Hurrah for Goths

According to an article in The Guardian last week, teenagers who are Goths tend to be well-educated, intelligent and likely to get on well in their future careers.

Of course we think that's true in our house, because here is our Emily, above (though that doesn't necessarily mean I want you to become a bank manager, Emily). I think it's because although Goths may appear to have lots of things in common - most obviously piercings and lots and lots of black - in fact you're likely to be something of an original thinker if you become a Goth.

You need to be prepared to ignore the abuse that's hurled at you by some people in the street just because of the way you look. Even the Guardian describes one's child becoming a Goth as "every parent's nightmare".

Not so! Or not necessarily so, anyway. Teenagers who do lots of drugs, lots of casual sex, binge drinking - those are things that could be described as "every parent's nightmare". But simply choosing the way you want to look - what's wrong with that?

And thanks to John Coombes who took the photograph.