Self Harm= Emo?

[chefassassin2]

Ok, so I have this thought. At my last job, a good friend of mine and I were working the line on a busy night. I was reaching into the oven to grab something, he wasn't paying attention, and he slammed the oven on my hand. Now I have a horrific scar on my wrist from him trying to close the oven with my hand stuck in it. Apart from other scars, people tend to point it out and make the comment, "What're you, Emo?", assuming I self-harm myself. Anybody who's met me knows I'm About as far from Emo as Rush Limbaugh is from marrying Obama. So apart from some other issues mulling in my head, when and why did this start? Self-harm is a serious issue to alot of people, and others react as if it's a joke, or say it's a stupid cry for attention. So again, why is it viewed an an only Emo thing? Any thoughts and discussion are welcome.
Thank you for your time,
Chefassassin2

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

Personally, I think listening to country music should be considered a form of self-harm.

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

Personally, I think listening to country music should be considered a form of self-harm.

Take that back!

"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick

Sorry. No dice.

 

[TaborMallory]

A stereotypical emo cuts their own wrists. And no, self harm is not always being emo, but it is masochism whenever it's deliberate.

 

[VitalSigns]

Its ridiculous, the jokes are absolutely pointless and wield very little comic value. Its another default think I'm funny but I'm not line. Also some kids have serious issues with self harm, self esteem and really mutilate themselves and people just shrug it off with a "LOLZ EMO KIDZ". I personally would never hurt myself to deal with a problem, but I think if a person is in serious need of help they shouldn't be laughed at.

 

[TMAN10112]

People cut themselves because it causes an adrenalin rush, usually making you feel good/energetic for a short time.

"Emo" people tend to do this more then others, so hurting yourself tends to be universally considered emo among most people.

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

A stereotypical emo cuts their own wrists. And no, self harm is not always being emo, but it is masochism whenever it's deliberate.

Nah, that's just enjoying pain. You can have compulsions that aren't altogether enjoyable.

I've heard that most people who cut do so for a sense of control. The endorphins just make it addictive.

 

[BolognaBaloney]

Ok, so I have this thought. At my last job, a good friend of mine and I were working the line on a busy night. I was reaching into the oven to grab something, he wasn't paying attention, and he slammed the oven on my hand. Now I have a horrific scar on my wrist from him trying to close the oven with my hand stuck in it. Apart from other scars, people tend to point it out and make the comment, "What're you, Emo?", assuming I self-harm myself. Anybody who's met me knows I'm About as far from Emo as Rush Limbaugh is from marrying Obama. So apart from some other issues mulling in my head, when and why did this start? Self-harm is a serious issue to alot of people, and others react as if it's a joke, or say it's a stupid cry for attention. So again, why is it viewed an an only Emo thing? Any thoughts and discussion are welcome.
Thank you for your time,
Chefassassin2

Emo's often cut themselves for the attention, or simply to look edgy, so some people see others with cut's and they assume they did it for sympathy.

 

[BolognaBaloney]

Personally, I think listening to country music should be considered a form of self-harm.

Amen, amen. Pass the plate down this way brother.

 

[ItsAChiaotzu]

None of the emos I know are actually depressed.

So the only guy I know who self harms just doesn't tell anyone why. But it scares me.

 

[lleihsad]

People tend to call self-harm "emo" when it's petty and inconsequential. Like when a teenage malcontent has a bunch of light cuts on their arms. The idea is that it's just something they do to get attention. We tend to call it something more serious when it's an actual attempt to maim or kill oneself.

Of course, the word itself pertains to a brand of pop-rock music. It just gets used to define traits that are attributed to it's listeners. Not entirely unlike how the word "hippie" gets used, really.

 

[VitalSigns]

click with iron stomach only.
this is old news but many people didn't take this girl seriously?. How is beyond me, she is obviously in need of help.

http://www.documentingreality.com/forum/f10/some-emo-girl-needs-serious-help-11192/

 

[chefassassin2]

because these people have no understanding of the human mind, and actually think schzophrenia and multiple personality disorder are the same thing.

Excellent point. I was reading another thread that dealt with cutting, and most of the comments, were along the lines of berating someone's intelligence, "oh they're retarded, stupid, why not do something else, get over it, etc." or it would be the answer of, "attention-seeker.". I only mention this because I use to self-harm. Years ago, I would cut my left arm, above the elbow, slashes up to my shoulder. Now, I'm actually kinda debating hitting backspace a whole bunch, but your ansewr stiuck with me. I've only admitted it in real life to one person, and they're cool with it, just wanting to make sure I don't still do. Now that being said, it was an emotional out for me. I could focus my emotional crap into physical pain. Kindof an, "I can't control my thoughts, but I can focus instead on the fact that this hurts, and that sucks." Outside of this, if I try to talk to people about it, I never admit that I have in the past, but rather take Devil's Advocate but people just don't understand because it's not something they've dealt with.

None of the emos I know are actually depressed.

So the only guy I know who self harms just doesn't tell anyone why. But it scares me.

And to a certain extent, it should. I hid mine for a long time, and now it's past I look back and think, "Man, I needed to talk to someone."

 

[Trivun]

It's a vicous stereotype that has no grounding in fact, like most stereotypes.

Most emos don't self harm. Most people who self harm are not emo.

Basically, there are some emos who self harm. There are some non-emos who self harm. There are lots of emos and lots of non-emos who don't self harm. It's just that for some reason, someone decided at some point that anyone who is emo self harms. I listen to emo music, I write stories and occasionally poetry and have a fixation with a lot of emo culture and with 'dark' themes, as it were. In fact, the only thing that doesn't make me a 'fully-fledged' emo is that I wear more indie clothes, but otherwise I'm quite emo myself. I have never self harmed and never will. I also know absolutely no emos ho have self harmed, although I do know people who can easily be identified as emos in a way. So to answer the OP, Emo =/= Self Harm.

 

[garfoldsomeoneelse]

A stereotypical emo cuts their own wrists. And no, self harm is not always being emo, but it is masochism whenever it's deliberate.

Nah, that's just enjoying pain. You can have compulsions that aren't altogether enjoyable.

I've heard that most people who cut do so for a sense of control. The endorphins just make it addictive.

That pretty much sums up the way I used to be. Was a mutilator, used to cut myself deep enough to scrape bone with the blade, primarily when I was feeling powerless and at the mercy of circumstance. Got to the point where the long-sleeved shirts I'd wear to highschool would stick to my arm because of all the semi-dried blood surrounding the cuts that enveloped my arms, and peeling the shirt off at the end of the day just added to the fun. Endorphins are a powerfully addictive thing.

tl;dr listen to the man I quoted.

 

[Cabisco]

I consider Emo being trying to Overdose by having 2 paracetamols and a good sob. Self harming is where you have serious depression and should really talk to someone. I've always considered the emo self hamring thing as more seeking attention or rebellion, as apposed to a serious problem with someones mental well being (i hate that phrasing but it's all that i can come up with). The sad fact is that the whole Emo culture can make us blind to people with actual problems like that link Vital signs gave.

 

[chefassassin2]

click with iron stomach only.
this is old news but many people didn't take this girl seriously?. How is beyond me, she is obviously in need of help.

http://www.documentingreality.com/forum/f10/some-emo-girl-needs-serious-help-11192/

Damn, now that's intense as hell.

 

[Trivun]

The sad fact is that the whole Emo culture can make us blind to people with actual problems like that link Vital signs gave.

No, the Emo culture is simply a matter of fashion, music style and attitude in general, just like other subcultures such as Goth, Greebo, Punk, Indie, and so on. The Emo culture has nothing to do with making us blind to those with problems. The blindness there is caused by a combination of stupidity and stereotyping. As I said in my earlier post, I exhibit a lot of traits associated with the emo subculture, but I don't self harm and never will, and I know other people who can be called emo and they don't self harm either. Few emos do actually self harm, but the few who do are basically used as an example of all emos which isn't fair on the rest of us.

To look at it another way, remember the furore over Opus Dei when The Da Vinci Code was released? People thought that all Opus Dei members in real life really did use things like the cilice and commit self-flagellation, because of what was mentioned in the book. Then the Church had to make all sorts of statements to show this wasn't true and it was only a very small select group within Opus Dei, and that most were simply slightly more strict versions of your everyday normal Catholic. This was also referenced in the film. It's basically a similr situation to that for Emos, people noticed some emos self harmed and suddenly decided that because a few did it, all of them did it. This, naturally, didn't exactly help the matter.

Anyone who self harms has a mental problem, such as depression or low self esteem, and needs help. Calling them an emo doesn't help them. Getting something done with a professional mental health expert does.

 

[ajb924]

A stereotypical emo cuts their own wrists. And no, self harm is not always being emo, but it is masochism whenever it's deliberate.

Not true, when i have a big test and can't remember the answers, the classroom begins to get louder and louder even if no one is talking. I go into a stressful state and the only way's to calm myself down are to either bite my tounge extermly hard or hold my breath for a minute or so. After doing this i can focus again, i don' actually enjoy the pain, but it brings me to reality and helps my brain think better. It works wonders for me in math

 

[chefassassin2]

Anyone who self harms has a mental problem, such as depression or low self esteem, and needs help. Calling them an emo doesn't help them. Getting something done with a professional mental health expert does.

Actually, not only does it not do them any good, if it's the right person it's just gonna piss 'em off. But helping steer them towards help is a good thing, pretty much no matter what.