What is Goth?

The winning submission is by Necron Palara. Congrats, Necron, and thanks to all who submitted essays. There were some well thought out ones sent to me. It was fairly difficult to pick a winner.

----------------- What is a Goth? --------------------

At the risk of royally pissing off any goths who read this, I offer this
explanation of what a goth is.  Being goth is obviously more than a way of
dressing and looking.  Anyone can wear all black and funky makeup.  Goth is
more of a way of looking at the world.  I've know a few goths, and I can
say first of all that none of them have ever felt that they truly "fit in"
with the "normal" people around them.  In fact, they go out of their way to
make sure that they look as different from everyone else as possible; they
dye their hair bright colors, wear all black, and pierce everything
possible (and some things not possible) just to make the point that they
aren't a part of the crowd.  I don't claim to understand them, so I can't
say whether the whole point is to protest the herd mentality that seems to
dictate how so many people act, or to assert to themselves that they are
unique.  Then again, with so many goths around, are they truly that unique
in being goth?  But I digress.

Some goths are obsessed with death.  They write poems about it, keep
dead flowers around the house, and seem perpetually depressed.  I would guess
that these people really are depressed and act goth as an outlet for their
feelings; it's almost like therapy for them.  Others do it just because
they like to scare people, and love the reaction they get when they walk
into a crowded room and all eyes focus on them, then look away quickly.
There are probably a few who dress goth because they think it's the only
way they'll have any friends; they do it not to exclude themselves from the
big crowd, but to include themselves in a distinct crowd.  Some do it
because they like the way it looks; some people are just into black.  There
is also a whole sexuality issue that I could go into, but I don't want to
bore you, or be any more long-winded than I have.