So what is an alternachick?
 

I'm bored, have insomnia, have always wondered, so thought I would ask.

Is it like girls who are into heavy metal and hard rock, because I am, or does it mean girls who are into that kinda music and dress gothically? I don't dress gothically but when I was in school there were some elements to my dress. I was too scared to go full goth but I enjoyed putting on black nailpolish every once in awhile, once I dyed my hair so dark it looked black so I wore bright red lipstick with my really pale skin and black nail polishes.. I guess I was a bit of a poser but I am a loyal metal/hardrock/alternative fan. And if you chicks are Goth/punk girls, I just love the way you guys dress. Hot Topic has some of the coolest stuff (oh, my, god, I sound like a teenager.)

....But if that's not what is meant by alternachick, I'm completely sorry for butting in the forum. :)

Just wondering, I'm curious. :D

Welcome!

Just my two cents: I thought it was just a great term for those of us who just don't feel like we "fit in" with the "norm".

I was HEAVY into New Wave in high school, and later got into industrial/goth. Both music scenes were a bit avant garde for their times, and my life evolved around the scenes. I didn't really relate to people that were into sports or movies or such. But for what it's worth, I still don't.

I haven't been part of any "scene" for years now. My life looks more akin to that of a soccer mom than a goth chick, but I still don't feel like I fit in with the soccer mom types. I grew up, but my tastes didn't.

Hi you guys. I don't fit in with the soccer mom types either. I am a new mom, but I'm the mom that blasts rock n' roll. I'm not like anyone else, I'm just me. I have a different mentality and different tastes in music than people would expect, and I can be as gross as a dude... I've always been like a closet goth chick, in a way. I did the things in high school like streak my hair with punk red, dye it completely smurf blue, and then black... anything that was different from the rest. In a small county where I live, it wasn't typical for people to do that though for the rest of society, it's not very shocking or anything now, cause so many kids have done it. Nowadays I favor my hair the natural blonde shade that it is, and I'll rock the color pink every once in awhile, but I still think in an alternative sort of way, always will. And I love when I see those brave kids all decked out in goth gear. It's nothing I ever did, but I find it so unique.

I guess I was correct about what an alternachick was. :D

I was hoping for just this!! I tend to be perpetually in between the 'cliques', so I am super happy this board is here! <3


Yay!

wow...this is pretty cool! I am 44, single mom, sing in a band, play guitar and would love to have a nose ring if I didn't think my son (15) would die of embarrassment.

I have always had a difficult time fitting in...I often "fake it" with women I meet because they rarely get me. I am often bored by their conversations (not that I think I am more interesting...just different)

I am finally realizing that I am different, and that's alright. I am an graphic artist, and most of my friends are guys...it makes me a little lonely not to have many gal pals.

so...good to know you're out there.

yep..i agree..we are in-betweeny, nonconformist, individualist, unique, rockin', effin' smart, creative, "different", funny, and the list goes on and on and on............

"Alternachicks" definitely come in all shapes and colors!

I've shopped at Hot Topic and enjoyed a night at The Church (our local goth club), but I wouldn't consider myself goth. I have the Rocky Horror Picture Show completely memorized, but you would too after seeing it around 30 times. My spirituality is based on my observations of nature and understanding of science, but I don't consider myself a Pagan. I love computers and RPGs, but don't speak "geek" quite like I used to.

I'm into 70's folk and rock, 80's new wave, 90's alternative... I admire the punked out look but don't have the guts to try it. (It would be a real Career Limiting Move in my case.)

Thanks for starting this thread, Melanie!

Tera

I'm an alternachick on the inside, but on the outside I look soccer-momish. Well, most of the time. When the baby isn't in the car and me and DBF are blasting the Korn and Tool it's a little more obvious. I started listening to Tool before they ever became really popular.

I'm a video game fanatic and have been for a long time, way before it was cool for girls to be into them. I've gotten some weird looks from people even now. Depends on where the game store is. I used to read Anne Rice religiously, but since the Life of Christ books came out I've stayed away. That's a little too weird for me. Anita Blake is my hero. I love cartoons, especially comic book related ones. My favorite right now would have to be Avatar: The Last Airbender. I love anime as well. Trying to get the boyfriend to watch Blood+ with me, but we need to find somewhere that has the first DVD. I'm not a Christian nor do I want to be. I'm not really anything other than me. I would probably describe myself as pagan.

Haha, RPGs. I'm going to cry.

I traded in to Gamestop a crap ton of them last night including most of the Shin Megami Tensei PS2 games. The darkest, most interesting RPGs I've ever played.

I'm a bit of a hippy fanatic, I went through the goth stage growing up, the majority of people think I'm a bit of a fruitcake (fine by me) I'm covered in piercings and I like to stand up for what I believe in and do as I please.

What does it mean to be an Alternachick?:

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=124748

That was posted a long time ago... and I still like reading through it.

Melanie-

I don't equate Alternachick with being solely gothic, or punk. Alternative tends to mean anything that isn't the norm...so most of us here have alternative interests.

Musically-that might mean everything from death metal, to 80's New Wave, to independent music (and indie music can be anything from a soft spoken folk singer to the hardest music you have ever heard of!).

I personally don't shop at Hot Topic TOO much, because it has sorta become the Wal-Mart of goth high school kids. :lol: It's hard to make a statement wearing a black hoodie that 10 people in your high school class have, too. ;)

I am:

~A belly dance performer/instructor by profession.

~I am into sci-fi and fantasy films heavily.

~I moonlight making costumes on the side, specializing in movie replicas.

~A member of the 501st Division ( http://www.501st.com )

~MARRIED to a member of the 501st. :lol:

~I have my nose pierced, and 4 tattoos

~I listen to mainly 80's music, Middle Eastern music, and a touch of folk singer thrown in for good measure-Bob Dylan, Ani Difranco, etc.

~My clothing style is a dash of Middle Eastern, a pinch of black, a cup full of hippie, and a smidgen of bohemian. When I am dressed for comfort-I am usually wearing t-shirts portray my geekdome. I am currently wearing a black t-shirt with the Lambda Lambda Lambda logo on it, for instance. My husband is often seen in his "+20 shirt of smiting" t-shirt. :lol:

~I take pride in being intelligent, and I am always researching, reading, and learning new things.

~I am not Christian, but follow Pagan and Native American belief systems. ( I am of Celtic blood, and married to a Native American.)

~My husband and I HATE to go to bars and clubs. We would much rather have a beer or glass of wine at home, and play Star Wars Trivial Pursuit or watch our geeky box set dvds. (X-Files, Northern Exposure, etc.)

I agree with a lot of what Aphil stated.

I am no where near being a goth. hehe In fact if you saw me on the street I'd look like just another 30 year old woman.

However, many of my views and beliefs do not fit in with the mainstream. The main two being that I'm a pantheist and also that my husband and I are child free by choice (something that the general public just can't seem to accept - "Oh honey you'll change your mind", ummm nope).

My husband and I are both pretty private people as well. We are not into crowds or big social gatherings. If we had it our way we would hermit away in the mountains somewhere. ;)

I, too, agree with a lot of what others have said...I consider myself an Alternachick because I never did quite seem to find a comfortable spot within "mainstream society."

All of my tastes are quite eclectic, and don't really follow too many patterns even within themselves.

I've had my eyebrow pierced (took it out 'cause it was rejecting :(), I have a couple tattoos, and I've probably dyed my hair every color you could imagine; not to make any kind of statement to society or rebel against my parents....just because I felt more "me" because of it.

I don't really fit into one category more than another, I just kind of float from group to group. I love video games, Halo being a favorite...never really got into RPGs but have a TON of friends who love them. Same with anime and sci-fi/fantasy...I enjoy them once in a while, but I'd never join my homies at Sakuracon. I use words like "homies."

I'm not goth, but I've always been drawn toward the darker side of things. Zombies make me happy, and my favorite pajamas have skulls on them. I consider myself blessed to have been born with dark, dark hair and fair, fair skin-goes great with my black eyeliner and bright red lipstick :D I'll dress in anything from pink plaid with zippers to a classy 50's-esque coctail dress to a sweater-vest with 70's polyester underneath to jeans and a Tshirt.

My iPod contains items such as the following: System of a Down, Frank Sinatra, Flogging Molly, Beck, Count Basie, Tchaikovski, Beastie Boys, Lorena McKennit, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Muse.....yeah. Pretty sure I'm an Alternachick :p

I think this is an nice fit for me too. I am like no one I know. I think is a positive though :)

yay im so glad to have found this forum! Its nice to know there other people out there like me, the people that never really fit into any catergory but there own! I just joined this site and im excited about it!

I am new to 3FC and came to this forum to see what it was all about. It seems like there is a lot of discussion around music and appearance. To me, "alternative" means anything that is not main stream society. While music tastes and especially appearance can be indicators of an alternative mindset, I think there is more to it. I think there are certain parts of myself that are mainstream - how I dress for the most part, my career and where I work, where I live. But I think the core of me - my beliefs and morals - are alternative. My husband and I are both sober; we do not have children (by choice); we prefer staying at home and by ourselves rather than going out; we are both intellectually curious and try to figure things out on our own; we are spiritual but do not subscribe to any organized religion.

i agree kmcp. but as this site restricts a lot of discussion about beliefs, morals, religion (to some degree) as not to offend, many of the discussions revolve around trivial issues such as music and tattoos. so this forum is kind of wishy-washy in that respect but for the most part i believe most of our "alternativity" is based on what's on the inside rather than the outside i.e. my views on religion and politics. for what it's worth i like it here largely on the basis that i don't really seem to fit in in any of the other forums.

:welcome2: btw

The only thing that is really forbidden here in the forum is political talk...and that is because people tend to get REALLY defensive about it, and it causes a lot of messes for the mods and administration to clean up. :)

As far as religion goes, religion isn't banned here...we have sections devoted to just that-Faith Based Groups, Paganchicks, etc. Some of the mods and administrators have different faiths, and we are all very respectful of that. There is absolutely nothing wrong with someone mentioning that they are Pagan, Jewish, Baptist, or whatever and mentioning their holidays or events in passing....only when someone becomes "preachy" to others.

I would not consider anything wishy-washy about that...we are primarily a diet and fitness support site, and we try to keep the focus on THAT aspect of our lives...rather than going into politics, etc. There are thousands of other sites focused on that if that is what people want to discuss.

I don't call it wishy-washy...I call it keeping focused on the primary purpose of the forum. :)

I would not consider anything wishy-washy about that...we are primarily a diet and fitness support site, and we try to keep the focus on THAT aspect of our lives...rather than going into politics, etc. There are thousands of other sites focused on that if that is what people want to discuss.

I don't call it wishy-washy...I call it keeping focused on the primary purpose of the forum.

Eh, potato/potata. That's what I meant, you just put more thought and words into saying it. Cheers.

I'm a lil confused :dizzy:

Growing up I went thru a phase where I dressed in all black, no make up and long black (natural) hair. I slamm danced and loved the Sex Pistols. I have several tattoos and plan on getting more. I've had nose pioerced and lots of earrings in my ears. I do now and always have been a christian with very strong beliefs. I am married to a black man - we like all kinds of music and some of the same things as some of yall have mentioned so why doesn't that just mean you are you just like I believe all of this is just me being me

Maybe I don't understand exactly??????

I don't really post here alot, but I do post here when the topic speaks to me. I definitely feel way outside the mainstream quite often, so I do understand the desire to meet and gather with other people who are "off center." When you're very different from other people in some way, sometimes just meeting other people who are also different (even if it's different in a completely different way) can create a bond. "Hey you're an unmatched colored sock in a sea of white socks too - that's cool!"

Do I consider myself alternative, or just an individual? That's harder to answer. I look very normal. I tend to dress rather conservatively, and my personality is often called "cheerful and upbeat" by others (I hide my inner darkness well). But my way of looking at the world is - well, sometimes very unique.

My husband looks a lot more alternative than I do. I describe his appearance as "biker-viking." 6'2", 350 lbs (more when I met him) with graying hair with still a lot of his natural, many-shades of red hair. He looks "tough" and unconventional, but his beliefs and values are more conservative than you would expect. He's a gamer and still plays with the group he joined in high school. They meet monthly, and members travel for hours (when we were in IL, the drive was 5 hours, but hubby still drove it every month). I tell him we're a strange pair, because I'm normal on the outside and kinda strange in the middle, and he's strange on the outside and kinda normal in the middle.

My husband will often look at me during a conversation and say "you're just not right" (meaning "what planet are you from, anyway?") - but say it with such a mixture of awe and pride - he definitely did get a unique woman.

I remember his mother LOVING me when she met me (because I looked normal, had a great job, and didn't carry some of the emotional baggage of some of hubby's former girlfriends). But I think she started realizing I wasn't going to "fix" her son for her, when she was trying to badger me into getting hubby to get a haircut for our wedding. I guess I sort of did - I asked hubby to get his hair trimmed (about an inch) and braided for the wedding in a long braid down the center of his back (it almost touched his belt).

We horrified both sets of parents by having decks of cards on the reception tables, board games and a boom box instead of a band and dancing at our reception.

I didn't want a diamond for my engagement ring - I wanted an aquamarine, because it's my absolutely favorite stone (and birthstone). The wedding band has diamonds and saphires that surround the aquamarine engagement ring (diamonds because they're my husband's birthstone and saphires because they traditionally represent fidelity).

I didn't realize how abnormal having a non-diamond stone was, until so many people said "I've never seen a blue diamond before," - and I tell them "and you still haven't." I don't know how anyone could mistake an aquamarine for a diamond, but I guess they so expect a diamond that they assume that's what it must be.

Am I alternative? I don't know, but I'm definitely weird - does that count?

That is an awesome quote.

I love this thread! Basically, I think Alternachick is anyone who thinks outside the box. I like to say not only do I think outside the box, but I live there. I have multiple tattoos, an eyebrow piercing, Henna my hair that's unruly and a gleaming orange red, yet I'm a naturalist/hippie who attends music festivals and environmental causes....and a rebel, that is, when it comes to society's norms and conservations. I'm a human rights activist, a bowling mom, a worker bee, and a hooper. I refuse to be slated as one particular label.

fly that weirdo flag!!!!

Hmm... Well, seeing as I am new, I can't really say anything. But I am young, so being an 'alternachick' is what almost all teenagers consider themselves... I was goth in like, sixth grade, tried to be 'emo' in seventh grade, and in eighth grade I went to a mental health clinic... But I mean, I'm also best friends with the cheerleading captain, am an avid member of the debate team, and am practically a make up artist. And yet almost every weekend I get very 'dark' or whatever, and go to a show and mosh around... So... I think everyone is an alternachick really, somehow.

i guess i should pipe in here.

I am definately an alternachick... I favour the rockabilly/punk/pin up fifties style and i have numerous tattoos and piercings.

But i am trying my hardest to break the mould within careers. I am currently in my 2nd month of an amazing job/career which is public facing and has LOADS of progression opportunities. I hope i am making way for people to look past the appearances of people who may look a little differently and see the intelligent and successful person inside.

My husband and I were discussing this very topic - what is the distinction between individuality and an anternative lifestyle - and the conflicting needs to express individuality and conformity. Especially in the teen years, being a non-conformist - often means finding a non-standard group to conform to. If you're truly unique, you're just a freak.

It's funny sometimes how people sometimes see us as direct opposites, and others say how much alike we are. I think we're opposite sides of the same coin. My husband looks like a freak, a huge 6'2" biker-viking, though he neither owns a motorcycle or is of Scandinavian descent it is the impression he gives, with his waist-length auburn, now graying, hair and his obnoxious t-shirts such as "I'm big, you're small, have a nice day.... or I love my wiener (and a picture of a dachshund)... and yet he is the most morally and religiously conservative (yet tolerant) person I know. I on the other hand, look pretty "straight" and yet have a very weird (or to be flattering, eclectic) way of looking at the world. We both love sci fi, the Chieftains (I love celtic music from the instrumental "Enya" type to bawdy drinking songs, my husband is just an all-around music buff), animated "G" movies (and even better if they have thinly veiled adult references from the classic, even sappy old-movie nods in WallE to the adult humor in Shrek)...

My husband made this very astute and profound statement - "basically I just came to realize I am the only normal and sane person on the planet - and the rest of you all are just crazy freaks."

Yet another alternachick definition!
 

[QUOTE=aphil;2346885]
I am:

~A member of the 501st Division ( http://www.501st.com )

~MARRIED to a member of the 501st. :lol:

and play Star Wars Trivial Pursuit QUOTE] Yeah!


Anyway, I echo alot of the same-alternachick is alternative to the norm, left of center if you will. My musical taste includes mostly persons no longer living, I have a pierced nose, I like W00T!, video games, and I'm a total Star Wars geek. I am Pagan, but even there I'm left of center. Pretty much this is where everybody can belong.

awesome. i feel like tattoos/piercings should have no influence at all on career, service, job skills, etc. because...umm...they don't and stuff. good for you, paula. as for me, i am a TA for college writing courses, so i'll get back to you after i interview for real jobs, but, yeah, i'm with you.

am pierced and have teaching job...even teach at überconservative banks!! hasn't been an issue yet :)

I'll toss my hat in. I'm into alternative music (I was even in a band). Have both tattoos and parsings (all hidden behind my clean cut appearance). But I would have to say the number one reason I'm an alternachick is because I'm a dude on a weight loss forum. And I must say it has been Extremely helpful to me!

I am an alternachick, not because I am goth or listen to heavy metal music, but because I am a 33 year old dyke living the childless life in suburbia with my girlfriend and our two dogs.
I am also a sci-fi/fantasy geek, a Star Wars fan from the age of 4, player of RPGs, internet addict and science nerd.
I so do not fit in with the soccer moms nor the church going community.

I like your music collection MeowKat!

I'm a jazz-loving, vintage hippy type alterna-gal, myself. What makes me happy is gardening and going out to hear live music - cocktails and jazz is my favorite thing. Although the cocktails part, helps me to be a fat chick, so I'm trying to be a one-cocktail-and-then-switch to Perrier clubster!

Clothes wise I like peasant blouses and jeans for hanging out, 50's style dresses and cardigans for work, black cocktail dresses and heels for going out.

I'm not pierced or tattooed or into metal....However, I don't really seek "people like me," I like to meet different types of people.

I'm certainly not "conservative" or "Christian!" I don't dislike people who are, but I don't really relate to them either.

very interesting about professional careers and tatts/piercings. I have an MA in counselor education with emphasis in community counseling. until recently i found the progressive look beneficial in working with at risk teens. lately as my community contacts and networking grow, as i prepare to interview for therapist positions, and as i might be in line for a big promotion, i feel that my attitude towards showing others that an intelligent, successful, caring, and responsible individual need not fit the norm is a fight i might not win...not in this community
i was delighted when i replaced my tiny nose stud with a silver hoop and began wearing a silver monroe stud (a piercing above the lip, like Marilyn Monroe's mole) to work, without condemnation. as my position, and age rise, i feel people roll their eyes at my style. it seems especially silly to wear a pants suite to a community meeting with one of my tatts sticking out of the top of my shirt, 2 facial piercings, and 00 gauge tunnels in my ears.

Actually, I am the guilty party who started a thread on this site many years ago called Alternachicks in the hopes of meeting some people that I had something in common with. When I first got here I met a lot of nice people but couldn't really talk to them about things I do, books I read, weird movies, music etc. My tastes weren't really similar to theirs.

To quote from the bio thread "The word Alternachicks basically grew from the word “alternative” an 80's reference to punk/new wave music. It reflects our different lifestyles and mindsets." I guess these were the only words I could find to describe it. There are no set rules or dress code or lifestyle requirements for being an alternachick - it is just how you feel about yourself. :)

For me it is never really feeling like I belong in a group - a feeling I have had since childhood. Even if I didn't look like a weird kid I had different opinions and ideas from those around me. I can fit in wherever I go because I make an effort to be social but a lot of times I feel I am just doing it to be polite and social and I don't really have anything in common with those around me.

At work I look completely conservative and no one would suspect that I am a gamer, a bellydancer, a lover of zombie movies and crazy foreign movies with subtitles ( most people I know hate to "read" movies ), listen to every kind of music under the sun, love sci-fi books and speak 4 different languages. I fly my freak flag after work and on weekends. ;)

Stephanie, you describe exactly me. ^^I have nothing more to add.

Can I play, too?
 

I think I fit in with the non-fitter-in-ers.

:carrot:

I have the requisite tattoos, sport the obligatory nosering and push the boundaries whenever I can.... does that qualify me?

I am also compassionate to a fault.. so I tend to be a great listener (or, reader - if you will) I am a lot of things...maybe one will spark: a vegetarian, a stepmother, an only child, an attorney, a fat chick, a procrastinator, a wino.... anything?

If all else fails, I have really cute pets and I could sendy you pictures in exhange for your friendship. ;)

I was curious too about Alternchick and now that I peeked - you all are awesome! I love individuality and being who are - not what someone wants you to be! I am probably older than most of you in here, but I too always beat to a different drummer. I still blast my Rock music, have some Tattoos that I love, and welcomed my teenagers when they got theirs.