Are you laughing yet?
He also brings up “the Emo Quiz,” which allows takers to see if they are in fact, Emo. This is a cute little addition to the report and belies the lack of research done. Type in “Emo,” “Emo fashion,” and even “what is Emo?” onto Google, or even www.EmoGoogle.com and the same sponsored link comes up. What is this link? TheEmoQuiz.com, natch.
I decided to take this quiz to provide proof that I am not Emo to avoid any potential backlash from parents in Utah who may be led to believe my statements are a part of a larger emo conspiracy (although I will admit that in my day, I did listen to R,E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts” an inordinate amount of times). It is obviously tongue-in-cheek with questions like “How tight are your pants?” with answer options including “So tight I think I am going to cry,” and “Tight enough to chafe a little.” The apparent lack of seriousness was completely lost on Cowan who reports the question “What color best describes your state of mind” and its answers “Black (like my soul” and “Red (like my blood)” with the utmost gravity. Screen shots of the quiz itself play on the screen followed by a shot pulled from Wikipedia, notably the most mistrusted information site on the web.
You almost have to hand it to this guy for utter stupidity. I am guessing he does not have kids. If he does, my condolences.
Finally, parents in Utah, please read carefully: Emo is not about self mutilation. Emo is about music. It stands for emotional and should not be discouraged. This is your children expressing themselves, dealing with their problems through song, identifying themselves to a group in a healthy way, and discovering their feelings communally through a musical genre which is not on the fringe of some dangerous subculture spawned by evil internet minds, but instead birthed from ‘80’s punk and accepted in mass culture to the point of being seen everywhere on the internet and included on the soundtracks of billion dollar Hollywood blockbusters. Emo is, in comparison to your day, the new folk music and vilifying it as your parents did the so-called hippie generation is just plain alarmist and misinformed.
For everyone else, please enjoy a good laugh at the ABC 4 website.
Article comments
1 - High Heels
I was laughing long before the emo boys in girl pants, but that was the last straw for my mouthful of coffee. Very amusing article, thanks. :) HH
2 - Graham McKnight
Very enjoyable read!
3 - Katie McNeill
great article!
4 - Jesse
The naivety is amusing and disturbing, like it is in so much media sensationalism. I think I'll have to write about this one, as well... especially about the failure of Fox-4 to distinguish between sarcasm and seriousness, between norms and outliers, and their own culpability in stigmatizing these poor kids (Mr. Tanner, whose name was read on-air?)
5 - Mara Siegler
Your so right, Jesse. I was really surprised that they read out Mr. Taner's name considering he is a minor, but I guess you have to assume his father gave permission as his legal guardian. His case was heartbreaking. The segment completely exploited him and belittle his very serious problem of cutting himself. Instead of seeing it as a deep psychological issue or cry for help,they made it seem like he was merely self mutilating to be part of a larger trend.
6 - Jesse
Retrospectively, I find it interesting that I keep having the urge to blame this on Fox, instead of ABC. The fact that it's appearing on a slightly more respected public network makes it even more disturbing, in a way.
7 - Aiden
haha stupid utah. i hate you utah for this everyone stares at you funny if you wear stuff like that i know i did it before and still do it but i would never hurt myself ... and its gotten way out of hand like a new sterio type i hate it! it did make me laugh though.
8 - Nurse
I'm a school nurse & you wouldn't believe how many of the "emo" kids cut. They call themselves "emo," by the way. We've sent at least a dozen kids to the local psychiatric hospital for self-injury and suicidal ideation just during this school year. About 90% of those kids were self identified "emo" kids. I was pretty confused about the whole "emo" thing until one of the kids showed me . Once I saw that site, I understand the issue much better; please take the time to view this and protect yourself and your loved ones.