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Recently I've been off social media more. My screen time is still bad but it's gone down significantly. (12 hours down to 5!!) It really has me thinking about normies. I've realized something. We're not that different. We tell people they can't be apart of the outcast group because their music is 'mid' or 'mainstream' --- or because they dress too basic to apart of the alternative..
..Does anyone get how ironic that is?
The freaks telling the freaks they can't be freaks.
Yet, these are the absolutely same people : "There's no more alt people!" / "Where did all the goths/emo go?" They left. It's overwhelming. If you're a young kid and don't know how to navigate the people telling you right from wrong you're going to doubt yourself or your interests.
Trust me I get you. You don't want normal people washing down a subculture because it means so much to you. But if you never let people in it's not even a culture anymore. We need to stop gatekeeping and start teaching. We need to be open minded. A beginner metalhead isn't going to know your shitty underground local band. They're probably going to listen to Nu Metal. AND THAT'S OKAY. A baby bat isn't probably going to do trad makeup automatically or go to clubs YET.
Why do we kick people out before we even let them settle? We've become cold towards our own kind and that's what killing us off. At this rate our community will continue to be in this miserable state.
Comments
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Sableye
this is exactly why i'm not crazy about alt or any other subculture... it's just a different kind of "normal". it's the classic anti-alt adage of "wow you reject the norms just to all dress the same" but it's kind of true! For a long time I felt so eh about fashion and aesthetics because I was trying to conform to alt/goth/emo aesthetics, and then I realized how stupid that was and started doing my own thing and I feel awesome.
At the end of the day, whatever makes you happy is what you should be doing, and if that's the alt subculture then go ahead. If you only want some aspects of alt culture then that's fine too. Just know that there's lots of options! And anyone can be whatever they want.
So yeah I guess stop policing people, ur right
Cinderella #ANTIWITCHMOVEMENT2024
This!! Older alts are always wondering why they can't find any newer alts.. ahem, you're toxic?! So many older alts are shaming the ones that are new because they're doing it wrong instead of teaching them. Like instead of making fun of new scene kids for not being "genuine".. teach them what is!!
cleo!!
i agree!! i hate how everyone who is interesting in learning/being apart of a subculture is painted as a "poser"!!
xeviant
boostin this. bc a LOT of ppl gotta see this bc the sheer amt of ppl bashing on normies is insane 2 me. and this is coming from a person whos been in the alt scene for almost like.. 4 years now.
it doesnt help alt ppl 2 bash on normies. didnt alt ppl forget how bad it felt 2 be bashed on by *SOME*, NOT ALL normies just for existing?? why do we do it back 2 them its literally like.
istg. and u have a good point like. if everyone is alt, then nobody will be alt anymore. when everyone is "not like the rest" well;; they become the rest if that makes any sense.
just let ppl be who they wanna be n enjoy what they enjoy as long as theyre not hurtin u T_T <,,333
the only normies i'll bash r normies who are "normal" with their politics, in ways that are harmful i.e. people who both-sides genocides etc. but i won't bash someone for their...style? music taste? that shit's just plain gatekeepy
by benny // whalefall; ; Report
furbyz0ntheRADi0_
i 100% agree!!! H o w e v er,
I don't really participate in online alt subcultures, but I have a lot of alt friends irl and I would consider myself alt (what kind of alt? IDK really gay pink punk or something) and i don't find this kind of sentiment in offline communities? which makes sense, its the same thing with the online vs offline queer community (in general): people irl tend to be more friendly due to the lack of anonymity.
In the communities where this gatekeeping exists it absolutly should be ATTACKED bc gatekeeping is Rude and alt subcultures are supposed to be welcoming and accepting to anyone interested in the culture (unless your gatekeeping like nazis or something then you can go hit them witha bat). I don't think that gatekeeping will ultimateley destroy alt communities entirely because gatekeeping has been a thing in alt communities since the first alt people, just look at the 80's goths vs the 90's and 2000s' goths! that second group eventually evolved into emos and became their own alt subculture, but back when they were goths the older goths thought they were very obnoxious and not real goths.
I like to come at subculture gatekeeping from a punk pov, where what you wear is less important than having punk values and listening to punk music. Generally having punk values and interest in the music will lead to things you wear leaning more punk, but some blond basic looking girl could be 100% punk and shouldn't be discouraged from participating in the culture just because they LOOK basic. people on tiktok who value punk aesthetics mor ethan the actual culture infuruiate me SO much lmao
lucien zeal
..what
there would be absolutely zero alternative subculture if everyone was alternative. defeats the entire point. if someone doesn't listen to alternative music or dress alternative... then why would they want to be a part of it, if they don't actually take part in any of it?
i am against gatekeeping (if someone actually wants to get into the music/fashion they should be allowed to and shown kindness) but there has to be some gate or there isn't even a subculture
That's not what I meant T--T
Of course I'm not saying to pull random people into subculture.
I'm talking about the people that show interest in it but immediately get shut down. Obv people have to show some kind of dedication.
by Solace; ; Report
alright fair enough i read this kinda wrong. agreed, hate seeing someone come across an interesting culture and having to deal with the worst parts of it immediately for daring to exist without knowing someone's favourite random obscure band... not exactly welcoming
by lucien zeal; ; Report