NO ROOM FOR FUCKING POSERS (LOSERS)

TW: bad language, rant

Okay, I need to get this off my chest. If you're reading this and you're a poser, maybe you should take a long, hard look in the mirror before getting offended. Or not. Honestly, I don't care.

So, what is a poser? Urban Dictionary will give you a million definitions, but to put it simply: a poser is someone who pretends to be into something just to look cool. They don’t actually give a damn about it—they just want the aesthetic. And that is incredibly annoying.

You've probably seen it already. The guy in a Metallica shirt who can’t name a single song besides “Enter Sandman.” The girl who suddenly “loves” skateboarding after seeing one Tony Hawk video on TikTok. Or the dude who shows up dressed in full goth one day because “Wednesday Addams is just like him.” Bro, last week you were literally wearing a Hollister hoodie, pick a fucking lane.

And don’t even get me started on the Shein/Temu/YesStyle crowd. Like, bro, you watched two Japanese fashion reels on Instagram and now you think you’re a gyaru? Please. You bought the cheapest low-rise mini skirt you could find, threw on some platform boots, and called it a personality. You're not ganguro, you're just wearing orange foundation and poorly drawn white eyeliner. Half of these girls couldn’t name a single Egg model if their lives depended on it. You’re not alternative, you’re mass-produced fast fashion pretending to be a subculture. There’s a difference between appreciating a style and completely bastardizing it. Do your fucking homework.

The worst part is that posers make things harder for people who actually care. Like, real fans get side-eyed because everyone assumes they’re just faking it too. Gatekeeping is annoying, but damn, sometimes it feels necessary just to keep the culture from turning into a cosplay contest.

Same sh*t goes for fake emos. Just because you made a playlist called “crying in the rain” with some Pierce the Veil and The Used doesn’t make you emo. Wearing a studded belt and smudging black eyeliner is not a personality trait. You don’t even know who the hell Sonny Moore is, let alone listened to From First to Last. Being sad on TikTok isn’t a lifestyle, it’s a mood swing. Emo isn’t an aesthetic, it’s a whole culture built on real feelings, music, DIY ethics, and being rejected by the mainstream, not a damn Pinterest board.

Oh, and let’s not forget the “coquette” girls. Not the real ones who genuinely love vintage fashion, old Tumblr vibes, and Lana Del Rey-style deep cuts. I’m talking about the fake ones who slap on a red bow and carry around a copy of Lolita they’ve never read. You’re playacting damaged to get attention, romanticizing mental illness, and pretending to be “so mysterious and fragile” while editing your selfies on VSCO like they’re some kind of damn performance art. It’s all smoke and mirrors. You’re not Baby from a French film, you’re just bored.

Look, I’m not saying you have to be a purist. No one’s born knowing everything. But the problem is people jump on trends for three weeks, use an entire culture like a costume, and then leave like it never meant anything. Meanwhile, real fans, real communities, the people who actually live this stuff—get drowned out by copy-paste aesthetics.

I get it. Everyone’s trying to figure themselves out, and trying new things is totally normal. But there’s a difference between exploring and faking. If you really want to get into something, cool—welcome to the community. Ask questions. Be real. But if you’re just putting on a band tee to look a little edgier or boost your clout, maybe just don’t.

The worst part is that posers make things harder for people who actually care. Like, real fans get side-eyed because everyone assumes they’re just faking it too. Gatekeeping is annoying, but damn, sometimes it feels necessary just to keep the culture from turning into a cosplay contest.

And let’s be real: being a poser is exhausting. Keeping up the act, Googling facts so you don’t get exposed, pretending to be “so passionate” about something you couldn’t care less about… why? Just be yourself. It’s way less effort, and people value honesty more than fake coolness.

Anyway, that’s my little rant. If this hits too close to home, maybe it’s time to stop pretending and find what you actually like. No hate, just stop being fake.

Peace out.