I've been out of any scene for so long that I doubt I'd recognize it anymore.

I have a bigger peeve when this is applied to steampunk.

Personally, in these last few months, I've grown past calling my self by a specific epithet, like fairy goth, romantigoth, ethergoth, etc. I just call myself goth and leave it at that. I believe that people did this so that they might justify themselves for having personal interests that weren't necessarily goth in nature in order to show up the snooty people who believe that if it's not goth, then you're not.

But being me, I don't really care if other people call themselves Gothicus jovialus.[/quote]

I have also gotten the impression from some people I have talked to that they add these adjectives to bolster the claim that others who don't like their specific definition are somehow less goth than they.
Part of it comes from mere ignorance. For example, someone new sees a Gothic type wearing fairy wings and assumes that this is "goth"; or when people think that Goth and Fetish are synonymous because a local Fetish promoter held "goth nights".
I have also been hearing people say that "Steampunk is the new Goth" at local Steampunk events. The people saying this are not Goth at all, and seem to just have a very superficial interest in Steampunk. I used to try to explain the difference between the subcultures when I heard this phrase, but this was largely a waste of time. After a few events you usually don't see these people again.

Yeah.... I think we've discussed this before, but I've been seeing an increase in the presence of steampunk in a lot of places, a lot of goth stores included. Maybe its because some people are just now finding out that that thing with weird gears and cogs had a name after all (even though the concept of steampunk is pretty aged), and they're like, "oh! It has a name! We can market it correctly now!" I guess in some perspectives it's not a bad thing, but I remember a time a few years back where I had a hard time looking for cogs and gears, and now, they have entire sections dedicated to steampunk.

Here, a large number of Rennies have discovered the Steampunk scene. Of course, much of their attire is Ren faire. Among the "second wave" of Rennies, many of them have seemed to already jump to the conclusion that because they see other people (who are Rennie migrants like themselves) wearing Rennie faire garb, then this is "steampunk" too. Few of the Rennie crossovers seem to have any idea about the Steampunk subculture beyond a few sound bites. Now, there is nothing wrong with Rennies coming out to Steampunk stuff. Not at all. But what I am seeing is an attempted mutation in progress. This is not a deliberate attempt at co-opting, but rather simple lack of understanding of what they are migrating into. Some of the conversations I have had and overheard are pretty far out.
Fortunately, the local Steampunk producer is very firm.

I just don't like the lack of unity amongst the local goth scene. If you been around the DC scene, you KNOW what I am talking about. It's just like alienation against folks you would otherwise be good friends with. Luckily there's a few neutral hangouts where both factions seem to chill out.

Well beyond Cyberdog there's not a lot of places to pre-buy cybergoth stuff around here, so I know that despite having a half-dozen or so t-shirts from there the majority of my cyberwear (as opposed to my trad-wear etc) is made by me getting my hands on some milsurp gear and sewing on flourescent safety straps myself. Myself and my girlfriend do make dread- and braid-falls too, and I noticed that the Cyberdog branded goggles are just generic welding goggles (which cost an eight as much) with random crap glued onto the lens and some paint added so again... DIY rules the scene. I'm currently working on plans for a faux-bionic eye using a USB book-light and another pair of welding goggles.

I once made a necklace from a broken cog-shaped nut that my dad broke in work. It's one of the three nuts that holds the engine to the wing of a 737 jet. Someone stole it from me not long afterwards, because it was just that awesome. I should make more jewelry again.

Oh there are dozends of Cyberwear Online Shops here. If you are interested in I sent you some links. I'm sure the Cyber-Scene on the German Gothic Board would like to help you.

Kill it! Kill it with fire!

**hands over the gasoline...**

"Steampunk is the new Goth?!?" That's kinda like saying "Airplanes are the new motorboats..." sure their both modes of transportation, but what does one really have with the other !?!

Please do, there's always room for inspiration.

I think the thing I hate most about the scene is the eliteism...that whole "gother than thou" attitude some goths have...it just makes me want to go nuts!

Regarding steampunk and goth... Because steampunk is literature-based rather than music-based, I think a lot of goths who are more into literature than music tend to find steampunk very appealing. Particularly since a lot of steampunk novels have a dark edge to them.

On topic: One thing (of many, many things) that I like about the goth scene is the fact that it has staying power -- having been in existence for a least a couple of generations now. I remember one member on this board (can't remember exactly who) said she's a "second-generation goth," as both her parents are goth. I thought that was pretty neat.

One thing that I dislike about the goth scene is the clubbing aspect of it. But that's just because of my personal dislike for clubs and other gathering places of groups of people -- not because there's anything wrong with goth clubs or people who enjoy them.

-- Nephele

The thing with goth and steampunk is that there's nothing wrong associating one with the other, since steampunk is appealing to some goths (like moi) and goth is appealing to some steampunkers, but one doesn't equal the other.

I've always thought of steam punk sort of as a "fashion" statement than actual sub culture... nest ce pas?
I cant groan too loudly about steam punk because I like anything remotely Victorian or romantic.

Steampunk started out as a genre of science fiction -- and it was a science fiction author who gave steampunk its name. Fashion figures a lot in steampunk today, but there's a lot of gadgetry and amazing mechanical creations that go along with a do-it-yourself mentality in steampunk.

Steampunk and goth are definitely two different things, although both hold the same do-it-yourself ideal.

And (to get back on topic somewhat), that do-it-yourself ideal and creativity is another thing I like about goth (as well as steampunk).

-- Nephele