Sir, Your feature “Why Emo is the latest teenage phenomenon” (times 2, July 6) seems incredibly stereotypical. I seem to fit perfectly into that description, but hate being called an emo. Wearing the things that you want to is a way to express yourself, not because you want to become part of a trend.

The bands you have down as “current emo groups” are not all correct and don’t want to appeal to just emos. Emos are genuinely upset with many things in their lives and they go through much worse things than most people my age. Just because many teenagers wear eyeliner and are more emotional than other young people, we shouldn’t be singled out and labelled because we are not afraid to show emotion.

STEPHANIE REDLICK
London

Sir, Yesterday I came home and my mother says: “Did you know that emo stands for emotional?” I paused, surprised, disappointed even, that she has to ask me, of all people, who has friends so emo you would stop dead in the street if you saw them, if I know what emo means.

I tell her: “No mum, it stands for emotional goth.” After she comments that there is an article about them in the newspaper, I go on: “Except they’re not of course. That was the original idea of an emo. Now they are friendly, confident people, who dress in bright colourful patterns, skinny jeans and ribbons in their hair, and who just happen to like indie, rock or alternative music.”

I am saddened that you have done exactly what the world doesn’t need, by grouping and labelling misunderstood humans.

MARIA PASSINGHAM,
aged 14
Norwich

Sir, As a teenager with friends who are emo, I would say that you have got it wrong because “how to spot an emo” implies that I am one, but I am not; I am a “flemo”. Also, with the “emo bands” you got most of them right but you got a few completely wrong — eg Jimmey Eat World are a completely flemo band, and all my friends would agree with this. Saying an emo has normally got a pierced lip is also wrong.

SAMUEL VALE

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