This may differ to certain individuals, but this is my personal view and my views on it after reading, researching and discussing it for years. I have spoken to many a punk, an anarchist punk, an eco-punk, a skaterpunk, a geekpunk and something they call 'old skool punk'. So how do you go about classifying yourself? You call yourself according to what you are fighting for...and to some, the way you dress. Punk to me is a mindframe, a way of thinking and feeling, an ideology. You are born and developed as a punk. You have the fighting force inside of you, though it is up to you to decide to let it out or not. You feel in yourself that you are against the system, you don't act against it because someone preaches to you that the system is bad.

Punk is for thinking for yourself. It is for being true to yourself and doing things that make you happy, no matter who else is against it, and doing it with respect. You do something for yourself because you think it is right and not for the sake of just pure rebellion. Example: If you want to get a piercing and your mom hates you for it, going out and getting it against her wishes isn't a cool, punk thing to do. Yeah you rebel, so what? What you should do is talk to her about it, if she doesnt want to hear about it, at least let her know that you are going to do it anyway. It is after all your own choice to do so. Then go out and get it. You did your part already.

To some, punk is about fighting against the government. This is usually an anarchist point of view - no rules, only chaos. I agree to that to some extent but not completely. To me, the government is a set of rules based on religious beliefs that cannot apply to everyone - and that isn't fair. The government bans many things that they don't even know about and the world of politics in my country is dirty - I guess almost all political worlds are. I write about the government right now, even though I know if they read this, I will be surely sent to jail. But it is my point of view, it's not like I can change anything about them anyway. I once spoke to an anarchist punk girl, who refuses to go to any gig that has an entrance fee of more than RM10 because it shows that it is commercial, and the government controls the commercialism. I thought that was the most ultimately stupid thing I've heard when it comes to gigs and commercialism. The government has blatantly issued a ban on most gigs (and at one time, all gigs). If that girl truly was against what the government is doing, she should be thoroughly supporting the local underground scene. It is far from commercial and it has nothing to do with the government. In fact, if the government had a choice, they'd ban all gigs and crack down on the scene already. But what does punk have to do with anarchism? One person said 'Punk isn't just that kid you might see skateboarding who thinks bombing mailboxes and smoking pot is somehow going to collapse social order and bring about some amazing anarchy.' And it is true. Anarchy and punk are two completely different idealogies, but they can coincide just like the other punker-sorts (ie. Eco-Punks - environmental issues and punk have nothing to do with each other but you can think in a punk way about saving the environment). Thus you can think in a punk way to fight your personal war against the government.

Many also question the issue of sexism, racism and such when it comes to punkdom. Opposing to the bad part of society because it's good. Well it is good. It's a good try from the punks, accepting one another and overcoming all those social stigmas. That's what the punk's idea of rebellion does good with.

Another issue that often surfaces with the talk of punk is that you are only a true punk if you live in the gutters and roam the streets and the underground area. What does that have to say about stereotyping? That all punks cannot be rich? It is true that the first well-known punks of the century probably were beaten down addicts seriously in need of anger management classes...but they screamed out in rage because they were unhappy. They didn't have the money for anything luxurious so they hang around street alleys looking mean. Thus, the birth of punk. But what is really punk is the idealogy they live upon. Rage, individuality and conscience. And who is to say a rich kid cannot have rage, individuality and conscience as well? In fact, many 'rich' kids these days live very troubled lives. Many rich kids go through drug addictions too, and it is worse for them, because they can afford it. Their struggles can be hard, even harder than those who live in the derelicts. The only thing I agree on in this issue is that when you are poor, it gets easier to bend over and think punk. But that does not mean a rich person cannot think punk too.

The rundown on what I have been writing on the philosophy of punk: Punk is being yourself, believing strongly on what you think is right and fighting for your views with logic. It is not simply rebellion and wanting to fight. Punk doesn't exist only in your room, or out in the town, it's in your heart and in your mind. There was once a saying from a vocalist of a punk band that 'I am not as punk as those boys who are sitting right now in the library, fighting the norms for their need to know more'. It could be right for the biggest punk in the world could be the biggest nerd, who has the mind to stand up for himself and do things because it's just right for him, for himself. Another famous punk saying? 'Punk is going out and buying a record you completely hate'. That's stupid, it is a waste of money and it does nothing for you except to show you are a money-wasting rebel without a cause. Wake up! It's not just about rebellion...it's about expression of your emotions.

Written by Farida Mazlan - 2002 - Do not fucking take this without my permission! Cheers.