it's 1985 in east germany -- what is the secret police most likely to profile you as?

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look we all kno u fux0rs belonged to sum weird subculture

now stasi looks 4 u

East German secret police guide for identifying youth subcultures. Circa 1985. #yesreally pic.twitter.com/TXF1iFBTNT

— S. Alexander Reed (@industrial_book) November 24, 2018

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DsynyjYWoAE0qy7.jpg

1. Ted's

Age: 15-30 years

Very small group by numbers, fanatic supporters of 50's Rock'n'Roll. Usually organized in respective fan clubs.

Clothing in 50's style: Skinny jeans, Winklepickers. Hair in the style of R&R-times (Elvis quiffe, "Duck").

Politically uninterested.

Hardly noticed operationally, activities mostly at birth and death days of idolized rock stars.

2. Tramper (bum, blueser)

Age: 20-30 years.

Classic manifestation of the negative-decadent youth in the 70's. Blues fans. Participation in traditional events.

Long hair, jeans parka, tramping, Birkenstock (literally: "jesus slippers"), beards, sometimes fashin accessories similar to Hippies.

Not bound to any political worldview.

Noticed through organizing inter-regional meetings, no firm attachment to church groups, hardly growing.

3. Skins

Age: 15-22 years.

English: "head skin". society-threatening manifestation of negative-decadent youths as lone wolfs or in loose groups without firm structures.

Outer attributes: baldness or very short hair, bomber jacket, skinny jeans, high steel-toe boots studded with nails and iron.

Deprecative negative to hostile political attitude, partly neo-fascist tendencies, glorification and use of violence, brutal action.

In danger of criminality (rowdyism, battery, resistance to state action.

Partly in open church youth groups.

4. Heavys

Age: 15-25 years.

Fan of the so-called Heavy-Meta music (extremely hard rock).

Similarity to rockers in the west: black leather clothing, leather cap, Rivet-studded jackets and pants, wearing heavy chains etc., normal to semi-long hair.

Originally deprecative attitude towards state and society, growing integration into organizations forms og the Free German Youth with society-conforming attitudes.

Originally aggressive attitude, partly neo-fascist tendencies after the example of the west, with the proliferation of Heavy music increasingly society-conforming.

5. Goths

Age: 15-20 years.

New Heavy scene, originating in hostility to that, glorofication of creepy effects, satanic and death cult, fans of the group "The Cure".

black or white dyed hair, sticking out in all directions. White powdered face, black clothing. Wearing of symbols like crucifixes upside down.

Totally uninterested in politics and society.

Hardly noticed operationally. High profile by collecting grave utensils, sometimes grave desecration. Calm, isolated from other youths.

6. Punks

Age: 15-22 years.

English: Garbage/trash.

Characterized externally through documented decadence, society-adverse to -threatening. No firm structures.

Filthy, torn, paint-sprinkled clothing, utensils like safety pins/razor blades. multi-coloured, scraggy hair, partly "Irokese haircut".

Deprecative to hostile political attitude, rejection of all state forms and societal norms. Glorification of anarchist thoughts, "total freedom".

Violent appearance, criminal actions and antisocial ways of life, often regulars in public church youth groups, instructed by Deacons.

7. New Romantics

Age: 15-18 years.

English: "New romantics", "dropout" movement, developed from punk, is punk's more society-conformant variant.

Black or grey clothing, often contrasting black-red as a symbol of anarchy. Hair most of the time dyed black, short at the back and the sides, long on top. Hanging into the face, eyes concealed.

Stand for same negative to hostile postitions as Punks,but reject all forms of glorification and use of violence.

Partly attached to church youth work, diminishing tendency.

8. Popper

Age: 13-20 years.

Performing as break-dancer. Notable one-sided interest in disco and dancing.

Youth with extremely modern clothing. Haircut similar to New Romantics, multi-coloured.

Totally uninterested in politics.

So far no operational appearance. Mostly involved in quarrels with Heavys.

Poll Results

OptionVotes
7. New Romantic 10
2. Tramper 4
5. Goth 4
8. Popper 3
4. Heavy 2
6. Punk 2
3. Skin 1
1. Ted 0


F# A# (∞), Monday, 26 November 2018 22:39 (five years ago) link

All these youth cultures seem to be for young people, I feel left out.

mfktz (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Monday, 26 November 2018 22:46 (five years ago) link

U guys have till dec 1 btw

F# A# (∞), Monday, 26 November 2018 23:19 (five years ago) link

negativ-dekadenter

jmm, Tuesday, 27 November 2018 02:55 (five years ago) link

We are the robots.

Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Tuesday, 27 November 2018 03:14 (five years ago) link

Voted Heavy

Locked in silent monologue, in silent scream (Sund4r), Tuesday, 27 November 2018 03:41 (five years ago) link

Still undecided but popper sounds dope

F# A# (∞), Tuesday, 27 November 2018 14:20 (five years ago) link

grufty's are not goths this poll is flawed

mark s, Tuesday, 27 November 2018 14:23 (five years ago) link

What was the 1985 German equivalent of grunge? Unordentlich?

Fantasy Eyelid (Old Lunch), Tuesday, 27 November 2018 14:32 (five years ago) link

Surely 1985 is too early for grunge.

Siegbran, Tuesday, 27 November 2018 14:33 (five years ago) link

It's never too early for grunge.

Fantasy Eyelid (Old Lunch), Tuesday, 27 November 2018 14:35 (five years ago) link

How dare they accuse my interest in dancing as being "one-sided"

resident hack (Simon H.), Tuesday, 27 November 2018 14:38 (five years ago) link

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

System, Friday, 30 November 2018 00:01 (five years ago) link

Not too far off, for the most part.

Teds = only visible on Rock&Rollers birth&death days, ha.

Mark G, Friday, 30 November 2018 08:47 (five years ago) link

Skins

calstars, Friday, 30 November 2018 08:55 (five years ago) link

silent majority gonna take this

imago, Friday, 30 November 2018 09:00 (five years ago) link

i was and am a nerd, stasi wouldn't profile me as any of those things

dub pilates (rushomancy), Friday, 30 November 2018 15:19 (five years ago) link

omg i forgot all abt this! i shld vote now since it ends in just a few hours!

F# A# (∞), Friday, 30 November 2018 20:37 (five years ago) link

is wut u shld be thinkin

F# A# (∞), Friday, 30 November 2018 20:38 (five years ago) link

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

System, Saturday, 1 December 2018 00:01 (five years ago) link

more ilx backstory for calz to rage against

mark s, Saturday, 1 December 2018 10:25 (five years ago) link


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