check this out. This was recently posted at Nashville Gothic.
http://www.nashvillegothic.com
Strange!

http://www.nashvillegothic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=786

it sounds to me like the jakson police want to run a hit list on Goths.

N e 1 n black iz considered "dangerous"...Good... I am dangerous ... thanx 4 noticin', eh?

satan is my master he has always been.
he tells me what to....do.
he buys my metallica records for me.
and sometimes i think.
satan is my master.

Actually if you read the whole thread through it isn't that bad, just outsiders trying to understand our standards and apply them to their own psychology. As any society has its deviants and psychos (down Merc, stop gnawing on my ankle) they are trying to discover if our sub-culture spawns such. Unfortunately I think we tend to get a bit overprotective of our culture and tend to go overboard...

Geez...too much to read right now, but I think I get the gist of it.

I did a report once on the subculture for anthro 130...glad I didn't post to any sites for help or anything for help...sheesh.

I don't think it's all that strange really. It's the along the same lines as the survey I'd like to do....albeit mine would be more psych oriented than sociological. The only real difference is that I'm "part of the scene" and this is an outsider looking for information. It seems to me that research is desperately needed in this area. Let's face it, our group is probably one of the most misunderstood social groups and usually, the least likely to want to give out any information about our lifestyles. I realize giving these people input can be a double-edged sword, particularly the way this person is going about it. (If he doesn't understand the fine art of sarcasm or can't sense it via computer, it could be devastating.) I, personally, would be more apt to answer a quantitative survey rather than a qualitative phenomenological deal, but I think his intentions are good. Don't let the name of the agency throw you into a tizzy. After Columbine, I can easily see how public service agencies would see us as a "deviant movement" until we do something to prove that title inaccurate.

I think a lot of it was taken out of context and that the guy just didn't know how to speak to a group of us. Honestly, it kinda miffs me that it was even mentioned what religion he is. If that's the case, I may as well not even attempt doing a survey with members of this board because I, too, am a Christian. It doesn't mean I'm going to change my data to suit my beliefs. Also, just because the guy is an "expert in cult abuse and ritual crimes" does not, in any way, suggest to me that he's looking for scapegoats. It tells me that he's interested in this area in order to prevent those things...and knowledge about various groups will aid in that *greatly,* particularly if he's training police agencies. I would think that would be something that we want....though I'd be interested to see why he chose that particular research style.

Then again...if I could pick my dream job, aside from working for Park Dietz, this would be it. I'd work for some agency doing nothing but research.

Anybody ever read "the Law Enforcement guide to Wicca"?

Despite the ominous sounding title, it is quite a useful resource. Iwas written by a member of law enforcement who is also a wiccan. He had grown tired of having to repeatedly explain and interpret the wiccan culture. He includes a brief synopsis of all the various divisions withing wiccan culture. He even includes a crime scene interpretation of what looks like a ritualized murder of a young woman, but is in fact a 'casual' rape and murder of a wiccan.


So The only person, in my opinion, who is qualified to write about any so called "deviant" sub-culture for law enforcement is one who has a foot in both worlds.

Anybody know any GothCops?

Around here they all wear Dark Blue and carry handcuff and other deviant toys......I suppose I'll just have to keep a nostril open for a cop car that reeks of clove smoke.

Ancient Wisdom: Unless one has already thought of an idea themselves, they will not hear you when you speak it to them.

This rather interesting link was posted in the NG thread. While not necessarily having anything to do with the gothic subculture, it does give a bit of insight as to how some organizations are trying to help spread information about "abnormal" relgions and groups.

Note: There are some gruesome pictures / photos scattered throughout this site. You've been warned.

this has been going on for hundreds of years in many forms, why are people shocked? people use power to dicate unfair bullshit.