# Eemo People **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 8, 2004, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eemo-people/223511 "2004-01-08T21:46:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cyntar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7feea3/32.png) [@Cyntar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyntar)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eemo-people/223511/1 "2004-01-08T21:46:06Z")
I live in Richmond VA and want to know what is the deal with people wearing black rimmed glasses everywhere and sayin they are emo?Like wearing chuck taylors and cuffing there jeans whats up with that ?? ---
**Author:** ![TheJungOnes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cab0a1/32.png) [@TheJungOnes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheJungOnes)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eemo-people/223511/2 "2004-01-08T21:52:37Z")
[http://www.hipsterhandbook.com/](http://www.hipsterhandbook.com/) has some info about them. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eemo-people/223511/3 "2004-01-08T22:46:27Z")
[Wikipedia article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emo) > [@](#): > > Emo (short for emotional) is a genre of punk rock music. The term was originally applied to bands in the Washington DC punk scene who played a more raucous and emotional form of punk than the norm. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eemo-people/223511/4 "2004-01-09T00:39:01Z")
[bs]They’re trying to emulate Emo Phillips.[/bs] ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eemo-people/223511/5 "2004-01-09T00:39:01Z")
[bs]They’re trying to emulate Emo Phillips.[/bs] ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eemo-people/223511/6 "2004-01-09T15:03:45Z")
Check out [http://www.artfags.org](http://www.artfags.org) , too. Great stuff. Emo styles are also closely connected to the “hipster doofus” or “ironic” look; for instance, being a 23 year ofl duy guy and wearing a t-shirt that says “St. Agnes Elementary School Girl’s Volleyball.” Another trademark is a somewhat blurry webcam image where they are looking sullen, sad and uninterested. ---
**Author:** ![Cyntar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7feea3/32.png) [@Cyntar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyntar)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eemo-people/223511/7 "2004-01-09T15:22:06Z")
You hit it right on the nose!!! I mean come on now I love allpeople but when I go into a food place or somethin there like so much better than all?Why do they try to use big words I have no idea not like I can(as you can see)but i am happy.Like take for example I know this one girls she is 22 and is like"oh my god I wana see SeaBuisket" That movie sucked!Or what about this whole Stanley Kubrick thing .Any ways if you dont have a vision problem DONT WEAR GLASSES! ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eemo-people/223511/8 "2004-01-09T15:25:36Z")
see WEEZER. ---
**Author:** ![PetW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@PetW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PetW)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eemo-people/223511/9 "2004-01-09T16:38:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cyntar \* > \*\*You hit it right on the nose!!! I mean come on now I love allpeople but when I go into a food place or somethin there like so much better than all?Why do they try to use big words I have no idea not like I can(as you can see)but i am happy.Like take for example I know this one girls she is 22 and is like"oh my god I wana see SeaBuisket" That movie sucked!Or what about this whole Stanley Kubrick thing .Any ways if you dont have a vision problem DONT WEAR GLASSES! \*\* ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eemo-people/223511/10 "2004-01-09T16:43:52Z")
One question which will turn this into a great debate: Who the hell do they think they are saying that their music is more emotional than others?! Is that not being full of yourself to the Nth degree?! People make music to express their feelings… why do they think that the music they make means more?! ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eemo-people/223511/11 "2004-01-09T17:55:48Z")
Well, I would say it’s more emotional than other Punk, at least Punk as it started out … since Punk at the start was more about pissing people off than expressing your feelings (other than a feeling of disgust and annoyance). ---
**Author:** ![lexi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lexi/32/6806_2.png) [@lexi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lexi)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eemo-people/223511/12 "2004-01-09T21:21:51Z")
I thought when they used the word “emotional” in the context of emo - it actually meant “whiny” - but I am a jaded aging punk rocker and I miss the rage. 🙂 Funny thing is I didn’t even know what an emo was until about a year ago and now I see this little boys with gelled hair, geek glasses and neon green 70’s t-shirts with their chubby little girl friends with cat eye glasses and black dyed hair. ---
**Author:** ![DeaganTheWolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DeaganTheWolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeaganTheWolf)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eemo-people/223511/13 "2004-01-09T23:54:14Z")
heh heh, they are nothing more than whiny geeks who feel better about themselves by affecting an air of superiority. Deagan’s Field Guide to American Sub-culture Emo boys are esily identified by thier stick like build and pale complexion. Basically, an effeminate man who isn’t angsty enough to be gothic, his approach is to be a smart sensitive guy and hope he’s not mistaken for homosexual (he’s not entirely sure if he isn’t though). Emo Girls are identified by the above chubbiness, and general disregard for regular hygene. Commonly sporting roughly cut hair in a variety of colors, look for multiple piercings and rolls of babyfat peeking over their pants. Generally found in alternative music stores, and vegan supermarkets emo kids are considered a minor threat. Beware! en masse they may be able to overcome you if you give offense. Attitudes of superiority lend them a sort of grubby snobbishness. Emo Kids can be repelled by the playing of any Non-Emo music which will cause their heads to explode. Never feed them or take one into your home. They breed by Mitosis and will soon overrun your dwelling. Do not confuse Emo Kids with Punks, which have a violent streak and can be very dangerious if provoked. A faux british accent is a good way to discern punks from the American English speaking Emo Kids. This field Guide brought to you by Leviathan Inc., and your friend Deagan the wolf. Cheers! ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eemo-people/223511/14 "2004-01-10T00:09:17Z")
Buwhahahahahaha, oh man. **lexi** that was the BEST description of emo I’ve ever read! Oh, and **toadspittle** , if you think today’s punk is more emotional than the early stuff, you are sadly mistaken. The Clash, Ramones, Sex Pistols et al. were writing songs far more emotional and “important” songs than the stuff of today’s bands. There’s good reason for its angry, cynical nature. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eemo-people/223511/15 "2004-01-10T00:29:34Z")
I was unaware that **EMO** s existed and wish to hell I hadn’t read this thread. [ul]☹ [sup] **Somethings you just don’t need to know.** [/sup][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![lexi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lexi/32/6806_2.png) [@lexi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lexi)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eemo-people/223511/16 "2004-01-10T01:24:47Z")
I was always more a fan of the hardcore scene, but I have a bit of passion for the 77 to 79 Brit stuff too, and in hardcore and early punk there was a tonne of emotion - albeit angst, rage, and hate. From what I hear about emo the emotion they are talking about is pity - self pity - no self respecting punk would show self pity - and if they ever started to fell that they’d just have to be reminded that the reason life sucks is because of Thacher/Reagan or now Blair/Bush or whom ever was the leader of the “Establishment” and then they’d be pissed off again and ready for more anger & angst and ready for more injury in the pit. Yeah - what ever happened to calling those people art-fags?? But back in the 80’s there were no Goths, no Emo, no Speed Metal, just punk… Sigh - I am an old punk rock girl… ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eemo-people/223511/17 "2004-01-10T03:45:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lexi \* > **But back in the 80’s there were no Goths, no Emo, no Speed Metal, just punk…** Say what? There was plenty o’ Goths in the '80s (think Cure, think Sisters of Mercy… **don’t** think Erasure) and while there wasn’t Speed Metal per se … there was much worse: Hair Metal :eek: Hmmm, apparently there was a Goth music scene (and hence Goth fashion) much earlier than I thought: [Goth: 1980](http://www.scathe.demon.co.uk/1980.htm) ---
**Author:** ![seaworthy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@seaworthy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seaworthy)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eemo-people/223511/18 "2004-01-10T04:27:30Z")
Some people are going to think this is splitting hairs, but I’ve always thought that emo came out of the hardcore scene, not the punk scene. Around here anyways, emo kids and hardcore kids get along (in fact they’re almost impossible to tell apart) but punks and emo kids do not. And yes, emo is short for emotional, but specifically emotional hardcore. I suppose there’s not a huge difference between punk and hardcore but I’d like to distance myself from emo kids as much as possible. And as girly and whiny as they are, you gotta watch out for them. They can’t kick your ass, but they will mace the hell out of you. I’ve had several friends that have been maced by these stupid local emo kids that call themselves the chaos crew. They’re idiots. ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eemo-people/223511/19 "2004-01-10T04:47:54Z")
I think, by definition, those kids whom you are talking about are not emo. * * * Not to offend, but this calls for a great big “whaaaaaatt?” Has nobody here heard of Depeche Mode? The Cure? Gary Numan? Joy Division? There most certainly WAS a goth scene, and hell, its certainly been around since pre-1980! ---
**Author:** ![DeaganTheWolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DeaganTheWolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeaganTheWolf)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eemo-people/223511/20 "2004-01-10T05:06:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by seaworthy \* > \*\* And as girly and whiny as they are, you gotta watch out for them. They can’t kick your ass, but they will mace the hell out of you. I’ve had several friends that have been maced by these stupid local emo kids that call themselves the chaos crew. They’re idiots. \*\* BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! (snorts) Ye gods that made my day! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eemo-people/223511.md?page=2)