Sunday, January 4, 2009

Pocket Emo, a parent must read.

So originally I created this blog as a requirement for class, but since that class has since caused me to analyze and take notice to things a bit more closely here is something I couldn't pass up the chance to write about.

A co-worker of mine has the distict pleasure of being a mother, I myself am not a mother and at the present moment have no desire to be so, especially when I see the things society puts parents up against. For instance my co-worker obtained a myspace page to kind of keep an eye on her son, not a crime I don't think . . . kids today need to have an eye kept on them. She discovered a new customization to her son's blog. It was a Pocket EMO. Now for those of you not familiar with the lingo, an EMO as defined by Uraban Dictionary is a genre of softcore punk music that integrates unenthusiastic melodramatic 17 year olds who don't smile, high pitched overwrought lyrics and inaudible guitar rifts with tight wool sweaters, tighter jeans, itchy scarfs (even in the summer), ripped chucks with favorite bands' signature, black square rimmed glasses, and ebony greasy unwashed hair that is required to cover at least 3/5th of the face at an angle. Thats just to paint you an image, another definition that can be found on Urban Dictionary is: The difference between Emo and Goth; Emos hate themselves. Goths hate everyone. Emos want to kill themselves. Goths want to kill Everyone. Totally something you want your kids to aspire to right? Way far less scary that being part of the jocks or the nerds right?

Well lets feed the stupidity with a little accessory that these teens can use to demonstrate their angst on MySpace.com. Its called the Pocket Emo, best described as a little Emo-looking kid that when you run your mouse across the screen he has a little speech bubble that says different things. ie. *sob* "My life is spiraling downward" You can also feed your Emo and in response he will say "Food won't stop the pain." It also says things like "stop bothering me." The ultimately most disturbing part of this whole thing is the icon titled 'RAZOR,' when clicked it displays a razor and when clicked it says multiple things as well.

Now I realize this was most likely designed to make fun of the whole Emo genre and what it is associated with. I realize for some teens and even children Emo is just a trend, a way to wear their hair and wear their clothes. . . a phase for most that will pass in time (hopefully). However when our younger MySpacers get a hold of this you have to wonder how society is helping to groom your children. Its difficult for parents to weed out what is going to be just a phase or what is going to be a long lasting mind-set.

Once again I am not a parent, however being the older sister of two younger brothers, who don't make good decisions, I have to say these phases are dangerous and wear on parents. My brother at the age of 15 or 16 decided he was going to be Goth. My extrmely handsome brother
was dressing in stupid wide-legged pants, band t-shirts for bands he knew nothing about, a long black leather trench coat and a silver ball chain necklace, oh and spiked hair. It began as a trend, a way to fit in when he started high school. The year after my other brother was a freshman, he who was extrmely shy and had a more difficult time making friends immeadiately fell into the same group of friends as his older brother. My mother viewed it a phase, much like her 80's hair metal days and my dad absolutely hated it. The phase unfortunately lasted all the way through high school and with it came to friends who viewed Goth as more than a fashion statement. It was a state mind, along with the loud screeching music came the ideas of drugs and rebellion.

I guess parents, keep an eye out your kids are exposed to so many things that they just happen to stumble upon. Keep up to date on trends and what they mean, its difficult but you have to do your homework.

http://www.mindistortion.tv/pocketemo/?data=9-2-11-2-1-1-1-1-1&name=charm

This is a link to the creepy little emo guy.

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