Even though labels don't matter, I have decided to put matters into my own hands.
Emo kids do not necissarily have to cut themselves, or listen to 'emo bands'... because most suck. Emo is a fashion, a way of life! Sure, many might be depressed and write poems, for I write poems about my suck monkey ass life, but it doesn't mean most are! Some whiney rich kids who afford Hot Topic decide to go all "Rocker".. or have emo friends, or something like that, they think it's cool and try to be the same. "Monkey see, Monkey do."
Most emo kids have a very hard home life. Some are poor, or almost poor (cough) and can't even afford Hot Topic, so they go shop at GoodWill, and find the neatest outfits ;D Sometimes they go to Hot Topic, usually for the SALES! O.O </3
Diet (chow, eats, grub, etc..)
You must be a Vegan, or strive to be one.. You eat nothing that is an animal, from an animal, in a 500 mile radius from an animal, or anything that casts an animal-shaped shadow. You believe eating meat is ultimately wrong however that doesn't stop you from going on occasional meat-eating binges while at restaurants. You must also be a "straight edge" enthusiast, despite the fact you drink occasionally, not to mention smoke. No matter. Anorexia is often a trait of an emo kid.
Hair (the doo)
Your hair must be black or at least dyed an ugly dark magenta color. If you are truly punk, you do not shower. You must used 10 gallons of gel in your hair everyday, so much that you are actually styl...

The word Emo refers to either:

1. The Emo (Or Emotive Hardcore) Modern Music Genre, a subdivision of Hardcore Punk.
2. The Emo (Or Emotive Hardcore) movement: a subculture of western, middle to upper-class young people.

Note: Not to be confused with Goth

The Term Emotive Hardcore began with the band Rites of Spring in 1985 who took a more personal approach to punk. Their songs were about personal problems and negativities they experienced in life and the term 'Emo' was coined as an insult to describe the followers of the band.

Modern Emo bands are difficult to pick because whether or not a band is emo is very subjective. Many people consider Pop-Punk bands such as Good Charlotte and Taking Back Sunday as Emo, others do not. Bands most widely excepted as emo include Dashboard Confessional, My Chemical Romance, Panic! At the Disco and Lost Prophets, though even these arguably fall under the genre. Emo music is often avoided by non-emos simply because it is emo, but not always. Just because someone listens to an emo band, does not mean they are emo.

The ...

Not conforming. Usually done in large groups therefore it isn't really non-conformity, it is conformity. Kinda' like anarchy.

A select group of absolute hipocrites who used to be Emo, listening to Bright Eyes, jammin' needles in their arm and crying about everything, who one day snapped out of it, and decided that the only way to make up for being such miserable pieces of garbage was to start a punk rock band and begin knocking everything they used to listen to and act like they never did it. Emorpho's are usually in their mid 20's to 30's but still act like they're in high school.

(generally)middle-class bored teenagers who are morbidly attracted to concepts of misery, suffering and death and who wear black or dark coloured clothes to reflect their ethos that 'life is so very depressing when you think about it'. They often have pierced lips, dark makeup, and invariably have long hair, mostly straightened and black, covering part of their face, perhaps to aid their introspective tendencies. They try to stand out but ironically have formed a taxonomy of emos (who all look the same.) Male emos are often bisexual, or pertain to be,kissing each other, because it shows the extent of their perceived emotional scope. They listen to special emo music of which the lyrics concern self-hatred, complaints against the shallowness of other people etc. etc. However, there are varying degrees of emo-ness as some peole (semi-emos) like the dark dress sense, but can't be assed with the whole 'cut me now' syndrome, and these are emos a non-emo could probably have a conversation with.

QUOTE FROM OTHER DEFINITION: "I just thought I'd clear that up after all of these "definitions" in which I have encountered an unbelievable amount of people who try to pass off their blatantly false pretenses as fact, and are slowly infecting others with their high-horse, holier-than-thou bullshit. Because honestly, with your ridiculous definitions, Beethoven, George Gershwin, and Britney Spears are/was "emo bands." ~Chelsea

CLARIFICATION: Ok, first, Beethoven was a Romantic composer stupid. George Gershwin is 20th century. Britney Spears is pop. Get a fucking music dictionary. Emo is a musical genre developed in the 80's. You don't hear people running around yelling "I'm so metal" or "I'm so rock." Emo clothing style was derived from punk which was rising from Washington in the 80's.

The attitude of "Emo" was derived from the agonizingly depressing lyrics that plague all of todays musical genres (which is why I listen to classic rock). This term I have chosen (agonizingly depressing) is a double negative for those of you lacking linguistics skills. The definition of the emotional status of the allegedly emo person could also be defined as adolescence. The emo label exists mostly among teenagers when they're going through normal chemical changes in their body.

The existance of this in older people is called depression and needs to recieve immediate medical help. This condition is rising among adults due to genetic mutations with the body's ability to balance ser...

emo has become a commonly used term which really degrades the real definition. For instance high schoolers who miss turning in their homework say they are going to become emo, if they break up with their girlfriends they are feeling suicidal, if they can't go anywhere for spring break they are going to cut their legs off. these are gross exaggerations that are often used mostly by non-emo high schoolers.

the definition of emo is someone (usually a teenager) who is depressed, suicidal, and self-mutilates. it really is no laughing matter, because alot of emo's kill themselves before they can get help, and heres a few facts just to clear things up; emo's are not goths, and they are not mello dramatic teens, often emos have seriously messed up worlds, and family lives. As weird as it sounds to the non emo the taking out all your aggression through cutting can be an amazing release.