Of course not! Anyone is welcome. Your answers are pretty good too

"Are you a vampire?/You must be into that vampire stuff"

"While I do own a copy of Dracula, I've never found things that smell of dead bodies and grave dirt particularly appealing."

"I've noticed vampires these days seem to be wearing something other than formalwear and long coats, so I have strong doubts."

"How can you listen to all of that screaming music?"

"*Proceed to explain the musical differences between types and associated subcultures*"
^
|
Most people know Siouxsie and mentioning her as a Gothic favorite will help them with the idea.

I agree with how to handle shouting and heckling as well. If you must say anything, though you shouldn't, the best I think you could say is "That's not very nice." and nothing more. Just go somewhere else. If they have any sense of conscience they will eventually think on this and perhaps either stop doing it or apologize. If not, well you didn't waste your time with them either.

Well, I rarely "goth out" any more. In fact my tastes are more noticeable during the summer when my favourite decidedly non-goth sweatshirts are not calling my name from the closet...although I wonder if my Ankh necklace ever gives things away? I am much more into the black, boots and skirts and stuff when it's warmer. Even then, a preference for black and skirts is not solely goth territory within the Fine Arts department, so I haven't been bothered in a while.

Anyway. As tempting as it is to be sarcastic with people, I try to be polite and/or to the point (unless they are being an intentional asshat, then my response largely depends on my mood and how sharp-witted I happen to be at that exact moment in time). I answer questions calmly in a pleasant manner, and briefly educate when necessary. Being rude, standoffish, or otherwise nasty is only contributing to public misconceptions (not to mirror the Gothic Charm School blogger, but in this I certainly do agree).

When asked if I am Goth, I will reply, "Yes." I don't see the point in piddling around the question, or making some long-winded reply about my exact Level of Goth, or even worse, barking at them for daring to label me!!11 (whining about being "labeled" anything has to be one of my biggest pet peeves at current). Yeah, you can call me a Goth. A call myself a Goth. Nothing wrong with that. My family is still in denial, but lol.

The best one I ever got was "Do you know you're dressed like a goth?" screamed at me by some skanger.

I replied "HOLY SHIT! How did that happen? FUCK, I gotta stop getting dressed in the dark."

Well and truly confused them.

"Ever notice how the Beduoin always wear black in the Sahara? Smart people, those Beduoin."

Lol!

Usually my partner gets asked how he can stand wearing his trench coat in the middle of summer. He just tells people no, and that he's had years of practise, which is true.

I think if someone asked me that and I was wearing a trench coat, I'd probably say something like, "It's a hell of a lot hotter where I'm from - this is downright balmy!"

This is pretty much it for me.



"I'm from the South. The Deep South. *snicker*"

These days, I usually answer to the question, "Are you a goth?" I reply with "I am myself. If I was a 'goth' I'd be pretty damn old "

I haven't been accused of worshipping Satan in a while, though for giggles I'd probably drop my voice an octave or two and proooove my allegiiiaaance to the dahknessssss. I'd then give a quick cackle and walk away.

hahahahahaha!! thats abosolutly wonderful,i'm gonna use that if you don't mind

last time i was at Magic Kingdom Disney with my friends some "gangsta" guys were making loud comments about my garb and how its not right for people to walk around in ripped clothing(i dress more modern than anything else),i just ignored them but my IA was:well seeing your undies isn't right either

That reminds me!

S: I went to Disney last last year for my birthday (23rd birthday, not to be confused with my newest birthday last week or so). I was in line and the guy who WORKED for disney looked at my ex and I and said something like

Q: What are you suppose to be, Jack and Sally?

IA: What, I wear tripp pants and suddenly I'm a ragdoll?

AA: The normal "No, I'm just me."

EDITED TO ADD:

I've also been told that my son looks like the dead baby from Pet Cemetery and I've had The Addams Family theme song sung at me while I walked by (granted, that was actually funny).

Question:
"Are you a Vampire?"
Answer:
*Pull out Vampire fact book, flip through it* "Apparently not."

Question:
Any other question. I mean anything.
*Flash fake vampire fangs and hiss.*

I tell them

last time i checked yes?
how long did it take you to work that out?

I got heckled outside a goth bar by a Goth guy! He shouted 'Been watching Underworld lately?' - I do have a black bob and was wearing a trenchcoay
t and had actually watched Underworld recently- so i had no idea what to reply- I just gave hima withering look. I've worn a bob and a leather trench coat since the 1990's!

I often get "Oh look it's Edward Scissor Hands, Michael Jackson, Marylin Manson, Ozzy, etc." I just turn my head and shout "WHERE!?"

I need to get out more. I'm missing out on all this glorious heckling.