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I don't think a kid should be discouraged from something just because it will be a social stigma. Not only WILL be, but COULD be. Things we got attacked for on the playground are becoming more mainstream. It's okay to play MMORPGS, to like anime, to dig Final Fantasy games and to be into flashy technology. Geek culture and pop culture are merging hardcore, so Goth might not be the asskicking worthy stigma it used to be by the time a 7 year old girl reaches junior high. Besides, Goth culture is a good defense during adolescence. You seem tougher, you feel tougher, sometimes you actually got an objective handle on your depression. I actually wish I had listened to more Cure and Siouxsie when I was that age. My depression felt like leprosy back then and there was nobody else who actually thought the world was as dark and unloving as I did. I could have used the camraderie of people with similar perspective. Instead of being alone in my room contemplating hanging myself maybe I could have been hanging out with some pretty young thing in a black leather bustier listening to Depeche Mode. Which of the two alternatives is better? The purpose of tragedy is catharsis. It's in Aristotle and Aristotle is mad old and very important. Instead of getting catharsis from smoking an eighth a day or date raping cheerleaders, goths with perspective gain catharsis from their art and lifestyle. It's more than good for a kid. Does this mean draping oneself in it, believing that it's uncool to be happy or locking yourself in your room because Tim Burton will never come to your birthday party? No. Does this mean getting a bigass Cradle of Filth tattoo will complete you? No. Nova should be glad she has a kid that digs her music and might continue to dig her music. It means that she will probably end up with a teenager that trusts her and values her opinion. I think Siouxsie and the Banshees isn't too scary for a seven year old. Peepshow has very fun songs on it. Burn Up for example. I think some Nick Cave might be good too, except Murder Ballads. I'm also with Disease on Black Sabbath. The only bad experience I had with Sabbath was hearing Iron Man when I was a kid, not hearing the lyrics again for a few years and growing up convinced it was about the Marvel superhero of the same name. Sorry for the longwindedness, but I thought I'd give Phalanx's argument about social stigmas a longer counterpoint.
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