriend at the time wore a yarmulke. :)

i'm jealous of everything in bold.

[culturedog]

Dude, I would totally go if there was LOL. It's just a ferry ride (and the drive, f course) away from me. Then again, if they're playing there, they'd be playing in manhattan and that's much closer to me.

Yeah, it's pretty rare for someone to play CT without hitting New York as well!

[Soror_YZBL]

i'm jealous of everything in bold.

me too, I lost the star of david, and the dress is too tight now that I actually eat on occasion. I also broke up with the boyfriend and never was a huge fan of death in june. The whole night is meaningless. Dead fly ensemble was cool.

[momo217]

I dunno, I'm a washington outsider. A maverick, even.

So you are the Devil. Say it ain't so Joe!


:) Sorry, I couldn't resist.

[ShiningIdeal]

My worst 'offense' was wearing my "Twee as F***" shirt to Curiousa a couple years back. Though the number of people who commented on it really was great on my attention whore complex so not the worst thing. Of course since it's a muted pink and I'm 6'4" it was I was sort of a flag to begin with. I actually heard someone on a cell giving directions using me as a landmark. "The dude with the pink shirt" - ah well.

[DasKonstruct]

me too, I lost the star of david, and the dress is too tight now that I actually eat on occasion. I also broke up with the boyfriend and never was a huge fan of death in june. The whole night is meaningless. Dead fly ensemble was cool.

Love Deadfly Ensemble. Been a huge cinema strange fan for many years. I would give my left nut for some songs sung by Lucas Lanthier on RB and then watch the forum light up with wtf threads.

[Nourez]

Some of the other Parawhores are acting real shallow tonight...

[tofubot]

Some of the other Parawhores are acting real shallow tonight...

you guys are allowed to be deep?

/rimshot

[Nourez]

you guys are allowed to be deep?

/rimshot

Your sarcasm is killing me

/sarcasm

Maybe I should have said more shallow than usual.

[tofubot]

Your sarcasm is killing me

/sarcasm

Maybe I should have said more shallow than usual.

i'm sorry, sarcasm is a natural part of my life.