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Each of these social sub-groups are different in different ways to people like us but other people often group all three together as one and over time the lines of each s t y l e seem to have blurred. What are your definitions of Emo, Punk, and Goth? What are the clothing, music and attitude associated with each in your opinion? What makes them different and unique to you?

Punk and goth kind of grew up out of the same scene. Goth is way more romanticized, and punk is more heavily anarchy. They're both rebelious and there has been exchanges throughout. Goth, I think is largely dead, it borrows from what is being newly produced, and puts it's own spin on it, while clinging on to it's traditions. So now we have all sorts of goths, each has delved into new traditions, but goths will except that these others are still goth, if they are at least maki g the effort.

Punk has suffered a lot more change, but it is still heavily disestablishmentarianism. It's roots are and remain with homelessness.
I havent a clue what emo is anymore, I always thought of it more as a childhood emotinal state with bad poetry and sloppy emotinal thinking, but ivenever met anyone willing to admit they were emo.

I haven't been exposed to any of them, where I live. The closest I've been to, to any of those labels, was when I was in my teens. I got the Goth comment alot as I used to wear a pentacle around my neck. I would also be dressed in dark colours most of the time. I have, since then, stopped wearing that pentacle, but I've never outgrown the dark clothes. Like I said, I have never been exposed to much of it, so I am not really all that influenced by any... However coming the closest to the Goth subculture. I have always identified being Goth as having a tortured soul; carrying the weight of the world on one's shoulders. Emo seems to be a relatively modern state that afflicts the young. Goths, to me, have to be believers; slightly traditional, in whatever sense. Punk... Well, other than music, I can only think of haircuts and rookies... You know, being called a "Punk". Not all that glamorous, is it? I used to have really short hair, all gelled up, giving it a perpetual wet look. I got called a Goth for that. Goths are way more sombre and grave as compared to the other two labels. Besides, it's pretty expensive nowadays to adhere to any one of that labels. Times have changed? I always go with the Spirit. If you have the Spirit, you're probably it. It's what defines who you are, in essence, not the exterior. Well, not always, that is.

In my case I was exposed to all three, even though in my country these kind of sub cultures are often mixed together as well with metal heads and grunge.

Punk is usually associated with rebellion, the fashion is usually a Mohawk, piercings and tattoos, Goth is usually associated with dark and sadness, the fashion is usually black clothing and has its sub genres too as in music, ‘attitude’ and fashion as well. Emo seems to be the younger generation of Goth but more colorful in fashion together with stripes and printed skulls.

I used to like the definition of goth as: reveling in death imagery, as proof that you are not afraid to live life fully, because of fear of death. One girl I dated did not like this definition at all, she did not mind the imagery, but was really scared of dying, I've not used it as much since.

Kinda reminds me of the South Park episode where the Goth kids were getting turned into Emo kids and had to team up with the Vampire kids.
Anyway, I never really got the whole thing. But then again I dont really get the whole Cyber Punk and Steam Punk thing either... But I guess those arent in this topic.
But it seems now a days Goth is a lot more or less a state of mind to people and not so much a clothing or an appearance style. I guess I dont really keep track of all these things because I dont feel labeling a person is very nice to do to someone or just in general we arent cans of soup.

All three are spawned by fans of a music genre. It can also be said that all three have merged into being fads. Though it took Goth a lot longer to go mainstream, and Punk didn't sale out too soon either. In a few countries Emo is actually an illegal fashion.

What illegal?, really? Please elaborate! Steam Punk is more of a rusty gears and clock work forbidden that is not limited to people but also objects and machinery it self, at least that is my interpretation of it... cyber punk looks like glow sticks and black clothes with some ultraviolet make up here and there I think.

Yea google illigal Emo Russia, Mexico I would link of but I am on mobile.

Punk is the oldest of the three (Goth being the second oldest) and one I will say is the best because it is or was (due to people copying each other) a very original sub-culture, it was all about being different, non-conformity, anti establishment, nihilistic, anarchic and so on, each punk could be and would usually be different though eventually that changed. There were also different movements within that represented an idea or belief, for example I was and in some ways still am, a part of the nihilistic and anarchic movement. I don't believe in rules and control as nature is chaos, also life has no higher meaning to me, it just simply is.

The worst ideaolgies of punk were the extreme right wingers, neo-nazis etc as its pointless and petty, all humans bleed the same no matter the color of their skin.

Gothic comes out of several things. The Gothic Literature that goes back of the 15-19th century. European artwork up towards the Victorian age. The musical movement which was a combination of both the pink and ekectronic blends. It is also an aesthetic that combines the dress and the music, as a repudiation of the ridiculous disco scene of the 70's, as well as the self indulgence of the 80's. Emo is a fairly new existence, however in my not so humble opinion a rather strange way of attracting attention.

Goth is a new version of Punk however it is very different except it is anti-mainstream but there are similarities. Most Goths however wont get filthy as punks do; its an artsy version of punk w/ the in your face attitude however there are different versions of goth just like punk so no goth or punk is the same. EMO however is completely different from both punk and Goth even though there is Emotional Goth music but actual Emo Music is completely different from both punk and goth so its should not be in the same category really...

You forgot a group where I'm from in Ohio we also have group called sk8terz.

As a card carrying member of the early and late 80's goth/punk scene.. I seem to remember how we all kind of blended together an to me there were not any clear lines drawn in the sand about who was what.To the general populace we all were rejects to worry about because we were not "Normal". That though seemed to change in the 90's. Gothic style seemed to go more to being geared about dark fashion and expression, while the punk scene just went about being really free and doing what ever they wanted (Anarchy).
It was all just your alternative style.

later on when I had some kids around I found out about the Emo scene.Shockingly I didn't approve of it all that much. EMO = Cutters.But I had to learn like all things most of it wasn't bad as was let on. Not all of them were about cutting. It was Just one more alternative way of self expression.
I have also known about these and have friends that were labeled as such.. Sk8er, Cyber Punk, Then the carry over from Harajuku Japan The Goth Lolita, Elegant Lolita, and a few others.

I can't say anything bad about any of it anymore. It's personnel style and expression.Sure there are a few who do bad things under some of those labels.That gives Mr Joe Public a reason to gripe and complain. But the least we not forget that they to have a few bad apples as well. Just not so visible when hiding behind that golf club at the country club and daddy getting them out trouble.

Either way I lump it all into "Alternative life style"
I just cant do the Emo vs Goth vs Punk thing.

Problem is its not actually personal style because everyone imitates each other, as a punk I was different to other punks and so were they.

Each one of us were unique but today and at some point back then, everyone copied each other or atleast wore the same kind of clothing and style with only subtle differences.

Its not personal style if everyone in the whole "sub-culture" (emos for example) look near exactly alike, there needs to be some originality and this is where Punks (the original ones) win again, they were initially very original but that changed when it became too popular. Goths nearly always wore black (stereotype I know) and Emos have the dark skinny clothing and those hairstyles. I have yet to see an emo that doesn't have those hairstyles or skinny clothing, so pardon me if I am wrong but my view will change when my eyes sees something different.

It's not a matter of winning and losing. In my opinion as long as you're comfortable with a look and lifestyle, then care not for the judgements of anyone.

I grew up in a time - I'm a 1990's child - and i was kinda all 3 and more when I hit my teens. I never really understood what Emo meant until I went to high school but I know that when I used to dress in a punk/Goth sense, it always made me stand out from my class mates and outside friends. And you know what, I loved it, I loved walking through town and watch people watch me with multicolored hair and whatever clothing I was wearing. It always helped me say what I wanted people to hear without me using any words at all.

A Goth used to be back in the 80s and 90s. But some people are bringing it back. An emo I believe is emotional.
Some people call me a Goth and Emo. But what makes them unique to me is the art culture and music. Its very different and emotional. Usually dark and sad. But if you really do listen to the lyrics then you would understand what the song really means.

Punk as a lifeforbidden came from the rebellious attitudes and the "punk" musical genre of the 80's The attitude and clothing forbidden have changed very little over the years.

Emo, is the new kid of the group. Emo is not a lifeforbidden, more of an attitude and forbidden. The forbidden is similar to Goth but with more color, with influences from the 80's Goth forbiddens.

Goth, though it has not been called that the while time has by far been around the longest. There have been goths since the 50's at least. Goth encompasses a love for the dark, and sometimes macabre, within music, fashion, and art. =Not all goths like the same music though, some are metalheads, some are more into Industrial, others yet will claim that Dark Wave is the only true goth music.

In true Goth fashion though, I end my comment with this. I don't care if other people think I am goth or even if they like me. I would rather be me than follow some schmuck through the dirty side of hell.

Goth and Punk have history, so if you're not really interested, it's hard to be either. Emo is a new thing so it's easier to rip off. It has no moments, no books, no history.
If you watch, most emos will be emo one year, and the very next year they will be something entirely different. There are very few long-term emo kids. Sometimes an emo phase is a struggling young goth or punk kid who doesn't know what goth and punk are yet.
Either way, I don't care what you are as long as you aren't an ass.

I see Emo people as black with lots of neon and sometimes no black at all though that's also called scene. They tend to wear cutesier stuff and are more on the deppressed cutting side (for attention from what I have experienced) of course don't get me wrong the attention seekers could just be what I have met.

Pinks seem to be more edgy and harsher, in the sense that they have an aggressive but not mean attitude. They have been through a lot and tend to hang in clusters as all 3 do. They are more into parties. They wear a lot of patches and shredded clothes.

Goths are calmer and poetic. They have an elegantly dark forbidden with sometimes to much clunkiness. They tend to have intricate older looking jewelry and lace clothing. They are more solitary and can be mean or very shy.

These are just my experiences and opinions.

Emo (and the scene subculture of emo): Stripes of color. Range of lots of black to no black. Idolize mental illness and victimizing. Scene kids have a lot of hello kitty or domo merchandise. Focus on music and appearance. The vain side of the gothic subculture.

Punk: Black, plaid, and jean clothing. Lots of band merch and a "fuck you" attitude. Skateboarders usually. Focus on parties and music.

Goth: Black, red and white clothing. Little color other than black though. Focus on religion and spirituality.

"Punk as a lifeforbidden came from the rebellious attitudes and the "punk" musical genre of the 80's The attitude and clothing forbidden have changed very little over the years.

Emo, is the new kid of the group. Emo is not a lifeforbidden, more of an attitude and forbidden. The forbidden is similar to Goth but with more color, with influences from the 80's Goth forbiddens.

Goth, though it has not been called that the while time has by far been around the longest. There have been goths since the 50's at least. Goth encompasses a love for the dark, and sometimes macabre, within music, fashion, and art. =Not all goths like the same music though, some are metalheads, some are more into Industrial, others yet will claim that Dark Wave is the only true goth music."


Wrong, punks predates goths (not including visigoths), punk fully started in the early seventies, but had roots in the 60s while goth rised in the early 80s while having roots in the 70s, and only having a few name drops in late 60s, one the first words of "goth" in the music scene was someone describing something as gothic rock which was mentioned in 1967, no sub-culture existed yet I believe, just terms used by critics.

One of the first usage of "punk" was "punk rock" use to describe the some garage rockbands of the 60s, then came the protopunks.

What are your definitions of Emo, Punk, and Goth?
Too whiny - emo.
punk- kick a$$
goth- eh.

People often misinterpret me for goth.
This quote from Ghost World sums me up perfectly though.

Goth goes way back. Post World War I and German expressionism. Cabinet of Dr. Caligari anyone?

i grew up punk emo , i listened to metal music and never really l was a people person either, was the one who was left alone not really with anyone in the shadows people left me be,