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Wendy,
14, Hull
being classified isnt just about labeling people its a way of
life, the clothes you wear, the music you like, the friends
you hang out with and your attitude to other people. even though
the groups think they are different they all have one thing
in common they all have one thing in common they all have a
dress code |
J,
15, Hammersmith, London
I find goin into town sometimes hard cuz of the way i am. i
go to quite a posh boarding skool, but that doesn't mean i think
everyone else is 'common' or anything, and i never act posh,
i just wish i didnt feel so threatened by other youths in town.
i have been followed many times and once had a gun flashed at
me, and a gang asked me to buy them fags. i dont like it, as
it makes me nervous about goin around certain areas of london.
so if u are a towny, or skater, or goth, i dont mind, ure choice,
just u dont hav to mug or beat up anyone to look cool. let others
be. as many have said on this site, nobody actually wants to
hurt u, or intimidate u, its maybe just the way they look. |
Emily,14,
Durrington
I very much agree with everything Chris has said. I wouldn't
class myself as a townie or a goth and am proud to be an individual.
At school the 'chav' group and the 'goth' group are constantly
shouting abuse at each other and its really irritating. I'd
go with the saying 'Don't judge a book by it's cover'- get to
know a person before you judge them. I think this prejudice
needs to be addressed to everyone so that one day it might stop. |
Tia,
15, London
lol i a townie n wot is on dis website is bare tru lol. al teens
judge eachofa by wot day wear, der alot of fites now between
townies n skaters coz dat so different!!! |
|
Amy,
15, Dover
I hate people bein so mean to eachother. i am what i think
is a goth and me and my boyfriend hav had so much abuse because
of it. once this man came straight towards my boyfriend and
shouted [abuse] right in his face - i couldnt believe how
he could be so aggressive towards a person of 17 years old
as this man was probably in his late 20's. WHEN DO THESE PEOPLE
GROW UP?! also my boyfriend was walking along pass a group
of five 35 year olds on a bench and they started trying to
throw bottles at him and shouting at him for being a goth!!
i just dont get it.WHY? i hav always been bullied even when
i wasnt a goth, for being different or "weird" as
they put it. why cant everyone be accepted? i cant believe
townies or chavs or anyone make fun of us coz we apparently
"slit our wrists" or "worship the devil"
its NOT true. yes some people do slit their wrists as a way
to handle their pain but anyone upset could do that! i can
see why some goths do it though as it was probably the bulling
that has brought them to do it! we dont all worship the devil,
just coz some goths wear black, they immediately think we're
on the darkside. im a CHRISTIAN and im a goth. WHATS THEIR
PROBLEM?!
|
Lauren,
16, Portobello
I think this article has a point, there is enough stereotyping
already so why make anymore? most people now are actually a
sort of pic n mix - they like a bit of everything and dont like
being told they have to choose to be one or the other, or that
you have to be the same as your friends and that you cant mix
with people from the other groups. If this stereotyping stopped
so would the trouble between the groups and maybe we'd all be
able to walk past each other without fear of verbal or physical
abuse and you might see we're not really that different. |
Nat,
14, Coventry
a spose i am a sk8er a dnt skate or anythin i jus luv wor dey
do sorta speak lol 1 things 4 sure i ent a townie or a chav
a used 2 b a goth but a cldnt stand da hurls ov abuse everyday
lol |
Anonymous,
12, Blackheath
Hi I find the whole issue irritating! In my skool if ur a grunger
or goth or sk8rs all townies hate u and if ur townie grungers
sk8rs and goths h8 u! Its so easy to lose ur popularity in my
skool u hav 2 hav sum popularity or u become an outcast! Its
really annoyin if u wanna not be an outcast you have to take
other peoples opinions and put them into account its like if
u do one thing wrong you get pushed out!!! I hate all this war
between the groups! |
Daniel,
13, Hendon
hello everyone. i go to a school which has a massive problem
about townies and grungies. i hope i dnt ofend anyone when i
say this but if i am correct, i gather that it is a majority
of townies that pik on the alternative kids (grungies) just
because they have long hair, like nirvana, or any typ of music,
and even the clothes they wear. in my school i have never seen
a grungy pick on a towny. some people practically have nothing
to do with the conflict such as sk8ers . but there are some
people who like nirvana AND snoop dogg or the killers AND 50
cent or wateva. i am 1 of these people, because i find bieng
called a grungy or towny is rather insulting. i dont understand
why some people have 2 b so narrow minded about the people they
see and what they wear or listen 2. i dont belive in "bieng
a a certain person in a certain group" i just like 2 b
who i wud want to be and like what i like! thnx 4 reading |
Victoria,
15, Birmingham (England)
Here in Birmingham there is a true mix of people, and it often
causes dangerous clashes. It's a shame, i think, that a town
seems to be based on judgement and stereotypes. What's worse
is how, each 'group' of people seems to gang up on the other.
Mainly because of music, these groups are formed. I have a varied
taste in music (from R'n'B to gothic music) and yet i hang around
with a whole range of people who don't necessarily like the
same music, but we all get a long fine. People need to see past
style and music taste, these aren't the only things in life.
There are some people who refuse to see past first judgements
and that's wrong, how are you ever going to move on in life
if you don't get on with people? I think everyone should just
learn to put up with each other and forget about what's on the
outside, be yourself and have respect. |
Grog,
16, Leicester
i dunno, maybe its different here where i live, but townies
r not induvidual, they all like the exact same things and are
generally clones of one another. i suppose im what you would
call a goth, as are my friends and can i just say that neither
me or my friends have ever said anything or witnessed an other
'goth' threatning, abusing or cousing trouble with a townie.
however, all of us at some point have been threatened, abused
and even beaten up quite badly by townies (the threats and abuse
come on a regular basis). i have one or two friends who are
townies and they're ok but the big gangs of them are violent
and cause trouble, they seem to do nothing but sit on park swings,
getting drunk on cidar and starting on anyone who looks different.
they vandalise things they threaten members of the public. they
steel they drink 'till they're sick and they form huge gangs
and then beat the crap out of a single goth of whom is alone
and has no way of defending themselves against fifty or so townies.
And yet, here's the worst part, and this part absolutly kills
me, Members of the public, especially middleclass middleaged
people, absolutly love these townies because of how smartly
dressed they are. they'll nod approvingly when thay see them
in there little 'crews' pushing and swearing at each other,
'bless them, the smart, little, nike wearing angels' they think
to themselves. And yet if someone like me walks past and (ok
im using a past experiance) helps an old man up after he's just
fallen, the same middle class middleaged people give me death
stares and look at me as though im vermin. (the old man was
very thankfull and went on his way) i realise im probably a
bit biast but this realy is how townies behave. there's one
other thing, townies, goths and skaters dont actually make up
the whole teenage thing(sorry, i couldn't think of a word that
fit) there's the industrial goth, the cyber goth, grunge teens
who still worship Kurt Cobain and Ian Curtis (i must admit i
love allot of the grunge sound) there are still one or two punks
out there who are still living in the late seventies and refuse
to listen to anything other than the clash, sex pistols etc,
however, most 'punks' thesedays are just posers and more into
pop-punk crap like Good Charlotte. there are many other groups
but iv gotta go polish my fangs and iron my cape lol cuz im
going out. i appologize for going off the point towards the
end, i just got started on music and thats my love. im in a
band, rhythm guitar and vocals. bye xx |
Gemma,
12
Im a Skater but i reckon you shouldnt be judged for what you
are wearing or what music you listen to, to be honest i like
all music really and i like most clothes, i dont think it is
fair to judge people like that. Ive got mates who are townies,
goths and skaters but i respect them for who they are and i
think everyone should respect people. |
Andrew,
16, Doncaster
I would be classed as a "Townie". we are mainly the
very cocky people in school back chat teachers and vandalise.
we are like chavs only with a better dress sense, most "Townies"
wear the latest slip-on trainers, lonsdale are the new best
trainers. wear ny hats - none of that burberry crap.we mainly
hit on goth's and skater's. mainly its territorial either get
out of the area or get mugged - simple. i've been in trouble
with the cops about 14 times already. |
Anah
I get bullied in school a lot for being who I am, being goth
and it really hurts feelings.
From ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Gloucestershire:
If you're being bullied, please check out the One Life Bullying
section for information about it and advice on how to stop it
happening. Click
here for more |
Nicci,
15, Liverpool
hi i rlly dont think stereotyping is fair but, people do have
a choice,they can make a decision of who they arewhat they wear
and what they look like. i would pesonally like to fit into
a group coz i feel like im an outsider i am not a chav- i own
nothing burberry hav no tracksuits n dont wear loadsa foundation
or av my ears pierced. im not a townie i do not have the latest
stuff. im not a goth i dnt own loadsa black clothes just a few
for when i go to funerals or somethin i do not like their music
either lol. im just a misfit n dont like it ! |
Debbz,
16, Chatham
I think people should be left to do what they want and wear
what they want. i admit that i hate chavs and living in chatham
its hard to get away from them, i think people should be an
indivdual and stop being a memebr of a crowd because if you
do that you want stand out in the ways that you could stand
out. its up to you what music you like adn what clothes and
style you choose so leaves others alone adn they to will leave
you alone. im an individual and i listen to everything from
rock to pop. |
|
Kate,
14, Staffordshire
I get called a goth all the time by close minded chavs. I'm
not a goth and I doubt that they even know what a true goth
is or what they stand for. It's stupid how I pick up a Judas
Priest CD in musiczone whilst wearing black today and three
chavs decide to make my life living hell. Two girls staring
at me and giggling whilst their guy friend grabs the CD out
of my hand and stands in front of me so I can't look at the
CD's. People shouldnt be catergorised, but if chavs insist
on making mine and other peoples lives hell because we dont
look like them, then they are self centred people who deserve
to be punished.
|
Individual
mosher, 14, Scotland
At a gig i went to recently there was some conflict between
moshers/goths and townies. the two groups tend to stay separated
where I'm from and it doesnt really bother me. |
Lindsey,
18, US
wow, let me just say that i am glad i live in Georgetown, SC.
I've never seen anybody beaten up for their style, and at my
high school we had preps, goths, punks,stoners, wiggas, you
name it. People got along for the most part and even hung out
with people with different interests, although i must admit
that the goth kids looked intimidating until you talked to them.
I dont think i ever heard about anyone being beaten up for the
group they fit into. The closest thing we had to that was racial
conflicts, but even those were rare. |
Vikee
& AJ, 14, Portsmouth
i think your all being rather silly because at the end of the
day everybody is there own person and you should be aloud to
wear what clothes you like and do what you like without being
shouted at an fings!!!!! |
Lauren,
13, Cyprus
people are often very sterotypical about these things and like
to be seen so that if say he/she was a "skater" they
would hate to be called a townie...most goths skaters and punks
etc actually dislike townies and townies have friends merely
because they are scared of them and do not want to be bullied
by them. i dont understand why everyone cant just get along.
but will townies please stop with the prostitute look? |
Sammy,
13, Coventry
wat is it wiv townies? y do dey all reckon der really hard.
if ya c a skater in da street da townies will always b on da
other side? wots dat about? im a skater personally but i still
have m8s hoo r townies n chavs |
Caz,
14, Burnley
i am a goth and i think that people should repect others for
what they are. |
Manicpsychiatrist,
15
If you think about it, everything is discrimination of some
kind. It's what makes us human, it's survival of the fittest.
Everybody needs everybody else to believe that they're the best,
then they are the best. They do this by putting other people
down. Monopolising is the only guaranteed way to ensure the
survival of their opinions, race, or anything. That is why there
is discrimination, it can't be stopped, there's no point in
trying to stop it. The only way to beat it is to not take it
seriously. Laugh it off. You are who you are, we all discriminate,
it's natural, just don't get obsessed about it, yeah? |
Rhino,
14, Hemel Hempstead
Hey dudes im a sk8r (i used 2 b a townie but every1 makes mistakes)
every tym i go 2 sk8 with som friends we get abause thrown at
us & started on. i dnt understand y ppl start on sk8rs or
goths. i love goths they rok so much & as 4 sk8rz they r
so kl. townies must b reli stupid they dont seem 2 realise startin
on sk8rz is a bad idea. i realise that writting this will hav
no efect on townies reaction to sk8rz or goths but if if it
helps people realise local opinions. |
Anonymous
simple fact. i have never had trouble from anyone who wasnt
wearing sports wear. i cannot see how im ment to keep an open
mind when this is all i see. i am not a rocker, im not a punk,
im not a surfer, im not a skater, im not a goth. i like punk,
rock, metal i wear music and mtb tees. baggy jeans. |
Karen,
15, Hastings
Sorry, its me again, but i just read something that was quite
disturbing. Jc, you don't understand goths, so you don't like
them? How small, closed minded is that? I don't understand you
why townies go around with their trousers tucked itno their
socks, but i don't go around shouting my mouth off. I'd judt
like to say that the only other people who do the sock thing
are OAPS!!! My advice to you is grow up, get some sellotape
to keep your mouth shut, then you might learn something. Oh,
and take the trousers out of the socks please, its embarrasing
when i have a laughing fit in the middle of the town. |
Karen,
15, Hastings
I get called goth a lot, i don't actually think of myself as
goth, but wotever. I tend to get a lot of abuse for dressing
the way i do, we recently had a non-uniform day at my school,
and lets just say i suffered quite a lot of abuse from people,
mainly "townies" i had untill then considered my friends.
What annoyed me was that these people knew me, got along with
me, and liked me untill they found out how i dressed. My friend
and i often get comments such as "do you sacrifice babies?"
(no lie, one "chav" actually asked us that!)and "do
you worship the devil?" This is pointless steriotyping
and for all the chavs out there, no i don't sacrifice babies,
and no i don't worship satan. Thank you very much. This type
of thing has been around for ages, the previous generation had
the biker versus mod thing. Some things never change eh? Bikers
used to get a lot of bad press, antisocial, drunk thugs, but
like "goths" i've found they only disrespect people
who disrespect them. Is it any wonder that us "rockers"
hate "townies"? If somebody came up to you and started
shouting "Freak", "satanist" and worse at
you, would you just smile politly at them? No. I personally
don't go up to a gang of burberry clad chavs and hurl abuse
back. But I like my face the way it is! |
Becky,
14, South Devon
I am kinda a sk8r but d music i listen to is roack and punk(green
day,blink.nirvana,yellow card,sum 41 etc) but ppl call me stuff
lyk scab n tramp but that is not true i chose how i dress because
i feel comftable in it it annoyys me when certain people judge
you before they even know you e.g. townies they all think they
are hard witch they are not they are people who pic on other
people and make them feel bad they judge other people because
they are not townies so i say this dont judge people on how
thye look becoz they can be a realy nice person. |
Abi,
15
The rael meaning of a townie is : a person who wears a lot of
fakes or addidas and kappa, wear lots ansd lots of gold jewlery
and lives mainly on council estates (sos if that offended anyone!) |
Jo,
16, Birmingham
People can never catorgarise me! I'd say how I dress is well
'unique'! One day I look like a chav,than the next a goth etc..
I like the fact that no one knows what to expect from me! It
makes me individual! :) |
|
Michelle,
14, America
Most people on here have said how thjey hate discriminating
and judging people when they are doing the exact same thing.
Most people have completely contradicted themselves. I hate
the way people stereotype and label, just because your wear
a certain time of clothing or listen to a certain type of
music. It annoys me when people say 'chav', 'townie','goth','ruder','skater'
or what ever else people have made up.
I
dont see the point in arguing and fighting over the type of
clothes you wear and what music you listen to. Most people
have said how 'chavs' cause abuse to people who may look diffrent
to them - this just shows that people stereotype them selfs
and try and live up to what they label them selves as. Isnt
it what the individual person is like depending on whether
your violant or likely to cause abuse? It also annoys me the
way that people have commented that they dont judge and its
normal people who are classed as 'chavs' e.t.c are the ones
who judge and discriminate - isnt it exactly what they are
doing? no one can be completely individual and i hate the
way people think tehy are by wearing labels like 'animal'
or 'quicksilver' , these are trends just like 'nike' or 'reebok'
are.
I
think an invidual person is someone who is true to them self
and wears what they want to and are not influenced by anyone.
People
say tht labeling is just to identify a certain group of people
, but its much more than this , people use violance over a
disagreement in music. Why? its just teh same as wearing white
socks one day and black the next. Why cant people come away
from the stereotypes and wear what they want? If they like
sport trainers but also like rock music - so what?
|
Isa,
17, Weymouth
I have been a goth, townie etc. Just about every steereotype
there is but i like it. Ifind it well fun to play round with
stereotypes and find i fit in with the crowds of sterotypes
I like hanging out with different kinds of people and changing
my identity. |
Hannah,
14, London
I go to a school where you are labeled as 'townie' or 'chav'
or 'grunger' or whatever, if you dont conform with the ideas
of people you are imedeatly an outcast and if you dont fit in
to one of these groups you are a loner. I dont understand why
people must be labeled... it upsets me to see so many people
who could just be themselves instead of going around pretending
to be who they think people want them to be. I hang around with
a big group of people, boys and girls, some of us like r'n'b,
i like rock, clasis rock, some metal bands and indie rock. I
also listen to jazz, bues and soul music. I love so many different
styles of music, and all my friends like different ones too,
we all get on dispite our styles, some of you might call us
chavs some of you might call us grungers, skaters or even goths,
but we are ourselves and if everyone thought like that then
the world would be a much happier place :) |
Carl
, 14
I am a Punk, i'm a Goth and i'm a Rocker. I may be classed all
these things but if you'd ask me about my musical interest i
could tell you i like blues, jazz, punk, goth, soul, classic
rock and i even like hip-hop and r&b. I am a skater because
i skate not because i wear baggy jeans and a hoody!! I wear
that cos it's comfy!!!! Plus i call people chavs if they are
anoying or being a pain!!!! |
Amelia,
13, Redditch
My mum and dad are both bikers i have an off road motorbike
and we go to rallies and gigs but im so fed up of people calling
me a skater and stuff like that. whats that all about??? i mean
i dont even skate!!!!!!! |
Stairway_2_Heaven,
12, Birmingham
I don't think i actually fit into a character- but i have to
admit that the music i listen to influences the way i dress.
i have 2 goth and 2 punk- rocker mates. they class me as a "grunger"
which is kinda right as my fav band is nirvana. but we do geta
lot of stick at skool, which doesnt bother me dat much cos im
just gonna be myself, and if it means been called a greebo-
than so be it!!! |
Kelda,
15, Somerset
i hate townies, no offence but they annoy me and beat up a friend,
fracturing her neck! for no reason! |
Me
:)
Dont judge a book by its cover! Or dont judge a person by what
cloths they wear. I suppose ppl cant stop judgeing ppl but dont
discriminate them etc... just cos you might think ppl with long
hair n wearing hoodies n chains n stuff, nick stuff n beat ppl
up - not all do. Some1 u may know for ages might suddenly dress
up just like that - get to know ppl as individuals. It is not
the cloths that ppl wear that shows what there actions are.
pff - This is all taken too far - totaly ott. tbh it should
just be kept as a style not a total way of life. Media has influence
in this and im sure not the only one to think so. |
Sian
& Ashlie, both 15, Cirencester
I'm a goth. i hate everything that is not gothic. i dye my hair
and have many piercings plus tattoos. i want to die when im
older I'AM A VAMPIRE! that was your steriotypical goth im a
goth and im not like that so why tell me im like that. dont
put me into a group it sucks. Me and my "chav" friend
here think that you are steriotypical way of thinking is rubbish
so i shall leave you to dwell on that... muhahahahaha oooo look
an evil GOTH laugh! |
Tina,
13, Surrey
I try to be a townie and i dont know where im going wrong because
peopl call me a wannabe. PLZ HELP |
Kim,
17, Cardiff
I personally am more of a rock chick myself, but at the same
time, listen to all other types of music too, but rock is what
i prefer. So this is where i think i have to stick up for "chavs".
Why be so ashamed? its been given a bad name, but i think its
something to be proud of, if thats what you are. Never be ashamed
of what you are. I admit, i dress more like a baggy skater,
but i prefer it. Not because i'm trying to shy away form being
a "chav". i was at the Tsunami concert and these groups
of girls, similar to my style of clothiong, were shouting out
"townies should die" and told bands like libertyX
and Lemar to get off and kept screaming out "We wanna see
Feeder!" and that was totally disrespectful, where the
"townies/chavs" of the crowd enjoyed every band there!
I hated the fact they so obviously thought that they were "different"
to the "townies" and that "townies" were
all the same, and hated the fact they were into different clothing,
but isn't that exactly what "moshers" used to fight
for? I remember when the music scene was all about the urban,
and rock was unheard of commercially, the "moshers"
would say, "why hate us because we're different, we are
of no less superior" but isnt that exactly what a lot of
them are doin nowadays because it is seen as cool being a "mosher"
and not a "chav"? Its more likely nowadays to see
a "mosher" than it is to see a "chav"! I'm
not sayin "townies" are perfect, and that they are
not "yobs" because some are, but so are the other
types out there. Its all down to the individual. Its the personality,
not the clothing. |
Anonymous,
15
Why have these comments not been put on the news yet, look to
summarize alot of the messages, every group seems to get along,
sk8s get along with goths and even what you could call a "geek",
etc, eveyoen gets along, teh groups mix. or chosoe to not mix.
these groups dont resort to violence etc... then u hav chavs
they r abusive, have to assert there postion useing violence,
pick on every group. ive been with a group of friends (of various
groups) who have been followed by chavs twice our age and threatend,
my sister and her friends had all there stuff knicked (theses
are year 7s haveing there stuff knicked). they have no morales,
and even fight amoungest thereselfs. and yet adults seem to
assume taht these are the good children, tehy assume that sk8s
and goths cause the problems, ban skateing boarding and choose
to walk on the other side of the road when we go past, because
they chavs confrm teh teh normal dress and hair styles people
assume there kind! When will people realise that just because
somones hair is longer than 5 inchs, they are not out to get
you! and for christ sake stop banning sk8ing because it is "intimidating"
and protect people from being harrased , you may be correct
alot of sk8ers drink, or take cannibis even, but they are not
hurting anyone else and althougth i'm not trying to defend underage
drinking and drug taking, i'm sure they could be doign much
worse. now i'm not saying eveyone who is not a sk8 etc is like
this, if your not like this i wouldnt describe u as a chav,
and i'm not saying all sk8ers are perfect you get [idiots] eveywhere,
but peope should realise who the real crimminals are.
|
Mandi,
15, Gardner, Kansas
I think the media plays a huge role in stereotyping. Like at
my school every 'group' has its own table it sits with at lunch.
So I'm constantly changing places where I sit because I am friends
with many types of people. I'm friends with people who listen
to country music, hard rock, rock n' roll... etc. the point
I'm trying to make is, I don't care how people see me, all I'm
trying to do is get through high school so I can go to college.
That is my main goal and I don't care if someone wants to go
and call me a total bitch, cause thats their view of me not
mine. So people need to get past what people think of them and
be themsleves instead of trying to be someone else. |
Molly,
13, Vernon NJ
I am young and i have gone to the mall dessed as what you would
call a goth (black clothes, black lipstick etc.) and some kid
who was about seventeen years old pints right at me up in my
face and says loudly "what the **** is that". its
a really bad thing to treat me like a dirty object but its even
worse since im so young and he is like able to drive a car when
i cant even go out on my own yet people are always constantly
judging me thinking i only listen to heavy metal and i praise
the devil. ok i do like heavy metal but i love almost everyhitng
out there i dont fall in to one category and i hate it when
poeple label me i wish they would just stop. |
Heather,
16, Tilbury
Well i have read all of the comments made so far and i would
say to everyone to be your self but that has allready been said
too many times people need to hear something different. i am
a goth/grunger and i love all of the clothes, the music and
everything. i get wierd looks all the time alot of people laugh
at me especially the townies. they do this because they havent
got nothing better to do and they live such a boring life that
they get joy out of beating other people up just because they
dont like what they are wearing or there makeup is differnent
to theres. but then they will also have a go at you if you wore
the same as them and looked like them so us goth/grungers cant
win. i can say this though 'they laugh at us because we are
different we laugh at them because they are all the same. why
do townies think that they are better than us? i got beaten
up by a large gang of chavs once and i nearly ended up in hospital.
while the chavs were beating me up a group of townies walked
past they couldnt see me but when they saw what i was wearing
wham i was catagorsed straight away and they walked away. why
townies? what have i ever done to you? |
Paige,13,
London
ur so right about that at the minute i have no idea what i am
im gonna say im the undecided but because of the way i dress
i have people hurling abuse at me and throwing things at me
it can be very depressin and sum people like me react to it
in self harm. it really needs to stop i meen me and my brother
are always fighting bcoz hes a "townie" he listens
to garage rnb and all dat and me i listen to metal, punk, rock.
y cant we just be normal dont judge someone bcoz of how they
dress or look or what music they listen to judge them by the
people they are. |
Tom,
16, Luton
I am a greebo,when ever I go into town I all ways get beaten
up by townies. why?? |
Sian,
15, South Cerney
I'm a goth and i hate townies,but you cant split us teens into
only 3 groups if you actually opened you eyes and looked at
all the differet types of people theres chav preps cybers. theres
not just goths but many types of them. im annoyed at the fact
you put us into sad little groups which is perfetic and immature..
yours totally in darkness |
Lex,
14, Lewisham
I am a Goth, and I have never been happier since I became one.
We do not stereotype ourselves, in fact, there are so many different
types of Goth, we are the only "scene", as some call
it who are actually a sub-culture. Goth has been around since
1981, and will continue to be for many years to come. We are
not a trend, and any real Goth will tell you that many things
we are associated with - devil-worship, Marilyn Manson, Columbine,
etc - is completely false. Unfortunately, there are those who
believe themselves to be Goths who are only labelling us with
bands and styles that are not in the least Gothic - I read an
article of yours about teenage "Goths", they were
merely three children in bland halloween make-up and hoodies
of mainstream bands. People believe themselves to be individual,
but what is individualistc about millions of ordinary members
of the public driving to their 9am-5pm office jobs, having 1.5
children with two cars in their garage? Gothic is about turning
away from that society - we are a minority, but we are more
individual than many others. I do listen to Marilyn Manson,
and I am a Luciferian. However, I stand by my comment that neither
of those interests are Gothic. I enjoy The Cure, Bauhaus and
Nosferatu just as much as the next person I bump into in Camden.
Maybe I take myself too seriously, but I feel that I have reason. |
Ollie,
14, Oxford
im am know as a "skater" i dont call myself it but
i like everythink so i dont no y every1 calls me a "skater"
y do people hav 2 label thereselfs??? |
Woody,
14
I'm a 14 year old boy and i wear what i want i dont give my
self a name like "townie, mosher, skater, goth" or
whatever but just cos im like a skater/goth/punk townie always
wanna "beat me up" i dont c whats the point. |
Anah,
14, Preston
I get a lot of dirty looks from townies b-coz I'm a Goth,who
and where i hang out. And it's not fair coz they treat us with
no respect when we never did anything to hurt them and even
if we did they were the ones who started it, they also beat
us up and the police never does anything about it. |
Chris
Thomas, 16, Cleckheaton
As a few people have said there is a lot of violence between
the cultures but the majority is between townies and other cultures
as they hang in large groups and tend to start violence with
other cultures. i have been jumped a few times by these townies
(or individuals as you put it) and once me and my friends were
followed by about 20 of them who were hurling abuse at us and
hitting us because we were "moshers" when we eventually
stopped outside someones house to stand upto them they stopped
and threw rocks at the car of the house and threatened to smash
the windows of the house.Me and my friends are all "moshers
and goths" but i also skate, and we have not once had a
problem with any skaters or any other group. just the "townies"
who seem to think that picking on other groups make them look
good and hard. As for this survey, its trying to say we are
all individuals which is true but some groups of individuals
aren't as nice as others. and this survey doesnt show this. |
Li$a,
15
The only way things can be sorted,is if we accepted each other,no
matter who they are,next we'll be on our way to world peace.
I personally am a goth, but I appreciate people,regardless of
whether they are a townie,mosher,skater,grunger,Greebo etc etc. |
Georgia,
13, Cheltenham
I think everyones so stupid does it matter whats someone wears
or looks like and also people who are always going on about
how people always steryotpye they probably do too so they can
shut up as well i mean everyone naturlly steryotypes you cant
help it everyone didnt even mention what they thought about
and shut up whenever you think you have soething to say because
you a probably being a hypocrite anyway what is the point in
this message board anyway yes iand i know i am making a comment
but thid is only to put you right. |
Stephanie,
13, Balloch/Scotland
I think Goths should not be judged by looks, i am a goth and
am very frightend to go out in public dressing in fishnets,black
skirts and black gothic tops. I usually like to where my big
DMs but people Draw me horrible looks and make nasty comments,this
has lowered my confidence to be a goth. |
Twig,
14, Crete, Il USA
I live in old America and here we don't refer to them as townies
(did i spell that right?) we refer to them as Gheto faublous.Sorry
about my spelling you rock bbc. Sorry i don't really know if
you guys rock because i'm not that interested in british comedy
sorry. |
Stevo-d,
14, Abbots Langley (village)
Why is everyone going on at other 'groups'? so what if we don't
like the same music as you, or wear the same clothes? we're
all humans, and i don't see why what we like and are interested
in should separate us. |
Riahna,
16, Gloucester
I dnt like the terms, 'Townie, Goths and Sk8ers'.
I
think its a whole load of Bull honestly. SO WHAT IF WE ALL
DRESS THE SAME? WOULDNT LIFE BE PRETTY BORING IF WE ALL WORE
THE SAME STYLE CLOTHING AND LOOKED THE SAME?!
I am neither, Townie, or Goth, OR ska8er... i am me; i dnt
wear black all the tym all at once, i dnt wear adidas/nike/reebok-sporty/urban
clothing, and i dnt wear really baggy sk8er clothes... i actually
have a style of my own, which wouldnt fit in2 any otf those
catergorys. People think... If we keep on wasting our lives
annoying and hating other people, because of their clothing,
colour, race, or whatever.. how the hell are we going to live
and enjoy or lives?!
Trust
me... U do NOT wnt 2 b, one of those people who do.
xXx
|
s*x
pot, 15, London
Townies rule townie boys are so fit and skayters are so lst
year all me mates is townies and we stik together li glu so
let us !!! |
Missy,
15, Manchester
I agree. People in my area are either called moshers or scallies-or
townies.They r so bad that there was an organised fight between
moshers and scallies.is stupid.4 those who dont know scallies
r townies n moshers r like goths.none of us r considered as
individuals. |
Heather,
14, Blackburn
Why does everyone pick on a goth mosher skater just because
we are different and we dont follow your dress sense or your
music its stupid and childish. |
Shawn,
16, Summersville W.V.
Its not only these groups that get ation from adults. Its kids
like me who have made wrong decisions and have been locked up
for it. I wear baggy cloths and I have four piercings and everyone
stereotypes me. I think they should just leve us alone!! |
Ely,
20, Newcastle
It's just an excuse to have power over another group of people
to show off. The truth is people as a whole are volatile, and
if someone is going to pick a fight because of how you dress,
then they're easily gonna pick on someone cos of the way they
look. Most of it is just random abuse to make certain people
within the group look much superior - for the most part they
always pick on a single unit when they're easily outnumbered.
It's just teen arrogance, which sometimes enters adulthood.
Some people don't change from their teenage years and just become
an adult version of their child.
If
you recognise yourself as being different, if you want to
just have the strength to be yerself, then go for it. At the
end of day they go back to their lives, and you go back to
yours.
Just
remember to stay true to what you know is best fr yourself,
and learn to deal with it. This kind of behaviour is in office
and many workplaces too.. it's a way of life.. it's a reminder
to not be like those people and be so judgemental and rash
with your opinion.
|
Hana,
14, Cheltenham
Is a townie the same as a chav? |
|
Fawn,
14, Southend
I spent a large part of my life at school as a goth and got
nothing but trouble out of it because of people discriminating
against me and the people i hung around with. after the people
who were discriminating against us got to know me they decided
that i wasnt mean and scary as they thought i would/should
be and didnt deserve to be called a Goth and should act like
one. I however thought that i was just me and i liked black
alot. i didnt want to be called a Goth or be turned into something
i didnt want to be. i wasnt a Goth i was just me. i didnt
want to be classed as anything. Now im being changed and told
how to dress what to listen to where to hang out. Just becasue
they didnt agree with how i wanted to be.
I think that discrimintating is one of the worst kinds of
thing to do and should never happen to anyone. a person should
be judged on the person they are not on what kind of clothes
they wear, what music they listen to , who and where they
hang around!
|
|
Drew,
Glasgow
It's the way of the world. People wil always dicrminate someone
over something, whether it be gender, colour, sexual orientation,
weight etc etc. No matter how bad it gets, remember that there
is someone in the world probably worse off than you are being
persecuted simply for being themselves. In our strugle to
be individual, we will always end up being the same as someone
else. In the end it's better to try and live life not playing
by anyone else's rules, but to be yourself for no-one but
yourself.
|
Max,
14, Banbury
IM wat ppl wud think is a townie cuz i really hate the whole
skater thing which the way that most of them wear expensive
skater labels bcoz their rich daddies can afford them. i dont
dress like them bcoz that is how ppl were i live all dress and
if i get any abuse i jus laff cuz they wudnt say nefin if i
was wiv my m8s outa skool who i suppose yu wud call townies
2 |
Nadiya,
14, London
I Really hate generalisation, what is the deal? why cant people
see you as you and not want to quickly categorize you into a
certain category!? I dress like a skater sometimes, a punk,
a Goth, IM in to all of that but when people see me down the
streets they quickly make a judgement, you dont know me AND
STOP STARING!!! and then the next day i wear something else
and they give me a weird look as if arent you punk, (because
i say you drees like that yesterday), its really easy to make
a judgement, but if people werent so lazy they would get to
know you before judging. |
Megan
Singer, 19, California
Dont' pause to think that styles and labels from high school
disappear upon entrance to colleges and universities, they can
linger for a few more years, even become an icon of a particular
person's image. It can become an asset or a nuisance. |
|
Sam,
14, Bolton
If you actually get out into the real world, you will realise
that most Townies, if not all of them are cocky boasters,
who look like prats and have the personality of a pig.
|
S,
13, Harrow
I get big problems coz in my skool every1 is classed as something
and there is like an order of who can b asoc8ed wiv who and
who is better than some1 else. I am classed as a Goth so i am
the 1 no1 wants to be asoc8ed wiv but fortun8ly i hav friends
who r outsiders like me,a punk and a smart kid which makes bing
an outsider more bearable. |
Stuart,
18, Lancaster
I think mabye there has been some confusion over the term Goth
usually a person seen wearing clothing with band labeling would
be a mosher. most goths will listen to music much heavier or
darker than the average mosher which is a more aquired taste
- bands like cradle of filth, burzum, cannabil corpse and danzig.
where as a mosher will (this is only a broad generalisation)listen
to bands like korn, chimera, offspring, murder dolls, slipknot
and HIM. I think that much of the problem comes from the a "townies"
lack of understanding of anything which they arnt, ask a townie
to say what they think mosher lyrics are about and usually you
will get a reply along the lines of "raah raaaaah rah"
townies also seem to be of the general opinion think that every
alternative person cuts themselves and worships the devil. |
Marc,
19, Tewkesbury
Come on fellow teenagers, Lets be fair to others in the community.
Teenagers complain they don't get respected by the adults, but
anyone who walks past the Beer Gardens in cheltenham or numerous
other locations on a saturday evening can see gangs of youths
drinking and yobbish behaviour. It used to be said it was a
minority that spoilt it for the rest... but there's quite alot
of this behaviour and it's growing. Is it any wonder why teenagers
get a bad name for yourselves? |
Colin,
15, Bournemouth
Although this may seem a bit against what other people have
said, i think that most social 'groups' are fine, and being
pigeon holed into them isn't that bad. But, I have a problem
with townies. Or should i say, townies have a problem with everyone.
For some reason, townies feel the need to pick fights with and
hurl abuse at everyone, with no provocation or justification.
I was skating near my home, and went past some townies. They
shouted at me, stupid things like ''Did your mummy buy your
skates for you''. I ignored them and carried on. When i turned
around and came back they did the same, but after i didn't acknowledge
them they walked right up to me and pushed me off the path,
and shoved my younger brother (10, with me at the time) over
on to the ground. he was ok so we carried on skating. The townies
chased us a bit hurling more abuse, but lost interest. I cant
imagine anyone from any other 'group' assaulting anyone like
this, and i've known townies to do it often to me and my friends.
I do't know what their problem is, they should just leave everyone
alone. There are many more things i could say but that would
make me a bit like them. Thanks for listening, and i would like
to ask what the people who say that skaters are bad are basing
it on.
* |
Hans,
15, Lewes
I think that townies should grow up cause wot have have Goths
done excpet for be our selves, we may dress differently and
.ike different music but it doesn't give u the right to discrimate
us. |
|
Emma
(Pedro),14, lancashire
IM a mosher but i fit in well i have many mosher/Goth/sk8r
friend and i also have a few townie ones. they respect me
for who i am. must admit i hate club n r&b music but i
dont go round callin it. goth music is pretty cool but ill
stick 2 rock. we shouldnt be judged by the way we dress and
what we listen 2! ppl that do that is stupid!
|
|
Richard,
Hammersmith
If you're all individuals, why do you dress the same and listen
to the same music?
|
|
Amy,
17, Aylesbury
I believe we are all individuals and shouldnt b named im called
a townie or a kev whats that about we have names mines amy.
|
|
JC,
15, London
i dont understand Goths , thats why i dont like them sorry!
erm , im a townie , well thats what i wud call myself cause
i wear sports gear like nike adidas and reebok ALOT !
|
Ruby
Gloom(aka Nicole), 13, Liverpool
I'm a goth and in school i get picked on for it. It's people
who say goths we're to blame for the columbine shooting who
force us to become cutters, so its other peoples fault we are
stereotyped. |
Sam,
16, Bedfordshire
I am a goth and i am fed up with people judging me for who i
am, goths are people too, we laugh we cry and we hang out with
friends. some people think that you have to wear black or have
black hair to be a goth, but this is not the case...some people
who are goths do not wear black all the time, some wear jeans
and stuff like that, you don't have to wear black to be a goth!
also you see people like me walking around in jeans and listening
to club music, again you do not have to listen to hard rock
to be a goth, it is advisable to like it but it isn't the only
genre that you will like! all i am saying is that there are
many different types of goth and we all like different things,
people have to understand that...sure goths can be quiet but
the only reason that most of us do that is because people do
not give them the change, there are people who are like the
description above but i am saying that some arn't mostly tennagers,
but the main statement is... THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES
OF GOTH AND WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT!!! |
Kitty,
13, N. Wales
I think stereotyping is a sort of learning experience of trial
and error in a sense and its natural to sterotype people in
any way possible, if not their sense of fasion what else?? and
i (as a goth) stereotype people iv never met before and when
iv met them im usually right!!! |
Pippi
Don't judge people by how they look, we are all human and you
wouldnt like people hating you for who you are. |
Hannah,
15, Dorset
I think groups work but it's really only kids who take note
of them. A lot of adults (most of my friends parents etc) don't
even know what a townie or a goth is.
Goths
get a lot of stick because of what we wear and the music we
like, but they are nice people inside and maybe if townies
(and sometimes skaters!) talked to us instead of yelling at
us on the streets then we'd all get along better.
As
well as townie stereotyping, there is also Goth stereotyping.
You can't say you are a goth just because you pretend to like
heavy metal music. Goths like a wide range of music!
Townies
like Rap and R&B. A lot of the townies I know say that
the music I like really crap but I don't see what talent there
is in just talking fast over music. I don't see what talent
there is in screaming over a mess of people who try to be
rock and roll, but that's just my oppinion.
Would
you stay away from a gang of 20 or more people in the road
drinking and hurling abuse at you if it meant walking near
one person on their own wearing black who probably wouldn't
even talk to you? I know what I'd chose.
|
Sam
Callan, 13, Stoke-on-Trent
Its true i am a goth and i get jugded by the things i wear and
the sort of music i listen to like marilyn manson. |
Rugas
Wej, 14 - Cambs.
Bonjour!! Well can i just say this: ahem,be you,people will
love you,if they don't like the way u dress,or how u talk or
what u talk about or just genrally how you are,then tell 'em
to **** off. Simple. Don't like sumthing? don't listen. Simple,oh
yeah and listen to ATREYU. <--very good band |
|
Amanda,
16 - Toronto
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ makes me laugh. So do a large amount of the people who
post here.
If
you are stereotyped, it's your fault. Stop being like everyone
else. If you're being yourself, then go you - who really cares
if someone calls you goth/punk/skater. Isn't that what you
wanted?
|
Adz
, 15 - Barnsley
hey do0ds like im a sk8er and a mosher n i get discriminated
every otherday becos of the music i listen to, the way i dress
and becos my hobbies r skatin and moshin out at skool there
are groups the trendys the urbans the hippies and the moshers/sk8ers
and all the others h8 us do0d this aint fair will some 1 do
summin about this !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
Alison,
15
i don't think you should judge any1 by what they wear. I have
alot of townie and skater friends! |
Greater
Horseshoe, 25 - Nodnol
"You are all individuals" "Yes, we are all individuals" |
Bethan
Jones ,15 - Bangor, N.Wales
I don't think its fair, who do goths get all the abuse, and
why do townies always want to discriminate us against it. So
what we follow a certin trend, we may not be into bramd names
like addidas but we dont attack townies beacause of it. We may
not like your sence of style but we wont give you crap. please
townies... JUST GROW UP!! |
daz,14
- london
i am not that straight forward coz being my self is boring,
i actally want 2 b a goth but its hard and thats what i want
to do. i think its hard just being your self.-if u get wat i
mean |
kayleigh
,16 - Quedgeley
i think dat everyone is individual becuase not everyone is the
same. |
ZS,
Nottingham
The fact that these Teenagers are different from each other
makes categories. Goth is a subculture, a very important one.
Goths generally do not go around shouting abuse at people for
the way they dress or the music they listen too. So if anyone
wants to argue leave it up to someone who can be bothered to
disscriminate because of someones culture or dress code- Not
me. |
Sapphire
Meadows ,18 - Gloucestershire
Makai McCouter shouldn't have been published on this site, and
I find it hard to believe she's 17, that sort of comment is
immature and unconstructive. |
|
Leanne,16
- Forest of Dean
I'd just like to comment on the whole issue with stereotypes.
I class myself as me, people say I'm goth, but in reality
I don't want to be classed.
I
get abuse all of the time from these so-called trendy sorts
because of the way I dress, whereas I don't retaliate because
I want people to get along.
A
friend of mine was beaten up because of the way she dresses,
and if anyone knew the insider view of the conflict between
these groups, they'd namely see that the alternative people
hate violence and don't start fights, it's the people who
have a problem with us that start.
I'm
not saying everyone does, but there's a few big groups who
often do start a fight with the alternative people, and we
don't like violence so we don't retaliate.
I
wish members of the public would turn around and help those
in distress, but they just walk on by as if nothing is happening.
Also
realise that many alternative people have very normal trendy
friends, and everybody gets along, as long as the trendy sorts
see that we're very friendly people.
There
was a girl I managed to make friends with because I said I
liked her hair, whereas she judged me before I spoke, yet
when I explained I was ok with her, she turned around being
all friendly.
This
is the sort of behaviour everybody appreciates. Everyone should
give everybody a chance and to get to know the person on the
inside, not by how they dress or look. I also know plenty
of people who fear being in Gloucester and walking the streets
just in case they get mugged, beaten up, or stabbed. If everyone
got along, alot of my friends would be so much happier.
There
was a woman who walked past me the other day, and dragged
her child to the other side of the street, just because of
how I dress. I wouldn't hurt anybody so I don't know why people
fear us so much.
|
Simon
Abinett, 36 - Portsmouth
I totally disagree with the comment that a townie going to a
goth gig would get abuse, i dont believe that would ever happen
they maybe looked at a bit oddly by some or even cause people
to be wary but goths would definetly not be the ones to give
out abuse that has always been a townie trait. This comment
is based on fifteen years of experience. |
|
Ashleigh,17
- London
If I had to pidgeonhole myeslf I would say that I am a Goth
however the generalisation in this report is not true at all.
Most goths are not "quiet, shadow-clinging teens".
I
myself am very loud and outgoing (and I have met many other
outgoing goths) and I have also met many goths well over the
age of 25 (I met one who was in his late 40's)
The
other thing I hate is remarks like Makai McCouter saying "Skaters
are just little bds that don't deserve to live at all.
If i was a skater, i would shoot my self twice to make sure
i was dead."
Why
hate someone because of the way they dress? She probably hasn't
got to know many skaters because generaly I find them nice
people. Makai McCouter one piece of advice: stop being closed
minded.
|
Tiffany,16
- Neosho
I rally like goths cuz i am one and i also like this site. |
Makai
McCouter 17
Skaters are just little bds that don't deserve to live
at all. If i was a skater, i would shoot my self twice to make
sure i was dead. |
|
Kate
- Age 17
Many people judge people by how they dress and ignore rasism,
rape etc. Well why are you all here talking about wether it
matters how we dress?
If
a man was raping a goth on a street corner you stop it because
it doesn't matter what u look like. You are a person and each
of us deserves a level of repect so stop talking about this
and get up and help the people that need helping.
|
|
Sarah - Wakefield
I agree with these so called *groups* but I chose to be a
goth, not because of my friends, but as a personal choice.
One of my friends is a skater and the other a townie and the
other a mosher. We are all different in our own special ways
but all get on well.
We
do not hang around together all the time and we do have our
*other crowds* that we hang around with. But we all luv each
other and respect each other for who we are.
|
Anonymous
- Email
Moshers along with skaters,Goths and surfers are the types of
people who are themselfs and not a shadow of someone else, also
we do not like to fight or pick on people who are weaker than
us, that is the job of the Townies. |
Jo
- Stroud
I am a teenager and I don't belong to any group. I don't want
to be stereotyped I just want to live my life. |
|
Si
- Gloucester
I hate the way young poeple themselves stereotype one another
by what music they listen to.
Personally
I seem to be immediately stereotyped a "trendy" until people
find out that I'm into rock and metal, then they tell me how
much I don't seem that type of person.
Most
of my friends too get the same kind of thing every day. Kids
seem to want to put themselves and others in pigeonholes.
|
|
|
Tell
us your views on this article or teen life in general and we'll
publish them on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Gloucestershire.
|
Teens
get fed up with adults making sweeping generalisations about them.
So why, wonders 16-year-old Chris Leonard, are we so quick to judge
each other by appearances? 
