Quick update on Thursday’s ’strip’: It’s going to be late, and I apologize, because I wanted it to be fully animated but last night during the time I usually get my shit done, I got caught up in a personal emergency. It will most likely be up tonight, or tomorrow morning at the latest. Sorry . In the meantime I hope to distract you with some eye candy as well as something I’d like to discuss.

I have a question about the phrase “CHEER UP, EMO KID”. Why is this so offensive? So far I have had the privilege of meeting three distinct people who have taken offense to the phrase. Two of them were on WoW back in the day when my named my guild “Cheer Up, Emo Kid”. I was bitched at for being “insensitive”, “a bully”, and “a jerk”, among other things. The third instance is a girl commenting on the Facebook Artwork Album (you may have to trackback a bit if you want to read through it).

Apparently, “Emo kids” don’t need cheering up. Or something like that.

How can anyone take offense to this phrase? Yes, it is implying and reinforcing the stereotype that “Emos” are unhappy or depressed — but the word “Emo” itself stems from “emotional”. So by in fact defining yourself as an “Emo kid” you are admitting to that you are emotional, am I correct?

Stereotypes are stereotypes because they’re true. I’m not going to lie about that. I’m Asian and in all cases I am a terrible driver. I’m a Filipino and I switch my F’s & P’s and my B’s & V’s sometimes. The big (and only) white guys in my high school were jocks. I have a close Jewish friend and he’s pretty fucking stingy with his money. I have a Japanese friend and he is, by all accounts, insane. The same goes with “Emos” — they’re naturally associated with depression, cutting, suicide, whiny music, distinct hairdos, and black clothing (among other things) because IT’S FUCKING TRUE, RIGHT?

Please, stop me if I’m wrong.

I always thought that this webcomic would be a guide of sorts, in order to either prevent people from making the same mistakes I have, or humor those with similar experiences. As far as I see it, “Emo” isn’t a fashion trend or a type of music. Emo is a MINDSET. Anyone who defines themselves as “Emo” solely by the clothes they wear, the music they listen to, and the cuts on their arms, are attention whores. I say this because I used to be EXACTLY like this. I used to be “Emo”. I dressed up the hair, wore the clothes, cut the arms, blasted the music, cried the tears. Sure, MAYBE you’re genuinely depressed, MAYBE you genuinely have a problem, but when I look back at my own personal experience I realize it was all a bid for attention.

If you’re depressed, or sad, don’t dress it up. Get help. Talk to a friend, talk to your parents, talk to SOMEBODY. And don’t tell me “YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND” because I’ve been there, believe me. Please don’t be an attention whore.

So, again, my question: Why are “Emo kids” so offended when they’re told to “cheer up”?

Okay, so this is another animation that is going to be the “finale” to the TRAPdoor story arc. I AM COMPLETELY AWARE I SPELLED TATTOOS WRONG.

Jade explodes Frank’s biplane. This has nothing to do with the story whatsoever!

Read original blog post

Yeah, i have a lot of shit going on in my life, i should be fucking ready to kill myself honestly, but i don't, I don't bitch, i don't complain, cause its pointless, emo kids are annoying little bitches honestly, (franks dad was right!!!),  When theyre told to cheer up they take offense cause they think depression is what “Defines” them, it's completely assinine.(i am aware i spelled asinine wrong)

I think the term emo is a bit too well defined.  I am completely shure I am emo, I get very angry and very sad and am just in general hyper-emotional (I bet I could even get diagnosed for it).  But I dont wear black, and I dont cut myself.  I also have never worn eyeliner. Sterotypes are simmalar even, not all nerds wear buttoned up shirts with pocket protecters and not all mexicans can jump over fences, but what steryotypes point out is that certain people act the same way because of their race or religion.  This is completely true.  Mainly because their parents have grown up in a certain way, and think their kids should have the same values / ect.

Emo kids are angry when you tell them to cheer up (the tone defintally matters, and rember that because its typed the reader puts his own tone on what you say) because not only is their entire life (at the moment) based on their depression, but because you're singling them out and making fun of them.  They could take it as “Hey, look at that sad wothless kid in the corner.  Cheer up, emo kid, youre making the world look grey.”

And lastly, Ive noticed about emos that most of them (Ie, the guys who do wear black), have a strong sense of their own ego.  They dont let anyone give them crap for anything.  The ones I know, at least, are allways  picking a fight because they think the world is out to get them, and only them.  Thats would be another reason they would get angry when you tell them to cheer up.

lol, Ezno, I have a feeling you could have finished a good chunk of the strip in the time it took you to write this post (=

Did keep me distracted.

If you don’t want to be stereotyped as a depressed cutter, then don’t call yourself emo. End of story. If you consider yourself emo, you’re the one doing to stereotyping, not someone who happens to make a simple comment about the stereotype. If you're depressed and like to wear black clothes, that only makes you emo if you say it does.

I think it's just that, those who call themselves emo are just doing it to gain attention, and are therefore insecure about the whole thing, so when you tell them to change it they're going to get offended. I mean, one of those idiot white kids who wear their pants around their ankles trying to be more “black” would probably be offended if you told them to act white.

Or, maybe I'm completely wrong and have no idea what I'm talking about, I dunno.

Sad Panda said:

I think the term emo is a bit too well defined.  I am completely shure I am emo, I get very angry and very sad and am just in general hyper-emotional (I bet I could even get diagnosed for it).  But I dont wear black, and I dont cut myself.  I also have never worn eyeliner. Sterotypes are simmalar even, not all nerds wear buttoned up shirts with pocket protecters and not all mexicans can jump over fences, but what steryotypes point out is that certain people act the same way because of their race or religion.  This is completely true.  Mainly because their parents have grown up in a certain way, and think their kids should have the same values / ect.

Emo kids are angry when you tell them to cheer up (the tone defintally matters, and rember that because its typed the reader puts his own tone on what you say) because not only is their entire life (at the moment) based on their depression, but because you're singling them out and making fun of them.  They could take it as “Hey, look at that sad wothless kid in the corner.  Cheer up, emo kid, youre making the world look grey.”

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I agree with most of what you wrote.

I know a few people who've dressed emo or do cut but don't dress emo and don't like it when people say 'Cheer up Emo kid' because you're pretty much saying to a depressive person to cheer up. It doesn't work like that.

There's a reason why they've gotten depressive because shit happens, some worse than others and they can't help being depressed. And the tone most people use generally is either really happy or joking or teasing way which makes them feel like they've been put down just because they have problems.

They do try to get help but it can be hard and often they start assuming and think it's too late so they stop trying to get help. Too many people use the phrase cheer up emo kid just to ridcule them.

There's also scene who are wannabe emos, the ones who want attention. The ones who don't cut but either call themselves emo or scene (depends on the person). Those are the ones you mostly see. Its the type of people in my group we generally hate.

My group mostly listens to metal or hard rock&nbsplike slipnot, disturbed, metallica, senses fail, etc) a couple listen to My chemical romance and simple plan.

As for stereotypes I generally hate them because all my life I've been called a nerd because I wear glasses and bullied because of it. I'm not, I don't generally like school,  I hate most of the teachers just teach at my school, I don't get straight A's, I failed maths last semester and I skip class. The only nerd stereotypes that fit is the fact I enjoy science (except psychlogy, I most like spelt it wrong) and take Chemistry, Biology and Physics (which were the only A's I got in my report card last term) and the fact i would like to see the new Star Trek movie and like Star Wars and some other sci-fi stuff but I'm not really into it. I enjoyed horror more, thriller's and supernatural/fantasy stuff.

Some stereotypes are true but also not. Don't always stereotype.

So I just started reading today and was taking a look through the forums and registered just to reply to this.

Honestly there are still emo kids out there. I have been called that many times by close friends even. I don't take offense though because in my eyes being emo is just that. You have an emotional personality and are an emotional person. I wear my heart on my sleeve and everyone knows how I'm feeling because I don't hide it. I've been through more than I've wanted to be thus far in my life and it has shaped who I am. To me you can even call yourself emo, but where the line is drawn depends on if you are just an attention whore or if you really have had experiences in your life that would shape you to be who you are now and if that happens to be “emo” well who cares then. I may fit the look but that is only because I actually like band t's and jeans and such, not because I am trying to fit in to a certain group or whatever.

If you were to ask me, the real emo kids out there are the ones who have been hurt and felt it hard and even through it all they are struggling/trying etc. to hold on to the belief that love won't always hurt and that somewhere out there someone will make them happier than they have ever been before. I'll admit myself that it gets to you sometimes if you're truly trying to find happiness like that and it never seems to come.

Just recently in fact, less than a week, I got a call my gf that completely shattered my world. I don't want to get in to details as I'm still recovering but it sucked hard and I had already been quite upset about things. My friends know how I am and were ready to help me feel better and be there for me because they know how I am and don't judge me for it. I think that anyone who blindly generalize and stereotype “emo” kids without even learning a bit about that person is just ignorant. I get down in the dumps and depressed yea, but it is because of how I feel and how much of myself I invest in a relationship or friendships because those are the most important things in the world to me.

So before you assume anything about emo kids, take some time to learn a bit about the person you are about to label. You might be surpirsed, and you just might learn that real emo kids are out there and some may take offense and some might not. Though if they are anything like me and are genuinely hurt over something and that is just their personality to be that way then they aren't begging for attention or trying to fit in. It's just how they are and nobody should be judged for being who they are or even discriminated against in any way.

Vaguely Related:

We have now more that one hundred forum members, more than enough for the sacrificial ritual necessary to summon mom, that we may duel with her.

Related to the Vaguely Related:

How is game doing?

OH MY GOD I LOVE THAT SONG

ITS RIGHT UP THERE WITH MOTHERLOVER / LIKE A BOSS.