The Exploitation of Youth.
Just thought being a newbie to these boards, i'd write up a few views on the understanding of my generation. In effect, i hope you gain as much clarity as i have done from my incessant ramblings. Thanks for you time.
This is not an instruction, a demand, or a verbal slinging match, but a statement of desperation. Being 18, residing in England, I fall into an age category that is looked upon as not only the future, but also the crippling difference between the generations before. I write to the best of my education, towards the preference of my own life and experiences and may use my limited (though constantly evolving and progressing) knowledge on the music industry to back me up. I write not knowing all the facts, but knowing enough to voice an opinion. For as I look around at my friends, and both older and younger teenagers, I see nothing but a future of bleakness and pointlessness.
Today, not being fucked-up is frowned upon. Apparently, its cool to have issues. I can see all around me as once normal buddies fall into depression, the majority of which are false. Friends, who have shrouded themselves in lies to push themselves further from the truth. The ultimate aim is happiness, but at what cost, both emotionally and physically? The growing Americanisation of Britain is startling the estuary dialect creeping up the country like a rising damp, and the fashion, music and eating habits all influenced by American culture.
Youve seen the teenagers of my generation I talk of. Genuinely, a minority of this trend following the original, and if thats you, like me im hoping youll nod in agreement. They wear the textbook skate-punk uniform of long shorts, hoody and huge chain. There hair is either a luminous colour, gelled, or just a mess. They commune on sloped ground, where they can skate. Some may have boom boxes, banging out the latest corporate metal. From a distance, they seem threatening, and confrontational. However, theyre not. I have friends who fall into this category. Their not fucked-up and do not rue their upbringing. They dont judge people on what they wear or listen to. Their accepting and genuinely nice people (hopefully you find the same with me, lol). But to the distant public, they have alienated themselves from society. Just because they dont conform, they are not seen as nice people.
The above description was once seen as a minority, mainly populated by the nice people above. Sadly, what once was a minority is becoming a shocking majority. Now we have idiot wannabes coming in from all angles, listening to a Limp Bizkit record and deciding that thats the way to go. These people are now the threatening, anti-social followers of a trend they know nothing about. People skate nowadays not to have fun, but to impress. Anyone who has had a piercing in the last month, can you really say you got it for you or that you weren't influenced by friends (Cue the lameness of peer pressure)? Again, its up to you how you look, but do things for yourself, not anyone else. People who know me will criticise me a hypocrite that I wear hoodys, baggy clothes and also have piercings, tattoos and a foray of black accessories (eyeliner, dog collars, etc). But hey, I wear them for me. I think and feel mutually good about myself and if other people do, then thats a bonus.
Thats enough superficial judging for the moment though. Onto the musical side of my rant. Limp Bizkit? I just need two words to sum up my pain of the music industry. (Thats not including the Pop Industry of course!) I mean the Bizkit and all its followers are hardly credible as bands anymore. Still, they apparently speak to the masses by swearing and oh so, originally commenting on the way life is so fucked up. Their guitarist comments on how dumb rock they are. If thats your mentality, then shut up shop and stop exploiting the droves of stupid teens that buy the album for cred alone. Durst, you corporate whore! Make music that fits your state of mind. Your vice president of a record company, dammit. Go nuts. Start taking the piss. Start writing songs on how your fans are shallow and not open-minded. Or are you already? Are you so punk rock that this is a big middle finger to corporate cocksuckers, and a way to bring down the system from the inside? Nope, wait, youre Fred Durst. Good ol uncle Fred. Every pound spent on his merchandise is a pound in his pocket. Go write some fucking tunes.
That goes for the rest of Nu-metal as well. Im musically open-minded. Anyone who really knows me will find Im quite open to all music, as long as its fresh, exciting and breaks boundaries. I think Nu-metal is such a musical quicksand. The problem is this new teenager generation are all following this trend of Americanism. Were populating a future of half-arsed attempts of hardcore metal. Im going to single out Slipknot. Whilst openly being a fan of their music, I agree they arent something special. I talk not of their musical success, but of the way you can walk through any town centre and count the amount of Slipknot T-shirts (or, more obviously, hoodys) and realise that would have been considered underground a few years ago, is now leaning towards mainstream. If, as nu-metal fans, you cant argue that it is becoming more obvious that the waters of alternativeness are turning stale yellow with commercialisation, then your wrong, so wrong in my opinion.
So what am I saying? Well, Slipknot hardly broke down musical barriers. I can rely that music of similar hardcore stature was being made well before Slipknots existence. But Slipknot had a gimmick that brought them to public attention. The masks and coded boiler suits. You have to call this a gimmick, because, simply, it is. The violence made at their gigs only added fuel to their fire (But man, that fuel was singularly the best stage presence of last year!), and they have taken off due to it. I predict by release of their third album, it will become so mainstream that you can pick up a Slipknot album at every local Supermarket. Nu-metallers, dont get me wrong, Im not against you. If you know everything and are happy with the way you are then youre okay. Im talking about those who jump on bandwagons just to justify their social status. Thats being really shitty, in my opinion. Its taking something someone holds dear to him or her, and attempting to copy it. I think its totally unfair. If you wear something you think makes a statement, then someone copies it, or makes a slapdash effort at copying it, youll be pretty fucking annoyed, yeah? I know its superficial (theres that word again), but fuck you, its my image. Get your own.
What Im getting at is what a group of teenagers may see as cool, is, in fact, not cool. So what is cool? What do you have to do to be cool? Defy convention? Go against the grain? If these are the pre-requisites of cool, then all nu-metal, hoody wearing skateboarders can count themselves out. Youre not different. Coolness if you wanted my own opinion is about being different and not losing focus from who you really are. If like me, all you really want to do is listening to a certain music, dress to your own accord and smoke pot all day, then all the more power to you. You don't have to like or hold the same ideals as me, but aslong as there your ideals, then all the more power to you. I don't attempt to follow a certain trend and i hope no one else does. I do what i love and want to do, so whether that's cool or not to you is your own personal preference, but (and that's a big "but") can only justified by me, no one else.
Doesnt it destroy you though when you see people who know nothing about what they want or why they are doing what they are doing? Doesnt it make you feel sad when you see what you rebel against is mocked by people who know nothing about what you are doing, but jump aboard the bandwagon to look cool anyway. I hate coolness. Its a lie made up by someone to show his or her position of social authority. Its so smug to be called cool. Call yourself cool now. Go on. Do it. Does it feel good? No, because it needs to be said by someone else to hit home.
Hmm... How judging and senseless are we in this age-range? Do we even care what peoples personality are anymore?
Note: It may seem like my musical taste is categorised into only one department i.e. *ahem* Nu-Metal, but please don't make this frontal judgement. I acknowledge and diverse myself in all types of Metal (although don't wish to argue over the virtues of who has the bigger understanding, that's just for the weak-minded) and only speak of Fred Durst, Limp Bizkit and Slipknot as generalised examples. Further more, i also wish to say a personal "fuck you" to anyone who regards my age of 18 as a focal point to the argument you discrimating, self-righteous so and so's. (Profane name calling is for the weak & inept!) This post was talking in respects to my age bracket and to those who can relate with the topic at hand. Sure, broach your comments, arguments and general queries, just don't lower yourself to the standards of others who see fit as to mock, laugh and cause destitute. Anyway i await your comments with a pleasurable indignation and once again thank you for your time. Moving swiftly on...
Just thought being a newbie to these boards, i'd write up a few views on the understanding of my generation. In effect, i hope you gain as much clarity as i have done from my incessant ramblings. Thanks for you time.
This is not an instruction, a demand, or a verbal slinging match, but a statement of desperation. Being 18, residing in England, I fall into an age category that is looked upon as not only the future, but also the crippling difference between the generations before. I write to the best of my education, towards the preference of my own life and experiences and may use my limited (though constantly evolving and progressing) knowledge on the music industry to back me up. I write not knowing all the facts, but knowing enough to voice an opinion. For as I look around at my friends, and both older and younger teenagers, I see nothing but a future of bleakness and pointlessness.
Today, not being fucked-up is frowned upon. Apparently, its cool to have issues. I can see all around me as once normal buddies fall into depression, the majority of which are false. Friends, who have shrouded themselves in lies to push themselves further from the truth. The ultimate aim is happiness, but at what cost, both emotionally and physically? The growing Americanisation of Britain is startling the estuary dialect creeping up the country like a rising damp, and the fashion, music and eating habits all influenced by American culture.
Youve seen the teenagers of my generation I talk of. Genuinely, a minority of this trend following the original, and if thats you, like me im hoping youll nod in agreement. They wear the textbook skate-punk uniform of long shorts, hoody and huge chain. There hair is either a luminous colour, gelled, or just a mess. They commune on sloped ground, where they can skate. Some may have boom boxes, banging out the latest corporate metal. From a distance, they seem threatening, and confrontational. However, theyre not. I have friends who fall into this category. Their not fucked-up and do not rue their upbringing. They dont judge people on what they wear or listen to. Their accepting and genuinely nice people (hopefully you find the same with me, lol). But to the distant public, they have alienated themselves from society. Just because they dont conform, they are not seen as nice people.
The above description was once seen as a minority, mainly populated by the nice people above. Sadly, what once was a minority is becoming a shocking majority. Now we have idiot wannabes coming in from all angles, listening to a Limp Bizkit record and deciding that thats the way to go. These people are now the threatening, anti-social followers of a trend they know nothing about. People skate nowadays not to have fun, but to impress. Anyone who has had a piercing in the last month, can you really say you got it for you or that you weren't influenced by friends (Cue the lameness of peer pressure)? Again, its up to you how you look, but do things for yourself, not anyone else. People who know me will criticise me a hypocrite that I wear hoodys, baggy clothes and also have piercings, tattoos and a foray of black accessories (eyeliner, dog collars, etc). But hey, I wear them for me. I think and feel mutually good about myself and if other people do, then thats a bonus.
Thats enough superficial judging for the moment though. Onto the musical side of my rant. Limp Bizkit? I just need two words to sum up my pain of the music industry. (Thats not including the Pop Industry of course!) I mean the Bizkit and all its followers are hardly credible as bands anymore. Still, they apparently speak to the masses by swearing and oh so, originally commenting on the way life is so fucked up. Their guitarist comments on how dumb rock they are. If thats your mentality, then shut up shop and stop exploiting the droves of stupid teens that buy the album for cred alone. Durst, you corporate whore! Make music that fits your state of mind. Your vice president of a record company, dammit. Go nuts. Start taking the piss. Start writing songs on how your fans are shallow and not open-minded. Or are you already? Are you so punk rock that this is a big middle finger to corporate cocksuckers, and a way to bring down the system from the inside? Nope, wait, youre Fred Durst. Good ol uncle Fred. Every pound spent on his merchandise is a pound in his pocket. Go write some fucking tunes.
That goes for the rest of Nu-metal as well. Im musically open-minded. Anyone who really knows me will find Im quite open to all music, as long as its fresh, exciting and breaks boundaries. I think Nu-metal is such a musical quicksand. The problem is this new teenager generation are all following this trend of Americanism. Were populating a future of half-arsed attempts of hardcore metal. Im going to single out Slipknot. Whilst openly being a fan of their music, I agree they arent something special. I talk not of their musical success, but of the way you can walk through any town centre and count the amount of Slipknot T-shirts (or, more obviously, hoodys) and realise that would have been considered underground a few years ago, is now leaning towards mainstream. If, as nu-metal fans, you cant argue that it is becoming more obvious that the waters of alternativeness are turning stale yellow with commercialisation, then your wrong, so wrong in my opinion.
So what am I saying? Well, Slipknot hardly broke down musical barriers. I can rely that music of similar hardcore stature was being made well before Slipknots existence. But Slipknot had a gimmick that brought them to public attention. The masks and coded boiler suits. You have to call this a gimmick, because, simply, it is. The violence made at their gigs only added fuel to their fire (But man, that fuel was singularly the best stage presence of last year!), and they have taken off due to it. I predict by release of their third album, it will become so mainstream that you can pick up a Slipknot album at every local Supermarket. Nu-metallers, dont get me wrong, Im not against you. If you know everything and are happy with the way you are then youre okay. Im talking about those who jump on bandwagons just to justify their social status. Thats being really shitty, in my opinion. Its taking something someone holds dear to him or her, and attempting to copy it. I think its totally unfair. If you wear something you think makes a statement, then someone copies it, or makes a slapdash effort at copying it, youll be pretty fucking annoyed, yeah? I know its superficial (theres that word again), but fuck you, its my image. Get your own.
What Im getting at is what a group of teenagers may see as cool, is, in fact, not cool. So what is cool? What do you have to do to be cool? Defy convention? Go against the grain? If these are the pre-requisites of cool, then all nu-metal, hoody wearing skateboarders can count themselves out. Youre not different. Coolness if you wanted my own opinion is about being different and not losing focus from who you really are. If like me, all you really want to do is listening to a certain music, dress to your own accord and smoke pot all day, then all the more power to you. You don't have to like or hold the same ideals as me, but aslong as there your ideals, then all the more power to you. I don't attempt to follow a certain trend and i hope no one else does. I do what i love and want to do, so whether that's cool or not to you is your own personal preference, but (and that's a big "but") can only justified by me, no one else.
Doesnt it destroy you though when you see people who know nothing about what they want or why they are doing what they are doing? Doesnt it make you feel sad when you see what you rebel against is mocked by people who know nothing about what you are doing, but jump aboard the bandwagon to look cool anyway. I hate coolness. Its a lie made up by someone to show his or her position of social authority. Its so smug to be called cool. Call yourself cool now. Go on. Do it. Does it feel good? No, because it needs to be said by someone else to hit home.
Hmm... How judging and senseless are we in this age-range? Do we even care what peoples personality are anymore?
Note: It may seem like my musical taste is categorised into only one department i.e. *ahem* Nu-Metal, but please don't make this frontal judgement. I acknowledge and diverse myself in all types of Metal (although don't wish to argue over the virtues of who has the bigger understanding, that's just for the weak-minded) and only speak of Fred Durst, Limp Bizkit and Slipknot as generalised examples. Further more, i also wish to say a personal "fuck you" to anyone who regards my age of 18 as a focal point to the argument you discrimating, self-righteous so and so's. (Profane name calling is for the weak & inept!) This post was talking in respects to my age bracket and to those who can relate with the topic at hand. Sure, broach your comments, arguments and general queries, just don't lower yourself to the standards of others who see fit as to mock, laugh and cause destitute. Anyway i await your comments with a pleasurable indignation and once again thank you for your time. Moving swiftly on...
