Column: Has alternative culture killed romance?

[JennyPiccolo]

I apologise in advance for my Carrie Bradshaw-esque endless rhetoric, but in a subculture where bisexuality, promiscuity, and open relationships are not unusual, where does it leave the soft-hearted young fools like me?

I'm sick of only consummating a relationship after fourteen pints of diesel, or lying alone between bouts of intercourse while the eager young man fucks off for a joint or a game on the Playstation, or worse, to write on the forum. I'm sick of chat-up lines like 'I'd cheat on my girlfriend for you' or 'It's five to three, if you were gonna pull someone better, you would have by now'. Have we always been cold, hard people, or do we just treat each other badly because that's the way we're always treated, just because we're different?

To look at, I'm hardly a beacon of alternative culture, but it's the only 'scene' if you will, where I've been able to feel comfortable. As an essentially weird person, I only ever felt I fit in...

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[TheCastrator]

Originally Posted by JennyPiccolo

is there any way 'i apologise for my rhetorics' NOT be an indication i was using rhetorical questions?

THAT was a rhetorical question.

Rhetoric:
1 : the art of speaking or writing effectively: as a : the study of principles and rules of composition formulated by critics of ancient times b : the study of writing or speaking as a means of communication or persuasion
2 a : skill in the effective use of speech b : a type or mode of language or speech; also : insincere or grandiloquent language
3 : verbal communication : DISCOURSE


Rhetorical:
1 a : of, relating to, or concerned with rhetoric b : employed for rhetorical effect; especially : asked merely for effect with no answer expected <a rhetorical question>
2 a : given to rhetoric : GRANDILOQUENT b : VERBAL



So, as you can see, when you said "Rhetoric" you were simply saying that your argument/style is similar to one Carrie Bradshaw would use, but not giving any indication of any rhetorical questions that may pop up.

Also, while you say that the question I'm replying to is rhetorical, I really want to reply to it.


Semi-colon close-bracket.

[Devastator]

Maybe you have to be a girl to "get it". I liked it Mhairi, some fine points raised, and I think it's very relevant to the alternative scene

[AMillionScreams]

Originally Posted by Devastator

Maybe you have to be a girl to "get it". I liked it Mhairi, some fine points raised, and I think it's very relevant to the alternative scene

Would ya like a straw with that post?

[MarkMono]

Now now

[Seph]

Can I have fries with that shake?



Cliché' all round.

[Pete!]

Originally Posted by Devastator

Maybe you have to be a girl to "get it". I liked it Mhairi, some fine points raised, and I think it's very relevant to the alternative scene

How?

That's not rhetorical.

[Devastator]

Originally Posted by AMillionScreams

Would ya like a straw with that post?

No, save it for yourself and that saucer of milk.

[Devastator]

Originally Posted by Pete!

How?

That's not rhetorical.

What bit are you meaning?

[Pete!]

The latter, how it's relevant to the 'alt. scene' (as opposed to any other 'scene'.)

[Kenny Everett]

It cannot be entirely rhetorical if you make blanket statements (done so by virtue of reference to the scene and the assosciated problem)

[Devastator]

Well because of the amount of faux-bisexuality for one. I'm not saying "If yer a goth then you only really fancy one sex, shut up and stop lying" but the amount of it that's purely attention seeking has along the lines caused a lot of people to view it as "the norm". Folk go out, pull their friends, pull other people, and have a good night. So no romantic feelings are involved, and it's just a bit of fun. I suppose that's fine to a level, it's not what I look for, but I just think it's removed a lot of emotion from a lot of people.

[Devastator]

I apologise for how poorly put together that post was, but I'm in a hurry!

[MarkMono]

I've seen drunk guys and girls pulling that shit at parties and in clubs all over this planet.

If you hang about mostly in what you percieve as 'alternative culture' of course you're going to associate this behaviour with your experience. It doesn't mean they're actually connected in anything more than a tangental sense.

Might as well blame feminism for women not being able to cook.

[eviltwinisdead]

i don't agree that this issue is related to the alternative scene. the apathy towards romance is right across our generation, and i don't think the alternative scene is about being individual as people are assuming. it started off that way, but now for most people it's just fashion and a cliche mentality.

i see that relationships within this scene can be more varied and non-conformist, but one night stands and being treated badly happen everywhere and with everyone - all ages, all types.

i'm not as fond of forced romance anyway - dinners out and flowers are super, but it's the unexpected sweetness that really makes things romantic, and that is just achieved by being utterly in love with the person you are with and wanting to do nice things for each other.

[Zooropa]

Originally Posted by Devastator

Well because of the amount of faux-bisexuality for one. I'm not saying "If yer a goth then you only really fancy one sex, shut up and stop lying" but the amount of it that's purely attention seeking has along the lines caused a lot of people to view it as "the norm". Folk go out, pull their friends, pull other people, and have a good night. So no romantic feelings are involved, and it's just a bit of fun. I suppose that's fine to a level, it's not what I look for, but I just think it's removed a lot of emotion from a lot of people.

Sounds like any night in the Garage to me.