It seems most Goths just lurk around and look bored.

  Shocking behaviour is encouraged by the media.

Although the appearance of goths to some people may have a shock factor. It is art at heart. Art is rarely taken literally.

Lately the connection gothic culture and self harm is getting manipulated by the media to be one, and the same. This is a shame, and its a very sneaky way to put more pressure on gothics to conform to everyday folk in order not to be persecuted for encouraging suicidal tendencies. But historically discrimination is always directed to minority groups that arnt understood properly.

There are always more to things than meet the eye.

i would have to agree that it is. and that this one is not a misunderstanding.

i totaly agree with letter-bomber1# the real asses are the ones who think there gangstas and go around acting hard and getting laid by ugly sl*ts who look like vicky pollard!!not goths

we do not influence people in any bad way! Go pick on the 50 cent lovers who really give this planet a bad influence. All they want to do is get in, get out, and get off if you catch the drift.......

Why would legitimate members of a subculture who mean no harm to anyone actively encourage those who seem to have a primary goal of giving the subculture a bad name by shocking people? They wouldn't. There does seem to be a subculture within the subculture where such behavior is acceptable, but overall, we find it no less annoying than you do.