In the United States these days the term “emo” is widely misunderstood, sometimes to hilarious effect. The modern emo subculture is often the butt of jokes from all sections of American society and is widely seen as a subset of overly depressed, angsty, suburban teens whose social status is derived from who can out-miserable whom. Whether these jokes and characterizations are accurate or not, it cannot be argued that the fate of emo youngsters in the U.S. is far better than the current situation in Mexico wherein mobs of metal-heads have recently teamed up with punks and other groups to scour cities in search of emo-kids to beat into submission.

The trouble reportedly began when Televisa on-air personality Kristoff let loose with an anti-emo tirade decrying it as “fucking bullshit.” Subsequently, according to LA Weekly blogger Daniel Hernandez, on March 7 in the town of Queretaro 800 people banded together to force emo youth out of their usual hang-out in the town square. Revolver magazine reports that one individual was almost lynched, three were injured and 28 were arrested. A week later the violence spread to the capital, Mexico City, as emos hanging out at a local Metro stop were attacked by groups of punks and – wait for it – soccer fans. Kristoff has since come out against the rash of attacks that has descended since his initial remarks.

The Austin American-Statesman reports that punks and goths are up in arms because they believe that emo has co-opted and corrupted their styles. Anger has also sprouted among homophobes that see young emo boys as too effeminate (I’m guessing it’s the tight pants and guy-liner) and other elements that are threatened by the fact that emo-kids dress strangely (though why these people would then align themselves with punks I can’t say.)

The affected youths have begun to strike back, organizing marches in Guadalajara and Mexico City to protest the growing intolerance in their society - under police protection.

Can I just say, “What the Fuck?”

I mean I certainly have no love with what is labeled emo music these days, and I think the way it’s become a caricaturized lifestyle is ridiculous, but roving bands looking to attack people because they dress a certain way and listen to bad music? Emo jokes are all in good fun, but when intolerance erupts into violence (especially over something so trivial) there’s seriously some fucked up mojo going around. And seriously, beating up emo kids? What do they do afterwards? Kick sleeping puppy dogs and harass geriatrics?

We’re not talking about a group that’s actively doing anything to disturb anyone. We’re talking about a group whose apparent major crime against Mexican civilization is hanging out in public places while having comical hairstyles and dressing like a Hot Topic (or its Mexican equivalent) catalog. I must have missed the memo that said this sort of behavior necessitates widespread violence.

I can’t believe that this shit is actually because people hate emo-kids. There has to be something deeper going on like growing intolerance in general (with emo youth as scapegoats and/or easy targets) or high levels of socio-economic stress (again, with emo youth as scapegoats and/or easy targets.) It’s beyond believe that anyone would actually care enough about superficialities like this to actually resort to physical violence.

In case I ever find myself south of the border, I’d just like remind any Mexican Listen In readers: I am not emo.

Image courtesy of No more words.

© Eric Atienza 2008 for Listen In. Some rights reserved.

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