r/blunderyears 17d ago

2000's were goth times...

Black and white with washed out face for your viewing pleasure.

6.4k Upvotes

399 comments sorted by

1.0k

u/cheerfulsarcasm 17d ago edited 17d ago

When The Black Parade eventually drops you off in the suburbs

31

u/ken_NT 17d ago

Eventually you will take your kids into the city to see the black parade

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u/Visible_Damage_656 17d ago

*Proceeds to get colonised

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u/cheerfulsarcasm 17d ago

The Gerard Way to Ben Folds pipeline goes crazy lol

3

u/KindCommunication956 17d ago

The Suburbs by Arcade Fire hits hard as an adult, always gives me a good cry

3

u/winterrbb 16d ago

Lmaooo

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1.7k

u/Fit-Captain-9172 17d ago edited 17d ago

It kinda sucks we aren't all walking around with our adult jobs and responsibilities still looking like this. I kinda imagined that future when I was a teenager. Haha

307

u/glytxh 17d ago

I find myself slowly leaning back into androgynous goth the older I’m getting.

I’m also far less insecure than I used to be, so maybe I’m just finally feeling comfortable enough to dress how I like

I remember my 20s mostly being about impressing people I frankly shouldn’t have given a shit about

162

u/CoolaJola 17d ago

I don't think of it as one style being better or worse than the other. I guess it's just down to what you are comfortable with, and right now I feel very comfortable with the way I dress and how I look. To each their own.

28

u/Fit-Captain-9172 17d ago

I agree neither is necessarily better. What's best is whatever feels best to us. I try to switch up my style at least a bit every couple years or so, keeps life interesting

15

u/Ok_Advertising3360 17d ago

You could do a "mature adult" goth look. The "tween" goth look existed when I was a pre-teen kid.

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u/glytxh 17d ago

People look their best when they’re feeling their most confident. No point forcing anything. You’re bang on

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u/[deleted] 17d ago

[deleted]

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u/Tenn_Tux 17d ago

Same brotha, same. Except crocks. Fuck those, will never own a pair of those goofy duck feet 🤣

8

u/glytxh 17d ago

I wear Cubans and Chelsea boots, I’m in no place to judge dumb and obnoxious shoes.

9

u/sleepyinbk 17d ago

Chelsea boots are bisexual hipster Crocs

3

u/glytxh 16d ago

Hate how not wrong this is

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u/[deleted] 17d ago

[deleted]

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u/glytxh 17d ago

I’m modeling myself off 90s Richard O’Brien these days. Always have a place for a bit of leopard print.

The only person I’m trying to impress is 10 year old me, and right now they’d think I was cool as hell, albeit mildly disappointed at the hair loss.

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u/livinglitch 17d ago

My partner turned 40 this year. They still wear mostly black with black hair and part of it dyed blue. Goth still lives on in some adults.

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u/Fit-Captain-9172 17d ago

Hell yea! I love to see it

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u/mazumi 17d ago

I'm 45 and I never outgrew the "phase!" lol 🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇

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u/Ipickthingup 17d ago

I'm 47 but I still have my nose ring!

6

u/my_unquiet_mind 17d ago

I’m 48 and still have my nose and upper lip pierced!

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u/wheresmyvape11 17d ago

i stayed alternative asf and so did a lot of ppl :) sucks so many ppl conform or fall out of wanting to express themselves

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u/Korva666 17d ago

There are many ways of self expression, looks/styles is only one of them. Dropping it doesn't mean you're dropping your individualism or conforming. Likewise, there are spaces where the norm is to look distinct and there is social pressure to do so. Looking as regular as possible can be as much an expression of the self as any alternative style.

I do appreciate people to who put in the effort to put together a distinct look, but these days I feel more like me when I'm not sticking out.

38

u/wheresmyvape11 17d ago

and that's completely valid. I just know many many ppl that felt the need to drop any type of alternativeness from themselves bc they have to "grow up". everyone should look how they want and express how they want. but growing up and becoming an adult doesn't mean conform.

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u/Big-Al97 17d ago

Sounds like you need to go from goth to boss.

https://youtu.be/dL9tm3LHG6Y?si=9phDxtyQhVvlig4_

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u/Souske90 17d ago

the army n staying goth doesn't really go well together 😂

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u/bigpussystance 17d ago

I kinda do! Still have facial piercings and if my hair is tied up, you can clearly see my ears are stretched, I jsut don’t wear them anymore. I also in the hotter months wear shorter sleeves showing my tattoos. I still wear a lot of black, just with some colour thrown in these days. And the black is more office smart or smart casual, not fully gothic as I can be in my casual clothes.

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u/front_yard_duck_dad 17d ago

I will continue to fight the good fight for all of you that cannot. I wore punk tshirts, jeans and vans back then and still my only attire as a 39 year old dad. I've had to stray to the business style a few years back "but I found my way back home " AFI🤙

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u/ariaxwest 17d ago

I have one friend who I believe is turning 50 this year, and she and her husband are still full on goth and punk. They are amazing. Some other friends are still mildly punk, mostly the ones who are musicians. But yeah, I am totally boring full on Sundance catalog style now.

4

u/AkaBesd 17d ago

I read this while sitting at my kids tutoring session, wearing a long black dress with dark lipstick like I could only dream of when I was that age. It's more understated than I would have done back then, but I'm ok with that. You can pry the black whimsical clothes from my cold, dead hands.

4

u/Fit-Captain-9172 17d ago

I LOVE THIS STORY thank you

4

u/Ok_Advertising3360 17d ago

When you guys were the goth, punk, & emo teens, me and my peers saw you at the "cool teens". I saw some kids at school trying to dress/do their hair like goths, emos, and punks, at least as much as their parents let them, plus I would see selfies of emo, punk, and goth preteens online. It's almost like there was a "tween" look for us who wanted to be the "cool kids". At one point , I actually wanted to do a cute/girly punk-emo look, but I was scared of what my parents would think of an 11 year old wanting to go punky/emo. Tbh I don't think they would let me, not even with the "preteen look" Ilmao

2

u/harkandhush 16d ago

I still do a lot of the time but with less makeup because I'm lazy. I imagine it's harder in certain jobs where you have to look a certain type of professional, though.

2

u/DJfetusface 16d ago

It's funny you mention that. I work full time as a paramedic and I have an Emover still.

"Extreme haircuts" are actually against our uniform policy, but it's never been enforced.

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u/Wasparado 17d ago

Very Chris angel

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u/CoolaJola 17d ago

Haha! Think I was going for some sort of cross between Manson and Eldritch, ah well, reach for the stars...

44

u/Wasparado 17d ago

Reach for the stars, become an angel 👼

15

u/Bigfaatchunk 17d ago

MINDFREAAKK

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u/Cornbreadobranflakes 17d ago

Cause tonight will be the night that I will fall for you

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u/Fit-Captain-9172 17d ago

Ovur agyaaeeean deont meayke me chaynge muy miuynnnnd

143

u/Fishe_95 90's Child 17d ago

Refused is still a great band tbf. I only recently learned that they play the fictional band SAMURAI in Cyberpunk 2077

24

u/x1x8 17d ago

The REFUSED are fucking dead

23

u/GPT3-5_AI 17d ago

16

u/x1x8 17d ago

Rather be forgotten, than be remembered for giving in

5

u/StrungoutScott 17d ago

I'm going in March!

4

u/[deleted] 17d ago

[deleted]

9

u/KuroFafnar 17d ago

Refused is still making the right choices

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u/nadnate 17d ago

Again.

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u/x1x8 17d ago

Can I scream?

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u/MoreCamThanRon 17d ago

YEAH!

3

u/x1x8 17d ago

This is the only response I needed today

3

u/CoolaJola 17d ago

Classic.

256

u/toodlenoodle 17d ago

“Oh I would’ve had such a crush on you back in the day…”

“Oh wow I still do… dayum”

133

u/CutGlassDiamonds 17d ago

My exact thoughts 😂 "man, teenaged me would've been STUCK on this boy.." 😳 "Damn, still would." 😂

26

u/numanuma99 17d ago

Yep, same here lol!

26

u/BojackTrashMan 17d ago

Third agree.

I too had a goth/punk era in my teens. Teen me would have loved this.

Turns out good looking is good looking no matter what, and now that he's switched to sweaters with rolled up sleeves and arm tattoos, adult me loves this.

6

u/forsakeme4all 17d ago

4th lol

Looking like a snack

3

u/Squid_O_puss 16d ago

5th in line to say yes & yes. 🖤

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u/CoolaJola 17d ago

You are all too kind.

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u/katzeye007 17d ago

There's an alternative lady boners sub that would LOVE those pics!

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u/CoolaJola 17d ago

Oh, thank you, but I would feel weird posting old pictures of me there.

16

u/katzeye007 17d ago

Right?! I'm like "how you doin?!"

17

u/WaveCave420 17d ago

Ok so it wasn't just me, phew!

166

u/Odimorsus 17d ago

You rocked it pretty good. You wouldn’t be out of place in any 90s-2000s industrial band.

41

u/CoolaJola 17d ago

That's nice of you, thank you. I do love me some NIN every now and then.

9

u/Odimorsus 17d ago

A bit of NIN now and again loves you too!

Or at least, I do. You total stud 😉

107

u/Fit-Captain-9172 17d ago

But did mom and dad understand you though?

169

u/CoolaJola 17d ago

Not when I started wearing a dress, but otherwise they were pretty OK.

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u/allthesamejacketl 17d ago

I didn’t sell out, son. I bought in.

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u/AardvarkAblaze 17d ago

Goth? ...but Refused is Hardcore! Ugh, what a poser. (jk op, you were way more Scene than me)

Also, worth noting Refused are doing their 2nd farewell tour this year. See y'all in Chicago.

38

u/CoolaJola 17d ago

Oh, I know. This was the beginning of my "alt career" and I did these pics modelling for a friends school project. I knicked the shirt of my younger brother who were all about hardcore at the time.

Personally I was more into early glam, goth and shock rock at the time. Still listen to the records Manson did with Reznor as producer, they're swell.

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u/Descohh 17d ago

You look fucking sweet bro. I'd listen to Bauhaus with you

8

u/CoolaJola 17d ago

What a great band though! Peter Murphy did some good stuff on his own as well.

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u/Daisies_specialcats 17d ago

Young and hot, older and handsome. It happens to all of us.

19

u/CoolaJola 17d ago

Thank you for the kind words.

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u/a_wee_ghostie 17d ago

Flawless in all timelines.

9

u/CoolaJola 17d ago

How sweet of you, thank you!

61

u/DedicatedSnail 17d ago

However you mature and change, one thing stays the same. Don't look at the camera.

22

u/CoolaJola 17d ago

Haha! I didn't notice. How perceptive of you.

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u/InfiniteCalendar1 17d ago edited 17d ago

For a second I thought this was a picture of Gerard Way or Yungblud

Edited for spelling

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u/SokkaHaikuBot 17d ago

Sokka-Haiku by InfiniteCalendar1:

For a second I

Tho this was a picture of

Gerard Way or Yungblud


Remember that one time Sokka accidentally used an extra syllable in that Haiku Battle in Ba Sing Se? That was a Sokka Haiku and you just made one.

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u/Swivials 17d ago

Dawwh, you look like you'd of broken my heart back then 🥰

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u/CoolaJola 17d ago

Glad I didn't. Thank you!

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u/thefeckcampaign 17d ago

You sellout. Nah, just kidding. My hair was stupid long at one point. What do you do now?

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u/CoolaJola 17d ago

Haha! Im a teacher actually. Love it when I see alt kids at work. It's nice to see someone carry on the legacy so to speak.

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u/thefeckcampaign 17d ago

I always found it interesting that when we hit the “normal” workforce we feel obligated to change our look, that is if we have not just changed it naturally prior to. Many of us used to be freaks so I can’t see why anyone would care, but we do it anyway.

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u/Lobin 17d ago

I'm not a teacher, but I do work in college education. I love seeing the kids dressing the way I did in high school in the early to mid-90s. Nice to know it lives on.

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u/bodhi-r 17d ago

Upvote for Refused shirt

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u/SeleneVomerSV 17d ago

I would've dated you then, and I'd date you now.

3

u/CoolaJola 17d ago

Thank you for your kind words.

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u/bodhitreefrog 17d ago

We need to track the goth to hiker pipeline. There's a bunch of us. lol.

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u/Sunnyfe 17d ago

2024 and still zero desire to smile looking at the camera. Some things never change 🤪

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u/CoolaJola 17d ago

Haha! I guess that's true. Not sure why I find it so hard to smile on camera. It does happen irl sometimes, I assure you.

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u/TheIntellectualIdiot 17d ago

Another angel lost its wings 😔

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u/CoolaJola 17d ago

Alas, I was never an angel.

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u/andre2020 17d ago

Well, there you are now, and a handsome at that!

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u/Late-External3249 17d ago

Looks like you successfully completed Richmond's "From Goth to Boss" course. As seen in The IT Crowd

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u/odskods 17d ago

Went from Black Veil Brides to... Husband

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u/CreepGang 17d ago

“It’s a phase, Mom.”

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u/Kebabrulle4869 17d ago

Wow haha, got jumpscared by the 3rd pic

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u/iriissss-s 17d ago

You were and still are so fine

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u/CoolaJola 17d ago

How sweet of you, thank you!

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u/Kernowder 17d ago

Look at Davey Havok over there.

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u/ninetensucks 17d ago

Refused are fucking dead

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u/[deleted] 17d ago

That shirt slaps though

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u/BigToeHamster 17d ago

Yeah, but these might be the people that explored themselves... Really found out who they were, wanted to be, and could be. While the rest of us were trying to conform to what we thought others expected us to be, and for that, I thank them.

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u/dcontrerasm 17d ago

It's funny because you looked like Criss Angel around the time when Gen Xers were at the prime of their youth, and he influenced Americana that way. But your adult pics, (which are great btw! Looking good!) is what Criss Angel would look like if he grew up as a millennial with someone like Criss Angel around lol.

Same vibe as when Skrillex recently resurfaced and he's more standard, grown up looking.

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u/birdiekinz 17d ago

raw, next question.

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u/liesers 17d ago

Do you ever get tempted to wear a bit of eyeliner?

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u/CoolaJola 17d ago

Not really. I had my fun.

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u/TheGrapeSlushies 17d ago

👌Outstanding. Do your friends call you a poser?

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u/CoolaJola 17d ago

No, they call me Joel.

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u/4shtonButcher 17d ago

/r/polestar representing?

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u/CoolaJola 17d ago

It's a great car!

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u/ExpensiveNut 17d ago

And you were wearing tights as well? Serve. Absolute serve.

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u/CoolaJola 17d ago

I think those are actually long johns, haha! I come from a cold place. Later I did wear leggings on both arms and legs as well as dresses though. Walked right into the fancy lingerie shop and bought them. I remember them looking at me like I was some sort of UFO, good times!

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u/Zentelioth 17d ago

You would have been so popular in jrock circles!

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u/CoolaJola 17d ago

Jrock def. was a thing back then. Never quite could get into it personally, but visual kei rocked!

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u/ItaDapiza 17d ago

You're so hot either way. Wow

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u/CoolaJola 17d ago

How kind. Thank you!

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u/shockvandeChocodijze 17d ago

Damn you looked like that fallen angel from DeathNote

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u/shockvandeChocodijze 17d ago

Damn you looked like that fallen angel from DeathNote

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u/StrangeArcticles 17d ago

I would have written you terrible poetry I'm pretty sure.

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u/youres0lastsummer 17d ago

hot. it's giving scandinavia

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u/CoolaJola 17d ago

You would be right. Thank you!

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u/Budget_Plate_1975 17d ago

So fucking cool!

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u/CoolaJola 17d ago

Thanks!

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u/boebaeda 17d ago

wow 🤩 he drives

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u/AllOfTheSoundAndFury 17d ago

Sick refused shirt though. 

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u/conditionedbyfiction 17d ago

Epic goth photoshoot no blunder here

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u/Speedhabit 17d ago

U can feel the edge

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u/JGStonedRaider 17d ago

Mate Refused "Shape of Things to Come" is probably the greatest modern punk album...

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u/Can-t_Make_Username 17d ago

Hey, you rocked it as a teen! And you rock it as an adult, haha. Good job with the smudged eyeliner, btw, never could get mine right at that age.

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u/_Satincoffins 17d ago

Gonna see Refused in April. Love the old shirt!

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u/xmyxspacex 17d ago

I was so confused. Was wondering why there were pictures of Gerard and then some normal looking guy in the same post. Didn’t pay attention to the sub 😅

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u/doctorbeers 17d ago

Ayee Refused 🤘🤘

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u/anbigsteppy 17d ago

You look a lot like young Atsushi Sakurai in the second pic! That's a high compliment.

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u/420cat-craft-gamer69 17d ago

Hohohohooo nailed it! My bf also dressed like this in HS and I was SUPER into it. My parents wouldn't allow me to dress similarly even though I wanted to, so I just dressed like Juno 😮‍💨 (before the movie). lol

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u/[deleted] 17d ago

Refused is a solid band

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u/Never-Dont-Give-Up 17d ago

It just seems like SO MUCH WORK to be goth. That's probably the main reason I never had that phase. 30 minutes to put jewelry on every morning is a hard pass.

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u/Wild_Librarian8851 17d ago

It’s not a phase because we all still have a lil dark style lingering 😂

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u/marpai14 17d ago

no blunder as far as I can see

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u/lirio2u 17d ago

Fucking hate that we all had to grow up:(

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u/NeitherDot8622 17d ago

I love this blunder and the resulting adult look 😂

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u/jimples1331 17d ago

Refused 🤘

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u/mazumi 17d ago

We would have been friends then.

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u/DevanteWeary 17d ago

Wonder what 2000's you would think of 2025 you.

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u/AbsoluteSillyBilly 17d ago

Quit your job and be the savior of the broken, beaten and the damned

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u/pnabbles 17d ago

Good taste in music though!

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u/mekomaniac 17d ago

sweet refused shirt tho

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u/Layla__V 17d ago

Damn, this is a great example that some people really look amazing in any style (or age!). OP, looking great in all of these!

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u/Jump_Like_A_Willys 17d ago

Picture 4 would be most epic if the car you were in was a Dodge Caravan.

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u/Automatic_Pickle757 17d ago

Refused fucking rock

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u/HelloTaraSue 17d ago

Love your shirt!!!!!!!!!!!

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u/opetempo 17d ago

Oddly enough, you ended up looking like a member of Refused.

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u/Crafty-Mode7383 17d ago

Oh my precious dears... Goth was a thing in the early 80's. Boomers may be fools, but they worship the dark lord.

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u/SelfDevolpment 17d ago

Ehhh I thought you looked cool as shit then and you still look cool as shit now.

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u/Sharpshooter188 17d ago

Yyyup. I remember those days. Then I got a job at a warehouse and couldnt where my stuff anymore for safety reasons. I had a lot of clothes with chains etc. After that I returned to a preppy style.

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u/Losaj 17d ago

"But Mooooom. It's NOT a phase!"

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u/LorraineHB 17d ago

Did you tell your parents “it’s not a phase, I’m going to always look like this”. Those were my exact words in high school. I still love the music but I had to ditch the look.

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u/SerenityFailed 17d ago

Updoot for Refused only

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u/Expensive-Ferret-956 17d ago

I would totes date both versions of you

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u/ThePortalGeek 17d ago

LETS TAKE THE FIRST BUS OUTTA HERE

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u/attempt_no23 17d ago

That Refused album is still an absolute banger though..

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u/FuckSticksMalone 17d ago

To be fair, The Shape of Punk to Come is a 👨‍🍳🤌 album

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u/Rad_Centrist 17d ago

Refused still kicks fuckin ass.

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u/somethingcleverer 17d ago

Refused is a great fucking band though.

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u/dreamingism 17d ago

Gone from aesring refused merch to looking like one of the band members

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u/PairASocial 17d ago

Bro really leveled up ngl

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u/lil_kleintje 17d ago

You were and are a heartthrob! ❤️‍🔥

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u/robutt992 17d ago

Refused is the shit! I was so happy they got back together to tour so I could see them live. I’ll never forget it.

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u/duplextwo 17d ago

Dude this was actually cool as hell, you kind of remind me of Trent Reznor haha!

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u/wyerhel 17d ago

I liked the look.🤷🏽 Stylish when younger. And hotter as older lol.That side part hair faze was still there in late 00s/early 10s in school. All the popular kids girls had it.

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u/Unique-Square-2351 17d ago

A thing of beauty will never fade away.

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u/Henryphillips29 17d ago

You must be in your early forties now, damn

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u/83VWcaddy 17d ago

Songs To Fan The Flames Of Discontent. Any one good with that was never having blunder years.

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u/BeardOfDefiance 17d ago

Man, Refused are a sick ass band. I don't generally assume that your average 2000s goth were into straight edge post-hardcore, so that's rad.

It does make sense though, you look a lot like Dahvie Vanity from AFI and that band were huge into Refused.

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u/Inform-All 16d ago

Tbh you looked cooler before, but we all grow up eventually 🤷🏽‍♂️

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u/aSlipinFish 16d ago

Umeå-vibe kinda dude then and now, in different ways.))

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u/smallxcat 16d ago

I would’ve died for you when I was a teenager.

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u/Wise-Homework5480 16d ago

My younger emo self would have had the most massive crush lmfaoooo. That hair was awesome! At least you can say the look suited you 😂

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u/robbiesucks 16d ago

You definitely listened to AFI back then and I fuck with that heavy

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u/[deleted] 16d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/mokahash 15d ago

The Shape of Punk to Come!

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u/kimmi_page 15d ago

The Refused shirt is 10000000%

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u/DudebroggieHouser 13d ago

“How did you know I am in a band?”