Sunday, May 20, 2007
English Article 4.. phew
Parents, Beware the EMO kids
Article from the Straits Times 19/3/07
(Sorry this was taken from so early in this year but i believe that this has to be brought up because of its strong influence.)
In this newspaper article, the latest teenage craze of being “emo” has been greatly discussed. “Emo”, short for emotional, is an angst-filled culture of youths which is characterized by them wearing dark and undersized attire with sneakers. With long hair that cover almost half their faces. Such teens are full of apparently, "sad" emotions and often have a negative view of their own life and some of them even putting their own bodies to harm by cutting themselves with knives. This is indeed a growing concern as such cases of self-mutilation amongst teens are ever-increasing in today's society. That is why I feel that this issue is very important and parents especially should indeed take note of it.
This new “culture” today brings out a key problem in our society today. Namely, how great negative influences make an huge impact on youths.
The first influence would definitely be peer pressure. There was a report stating that a group of primary school girls gathered together and cut themselves by carving words using pen knives on their forearms. Such a masochistic act would be largely due to the fact that many teens these days suffer from peer pressure and succumb too easily to "following the crowd" and not be the only one left behind and being the odd one out.
The second would be that of the media. Many teens have fallen to the "emo" fad after listening to music of bands that endorse the “emo” culture, that is the promotion of ideas of rejection torment and sadness in life, resulting in teens blindly following them just to be "in". Parents of such teens have to take the responsibility of cultivating strong values in their children, and have to take action if their children are going out with bad friends. Parents ultimately have to guide their child in the right path. Kids should also be responsible for themselves. Whilst listening and idolising such music is not wrong, kids have to know where to draw the line and not exaggerate their actions in attempts to be like their idols.
However, there are assumptions and exceptions which may have overlooked. Not being "emo", I really cannot attempt to empathize with a self-proclaimed "emo's” troubles. Some of these teens may come from broken families, face a lot of stress in school or suffer emotionally from many different reason altogether. They may be outcasts and seek solace only in cutting themselves to attract attention or to be noticed.
I feel that “emo” culture is acceptable as it just another culture to follow. However, I strongly believe that one should not go too far as to inflict pain on oneself. If so, parents should be aware and send them for counseling. Teens themselves also have to make sure they do not blindly follow the wrong influences. As long as this culture stays as a fad and not a path to follow. But I believe that being “emo” should not be encouraged, it put the mind in another state and would thus pull you away from the outside world or reality.
PS. Mrs Nathan, Sorry if i was late...