h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A Greb subculture has sprung up, being slightly different to Goths. Wondered if you'd thought about putting it in. Also, should there be a section about cutting?

It might help those of us that are more removed than the general populous if you described what a Greb is, and how, exactly, they're different to goths; and also what you mean by cutting.

Hi everybody!
I realise that I left the questions here in these conversations unanswered for a couple of weeks... I'll try to fix that once I can fit it in with RL, maybe this week

Grebs, Grebs, Grebs, not at all sure really. It's kind of hard to define. There's a lot of satanism, and less of an emphasis on black. General apathy is a major giveaway, as is cutting: cutting yourself. I have a friend who does this, got scars all up his arm. May not really be relevant.

So, not really goths at all then?
Closer to the 'freak' subculture, I imagine. I don't mean that in a bad way at all, but most people I know who are sort of similar to what you just described associate well with the name 'freak' (as in they call themselves that, and have no issue with others calling them that either). Generally freaks aren't so apathetic, though, and more inclined to extreme clothing/hairstyles/etc.

I don't know many Satanists, so that might affect my perspective on the matter.
Also my perspective on apathy is more than a little subjective - the city I live in is famous for the apathy of its residents. Perhaps this could be a major part of the definition of a Greb, though?

As an aside, one of the freaks I know is locally famous/infamous for having gone nuts after a break-up and carving her ex-boyfriend's name into herself something like 240 times. She probably would have bled to death if his name had been longer (luckily for her, his name is Sam).

Asumming cutting /is/ relevant, do you think scarification counts? It's seen as less self-destructive 'cause it's preplanned, though.

Let me know what you think...

Not entirely sure what scarification is. I know someone who's got these weird runes all up his arm that he cut into himself. Actually, he and his sister both cut themselves. Also, a part of being a greb is baggy clothing. And spiky hair. Just putting a load of gel on your hand and then sort of making it....spiky. D'no about the freak thing. People around say "Grebs are Goths but, and this is the cunning thing, Goths aren't Grebs".

Now I'm confused. Baggy clothing? For a fringe goth? That doesn't sound at /all/ like anyone I know.
Most goths/fringe goths I know /hate/ baggy clothing, with the possible exception of skatey-girl-type dark punk. (And there aren't too many of them around...)
Scarification is just as you described that guy and his sister - it's permanent scarring that's preplanned. It can be done yourself, with a knife or something, but it usually doesn't turn out too well. When it's done professionally, they use a thing like a pokerwork wire (like for burning designs into wood, yes?). As long as it burns through the epidermis and into the dermis, then it scars evenly and actually looks really good. My best friend has just had both his shoulders done this way. Not for those with a low pain-threshold, or those who don't like the smell of overcooked pork.

Spiky hair applies to a lot of people - I do the gel thing myself when I can't be bothered with anything else before I go out.

(A=B).~(B=A) ????? You're right, it /is/ cunning...

Any ideas where the name 'greb' might have come from?

Nope. None.

Fine! Make me look like I babble on about nothing!
Large amounts of posting on my part, and then you reply with two words?
You're taking that 'conversation stoppers' thing too seriously!

Ok! Sorry. That's more than two words, see, now I'm going up into fourteen, fifteen even! /Maybe/ its G(oth) rebel? Sounds unlikely, but just maybe. Another thought: maybe it's exclusive to the UK? I d'no any grebs from other nationalities. A Greb near me is famous for trying to set fire to the Princess Diana memorial. He was drunk, though. Jus' thought you might like to know that last thing. D'no why. Look, that has to be more than thirty words (I can't be bothered to count exactly). Satisfied?

Yep! I'm happy with that!
G-rebel sounds plausable. Humans are interesting when it comes to terms like that.

Another thought - what's the age range of the grebs you know, in general? It seems that if there is a major rebel element in Grebism, then the age range would be around 12-19, rather than something higher. People tend to get meek and complacent after that. Fools that they are.

It also seems /very/ possible that it's a UK-only colloquialism, at least until it becomes common enough to emmigrate. I certainly don't know anyone else who's ever heard of the term, and most of the people I've spoken to about it seem to think that you're having me on. (Personally, I wouldn't care if you were. It's still an interesting social observation/commentary. Not that I think you are, or anything.)

Yeah, it would seem to me that Grebs are only aged about twelve plus, though I have seen some that can't be more than eleven. Although there may be musical grebs in the way that Manson is a musical goth (I realise that's pending, but it's the only example I can think of).

It really may be that it is UK only, but I'm not having you on. Honest. Look, I got letters after my name. See?

I believe you!

Hmmm... if a Greb is a Gothic Rebel, does that mean that a musical Goth is a Moth?

Rob Zombie would also be a musical goth too, I think.

I believe I may be able to supply you with a picture of a Greb!(NB this would be a good time to make a bet with your friends that they do exist) However, I can't actually tell you it here- moderation trouble. I could email it to you, I s'pose. Ah! Yes, there are photos! not very good ones, but photos. If ya leave your email or whatever I can tell you where they are.

Yeah, ok. That sounds good. My e-mail is jjg3 at waikato dot ac dot nz, at least for a couple more weeks.

There ya are.

Thanks.
Not hugely convincing, though, is it? One guy who, for all intents and purposes, is wearing jeans and a sweatshirt.

I'm going to have a look and see if I can find anything else. (Not expecting too much, though...)

Back soon. -J

No, sorry it's not. I'm told greb is mainstream now, but take a look at the other people and you'll see that he does look kinka...darker. NB the baggy, and the logo is Slipknott on the hoodie (very grebby things, those).

True. The appearance here, though, is of a mainstream alternative. The hair shows more effort than I would have expected, especially from someone with such 'apathy' (I completely understand that allowances must be made occasionally, though). Also when you said 'baggy' clothes, I was thinking more along the lines of skater style - loose pants, long belt, etc. So that clarifies it a bit.

He seems to remind me of someone, in appearance; although the guy I'm thinking of would probably fit better into an 'alternative townie' sort of a label. I definitely wouldn't have considered him to be vaguely gothic.


"'Curiouser and curiouser...' mumbled Alice to herself."

Hmmmmmm, yeah. He thinks of himself as a greb, if that's any help. He has this big thing with this other guy: he says 'barry...hahahaha' and the other guy says 'greb.....hahahaha'. In case you were wondering, barry is a sort of skater thing, adidas logos etc...