Punk is a word that is not easily defined, and the object of this essay is not to give punk a concrete definition, but it is to help the reader distinguish the difference between being punk and thinking that you're being punk. We see some people admitting that they are Punks, but there are really two types of these people. One type being the true Punk, a person who does punk things and acts in a punk way. The other type being the false Punk, which I will denote as a "Punk", a person that society believes is the true Punk, but in fact that person is not, because the majority of society have a false stereotypical idea of what it means to be punk. I'm sure that almost all of you are familiar with the lyrics from The Offspring's song called "Smash", which goes: "I'm not a trendy asshole, I do what I want, I do what I feel like". That to me is what punk is all about. That is how a true Punk should act, by doing what he/she wants. Now on the other hand we have a "Punk". Some of these "Punks" walk around with leather jackets, mohawks, piercings, etc. ONLY in order to impress and show off to other fellow "Punks" so then they can be accepted into the punk scene. But all they are really doing is following the Punk trend, which even though is a small one, is still a trend. I find this quite ironic as punk is often associated as "anti-trend". Take these two examples for instance: 1.) A person with a blue mohawk, some chains and a Bad Religion T-shirt. 2.) A person with normal brown hair, and a CK T-shirt. There is no doubt in my mind that the vast majority of people will say that person number 1 is punk whereas number 2 is not. But that is not always the case. What if person number 1 was dressing the way he did to be accepted into the punk scene? Would that be punk? Would that be doing what he wants? No it wouldn't. That would be following others to be accepted. Then let's say person number 2 dressed the way he did, because that was the way he felt comfortable dressing in, and he didn't care that all the popular kids in his school where wearing clothes from Tommy Hilfigure or whatever it may be, and that CK was like soooo out of fashion. Would that be punk? Would that be doing what he wants? Yes it would. Basically, what I am saying here is that looks can be deceiving. But lets say that person number 1 is in fact dressing that way because he finds blue mohawks really cool and he likes to wear metal chains, and he doesn't care what other people say about him. That would be punk, but not more punk than person number 2 who is also doing what he wants. Notice how I said "that would be punk" and not "that would be a Punk". Punk is a quality and it's like any other quality. If someone says an intelligent comment, then that does not mean that the person is intelligent. However, if a person says a lot of intelligent comments, then that person can be considered as intelligent. It's the same with punk: if a person does one punk thing, the person is not necessarily a Punk. However, if he/she does a lot of punk things then he/she can be considered a Punk. The example above didn't contain enough aspects for either of the 2 people to be considered a Punk. It only dealt with the concept of wearing what they want. And notice that the concept is "wearing what they want" instead of "wearing punk clothes/accessories". A Punk is not going to wear punk clothes/accessories if he doesn't want to. A Punk dresses the way he/she chooses to dress, regardless of what it is. A "Punk" on the other hand dresses in a punk way, not because he chooses to, but because it's what he "thinks" a true Punk is obligated to do. But by doing that he is missing the whole punk concept: "to do what you want". Being punk is not to be afraid of what other people will think of you and not change because society or a group of "Punks" want you to change. Listening to punk music doesn't make you a Punk. A Punk would listen to the music he/she wanted to, regardless to what everyone else is listening to. Taking a stand and contradicting people or beliefs or traditions because you think that they are wrong is being punk. Smashing up public property and telling popular people to "fuck off" all the time is being "punk". Standing up for yourself and saying "I'm gay" or marching in gay parades because you believe that there is nothing wrong with gays and you want your voice to be heard to try and make a change in society is punk. Listening a lot to NOFX just because people say that they are really good, even though you don't like their songs, is "punk". Those guys working for Green Peace saving the environment are acting punk. People who destroy the environment to make others think that they're "cool", are acting "punk". Protesters, who protest for a cause they believe in, whether they are wearing typical punk clothes or clothes that are in fashion, are being punk. If you ask me, a Punk is in control of his/her life, while a "Punk" doesn't really think for his/herself. Now you ask yourself if you should be a Punk or if you should be a "Punk", because after all, that is the question.
