NEVER SET UP GOTH SHIT EVER

2/6/26

Preface that I do not in any way consider myself a goth. I don’t put in any effort into my looks or the artists I listen to or whatever, I just happen to find some of their recommendations good. Been listening to Sisters of Mercy and Cinema Strange lately.

The way people engage with the term goth is astounding. I do love subcultures. I love anything where a group of people cast themselves out of the mainstream to do whatever. Sometimes it’s fun like emo kids. Sometimes it’s fucked up like Mormons. It’s the concept of an outsider group that fascinates me. So I really do love how weird circles come together and have their own histories and lifestyles. That’s why I also love music lovers despite not exactly being one myself.

I have a webring, right. A very online thing to be sure, but it still reaches some people over here. It’s for people who enjoy the goth subgenre. I can’t say that it’s /for goths/ lest I exclude myself from my own webring, so maybe it’s justified that not everyone asking to join will be the most well versed in what’s considered goth. Hell, I’m not either.

I ask people to give us some bands that they’re into. Some of the fucking emails that I recieve.

Type O Negative isn’t too bad, okay. Technically their being a metal band first and foremost would exclude them from the goth subgenre, but they seem to have influence. Their lyrics are often thematically indistinguishable from the weird horny vampire shit that you expect from goths. They’ve been on the roster for like 30 years or something. I will tentatively allow it. My own personal bias toward the band is probably a deciding factor in this, but I will allow it. If nothing else it’s funny. Let's get that one out of the way.

I’ve gotten a request on the basis of listening to Evanescence, I think that was the first iffy one. I feel bad for ignoring it but that’s just not where it’s at I fear.

My Chemical Romance? Really? Hanging out in alternative music circles will make you want to strangle MCR fans with your bare hands. My Chemical Fucking Romance? Goth? Goth Music Webring with My Chemical Romance? Honest to god? Multiple people have sent me MCR as a goth band.

I don’t particularly like MCR but some of their fans need to stop talking a little. All of the worst music tastes I’ve seen in recent years have come from them. What do you mean MCR is a riot grrrl band. What do you mean goth. What do you mean punk. They are a pop punk band at best and that’s okay. You’re allowed to like pop punk. You don’t have to be the most alternative person in the room wherever you go. Nobody will genuinely look down on you for liking more mainstream music, but they will for pretending to be more alternative than you are. It’s okay. It’s okay.

I hate to bitch about this publicly, and I might get put on a google doc for it, but got an email with The Smiths listed recently and I don’t know if I can keep doing this. There were other bands there too so it’s not the worst scenario, but, like, are we doing this?

I went to a pub recently and had a good night. There was karaoke. I went into the bathroom and saw a poster for another night of music - ‘Emo vs. Goth.’ Okay, cool, fun, whatever. Look at the genres they plan to show - ‘Rock/Metal.’ Told my friends that this was a pisstake. Obviously it wasn’t that serious, I was just venting. But, what do you mean metal. Will they be playing actual goth shit? Couldn’t even put the word punk on there?

None of this shit matters! And it’s driving me crazy! I’m losing it! All petty grievances! I’m scared to go and look for more examples, these are just the ones that I can recall from the top of my head. It’s not that deep.

Slash jay.

I wanna flesh this out since most of what I’ve written is a bunch of nothing. If nothing else, I need to prove that I do in fact have a life.

I recently went swimming for the first time since I was… 14? I very nearly declined the invite, but I keep telling myself that if I don’t have a solid reason not to do something then I should just do it. I got the hang of the whole swimming schmick faster than I thought I would. The only part I disliked was having to shave my legs after 5 years. What an ordeal.

Since there was a heatwave in the UK earlier this week, we’ve been going to the beach more often too. At this point, one of our ‘default activities’ is to go looking for seaglass. I like to think that I’m getting better at it. My favourite pieces are the ones from bottle necks where you can still see the rim. One of our friends seems to attract seaglass like a magnet. Fucker. I didn’t mean that.

Yoghurt the cat’s been fine. He’s chilling.

Since the show just ended, and my friends have given it positive reviews throughout, I've been watching The Boys for the past two-ish weeks. Honestly, I've loved what I've seen so far, and I've barely started the second season.It's been long enough since I was counting down the hours till I'd be able to pick up a story where I left it off, I forgot how good it feels to immerse yourself like this.

Later tonight, we’re gonna go and see The Backrooms in the cinema. I don’t have an awful lot to say on it so far, since I haven’t seen it yet. Hopefully it’ll be £7-plus-snacks well spent.

What else do I say? Chau? Chau.