Ok, this is getting just plain stupid. Time to step in and defend the... err... good name of punk. First to adress the questions.
Are you a punk?
No. I listen mostly to punk rock (hell, I'm listening to the Sex Pistols right now), own the cd's, and consider it my favorite musical genre. I know a lot about it's origins, the various political stances, and a lot of my friends listen to it too. There are some people I know who do consider me a punk because of these things, but I don't. To me, punk nowadays implies some idiot 13 year old kid living in the suburbs dying his hair red and walking around in leather. I personally think that's stupid. There's a whole clique of people at my school who listen to the nu metal and punk, but besides for a few good people, none of them are my friends. Not to say they're my enemies, but I simply don't fit with that group even though I listen to the same music as they do. So I listen to punk rock... why should I go around wasting money on clothing. As cgannon said, it defeats the purpose of being unique that punk rock promoted. My personal philosophy is that the point of not giving a **** is not giving a **** about not giving a ****.
Is Punk Cool?
Yeah I think it's cool, but it all depends on what you make of it. I've seen a bunch of dumb defenitions of it, both written and acted out by ****ty bands that I think are the stupidest thing I've ever seen (look at noFX for example). Then there's the punk that fits my view of what it is and I like. In my opinion, punk is basically being yourself and standing up for what you believe in.
Now on to what the rest of you said.
Originally posted by Double Barrel
Now you've got idiot suburban teenagers dressing like inner city gang members. Do they realize how STUPID they look to the rest of us? Not to mention just plain artificle. Real individualistic, doofus'!!
I agree that what you describe is artificial, but since when was punk the genre that dressed up like inner city gang members. You're thinking of the "ghetto" stereotype, but either way, trying to look like you're from some rouch place when you live in the suburbs is not new, and it certainly isn't unique, or even exceptionally notable, to punk rock.
Originally posted by SobieskiII
When I think of the word "punk" I don't think of the cliquish style people seem to associate it with, but rather I think of "thugs", who could be of any "clique" or style. The guy who steals a laptop computer for the fun of it is a "punk" and damn well better be feeling lucky, while the person that dresses all outlandishly, but is a "good" person, and is just making a fashion statement is not a punk in my opinion.
No need to give us the dictionary defenition, that's just stupid. The poll and question is specifically talking about a musical genre and it's fans that have played a big part in rock and roll history, not about what people in the 1800's thought of it.
Originally posted by Archer_007
Punks is just another stupid trend.
Except that it's been around for a few decades now. Maybe in the long term, but when you look at how long it's been around and part of pop-culture compared to what one would normally consider trends, it's anything but.
Originally posted by Sobieski II
Damn both of you beat me, I wanted to be the first to reply. I mostly agree with Double Barrel. What you seem to consider punk, has little to do with what is traditionally considered a punk.
Perhaps because they're two different things
Originally posted by Loaf Warden
I've never liked punk, myself. But then, I don't much care for anarchy or personal violence.
This just narrows punk down to a few musicians, which is in my opinion wrong. As for anarchy, it has nothing to do with punk. Johnny Rotten only used anarchist because it rhymed with antichrist.
Originally posted by Loaf Warden
I regard the whole movement as childish and thoroughly unrealistic, like the earlier hippie movement.
What's so childish and unrealistic about Minor Threat or some of the Clash' political songs?
Originally posted by Loaf Warden
But at least the hippies made great music. The punks couldn't even bother to do that.
That all depends on your musical taste. Most agree that London Calling for example is one of the top 20 or so rock cd's of all time. Punk also helped influence countless artists and started a new trend in music that was opposite the aging pschadelic hippie garbage of the mid 70's.
Originally posted by Sobieski II
The punk movement is mostly just boring, as it is people who know little about what they argue, yet "know it the loudest".
And what DO "they" argue? There's no one ideology in punk rock. Liberalism, Conservativism, Totalitarianism, and various non-political ideologies have been present throughout the history of the sub-genre.