GENERAL GOTH:
TRUE: A Goth is someone who is usually into the darker side of the world. Where punk is mostly about government, freedom, and politics, Goth is mostly about religion(theology), philosophy, and mysticism. A true Goth is not a depressed suicidal person. They are deep into thought and feeling, know who they are. A goth, not Gothic, or Gothics (that's socially incorrect, it really pisses them off, at least the real ones, not the poseurs), generally do not worship Satan, although you can be a Goth and of any religion, many are Christian, and I know a few that are Catholic. Goths likes to be individual and often creates or modify's their clothing. Usually consisting of mainly black. Spikes are usualy not a goth thing. Tribal designs and religios related jewlry are common, such as crucifixes and pentagrams. Most are very intelligent and creative, and dont necissarily do drugs, think about murder, cut themselves, or sacrifice animals, and again with the worship Satan thing. Although many of them are pagan or wiccan.
If someone "becomes a Goth" because they couldn't get any friends or are depressed and angry all the time, they are most likely a poseur, actually just take out the whole most likely part. You are who you are because it is who you are, not because of the things that make you a poseur. The music a Goth may listen to can range to almost anything. Usually it consists of Gothic( ex. London After Midnight), Goth rock (69 Eyes) , metal(Slayer), electronic...

Commonly, it refers to one of three things: music, lifestyle, and fashion, though it is not seen as proper to designate one's self as goth based purely on their manner of dress, and most goths do not publicly proclaim themselves as such anyway. The gothic subculture tends to have a poor reputation because so many of the people who choose to label themselves as such know nothing about the culture, and involve themselves in juvenille or melodramatic behavior that they feel "is goth".

Musically, it refers to an alternate form of rock that first developed in the late 70's as a post-punk form of music. This early, guitar driven form of goth is commonly called "death rock". The guitars often serve as an ambient rather than melodic instrument, drumming tends to be dance oriented and the vocals are often somewhat haunting or distant. Lyrics deal heavily with introspection, nilhilism and the occult, though most assume it deals strictly with satanism. Many gothic bands mix industrial elements into their music, leading some to believe that all industrial music is gothic. Common bands associatdd with the term include The Cure, Bahaus, 45 Grave, Sisters of Mercy, Joy Division, etc.

Lifestyle-wise, there doesn't appear to be a lifestyle that all gothics follow, though some seem to share similar characteristics, which can include an interest in occultist themes, poetry, religion, introspection, gothic literature (which was written some time during the Victorian Era), folk...

’Goth’ is not about Satan worshipping, scaring people or shocking them. It is a lifestyle, an art. It's beauty, showing people who you are. ‘Goths’ tend to have true depth and insight and an opinion worth listening to. There thoughts are darker and they perceive things differently to how other might do. ‘Goths’ have a way of recognizing the beauty of things that seem so morbid and tragic to others, although anyone can see these things ‘normal people’ usually tend not too.

Initially a musical genre that emerged in the late 70s post punk era, Goth evolved into a full-blown sub culture a few years later with the evolution of Gothic fashion and imagery. A movement with a seemingly infinite ability to re-invent itself Goth has survived over 2 decades and has continued to evolve and grow in this time. However this propensity to re-invent itself has lead to a form of “identity crisis of Goth” in which even its most fervent adherents can no longer agree on a definitive answer to the question “What is Goth”.

In recent years the music industry has applied the term “Goth” rather broadly to various musical styles, which they seem unable to categorise, resulting in some confusion between various genres and the fans thereof. Unlike many of the subcultures than went before Goth does not seek to rebel against society, highlight its flaws (as was the case with the punks of the 70s) or define itself in terms of opposition to other sub cultural groupings (as was the case with the mods and the rockers of the 60s). As press interest in the genre continues, other sections of society have begun to define normality as “that which is opposed to Goth,” a common mainstream reaction faced by all subcultures at one time or another.

I won’t reiterate what others have said about true Goths. However, I will say this. There is one thing I do disagree with that so far I have read in every entry. It is the music. Why do Goths have to listen to certain genres? I thought true Goths are open minded. So why so close minded for the matter of music?

Granted, Marilyn Manson and Simple Plan are not goth, nor punk. That does not mean they can’t be listened to by a goth.

1. Tribe of barbarians that invaded the Romans.

2. People use this to describe themselves when they are ignorant little bastards that have nothing better to do in life than mope around, be depressed, and talk about suicide. There is a better label for these people: posers.

3. Usually creative, strong, independent thinkers who are fun to be around and generally don't care about popularity. They attract friends who are like them, who aren't necessarily gothic but enjoy a good time and know how to think for themselves. Even if people you label "gothic" and stay away from look scary, actually try talking to them. You'll find that generally they are funny and interesting and aren't afraid to say what they think.

4. Goth music. Buahaha. Good stuff. Think Nine Inch Nails. Yaay. o0

5. People are not always poser goths just because they like "poser" bands like Linkin Park and Evanescence. Though they are NOT goth bands, there are some truly gothic people who just enjoy their songs because they like the tunes and stuff. Just because a few of Evanescence's songs have the word "suicide" in them doesn't mean that all the people who like them cut themselves up for no apparent reason.
But sadly, there are very many people who call themselves goth, are all depressed and STUPID, and listen to those bands just because they think that they're going to be cool because they're listening to *ooh* death and suicide and brokennes... god, people like that make me angry. Sooo angry.

Someone that doesn't follow the norm of society. A very artistic person that doesn't have to follow the stereotypes given by gay ass preps. They don't have to follow a certain "dress code" or religeon. They can be Catholic, Protestant, Jewish or whatever.