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Emo fans defend their music against suicide claims

Fans say their music not to blame for Hannah Bond death

Thu 08 May, 2008

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Well the Daily Mail in all its infinite cowardice refuses to print any of my counterarguments, so I'm going to have to vent here.Let me start out by extending, from one parent to another, my deepest and most heartfelt sympathies to the Bond family for their tremendous loss.The Daily Mail clearly has issues with MCR, as this is the third article within a year's time (at the height of their success, "coincidentally") in which your publication has launched an all-out attack on this band - attempting to terrify parents into banning their music from their children's lives.As a journalist, I am of full suspicion that the Daily Mail's quotes are either altered or the sources biased, because no fan of bands like MCR or Blink would EVER refer to themselves as "an emo" unless it were in jest.What IS it with the constant use of the term "emos" anyhow, as if that were a species of animal? What the Daily Mail is doing is no different than what Tipor Gore did in the 80's - demonizing innocent musicians for the rash actions of unstable teenagers. The reality is that no child self-harms, or hangs themselves from bedposts, if they are "fine." Music cannot create mental illness, and sadly, Hannah's parents allowed themselves to be misled by her.There is no such thing as a "suicide cult" - I can't think of one band in the history of music who would ever have fit that description, but ESPECIALLY not this one. Children seek solace in MCR's lyrics, which are uplifting; Gerard Way has been known to plead with kids from the stage to seek help if they're suicidal, and that it's never the answer.The Daily Mail has gone so far as to even invent information, such as that the Black Parade is "where emos believe they go when they die" or that MCR "romanticizes self-harm" and they stereotype teenagers who dress a certain way; a dangerous game in an intolerant world.Thank you, NME, for giving fans a voice - the Daily Mail is an ignorance-driven rag and I feel sorry for anyone who believes a word that they say.Sincerely, Deborah J. Draisin

Thu 15 May, 2008

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