Parent FAQ Goths are not a cult and not a gang. They belong to a subculture, much in the way that hippies or orthodix Jews belong to subculture. There are homeowner goths, goths with children, and even goths with PhDs. Goths may not be very good at life, but being together is what makes it possible to go on anyway.
Some people drop into goth culture during dark times in their lives and drop out later on.
It's an important resource. Since this separates teen-agers from elders, the former are left to reinvent the culture for themselves. This can lead to instances of teens calling themselves goths when they have in fact succeeded only in recreating the appearance. Be wary of blaming gothic culture for what has happened to your weird kid. Goth clubs are dark, peaceful, and graceful places.