Project WTF

[Twin-Skies]

Russia to make "emo" a crime

Rex Features
Russian authorities are considering legislation aimed at heading off the "dangerous teen trend" of emo culture.

Officials have drafted measures in a document titled Government Strategy In The Sphere of Spiritual And Ethical Education.

Among the moves supported are strong regulation of websites and banning young people dressed in an emo style from schools and government buildings.

The document states that emos are aged from 12 to 16, wear black and pink, and have long, black hair which may "cover half the face". Other characteristics identified include black fingernails, black belts with studs and pins, and ear and eyebrow piercings.

Conservatives in Russia believe that a "negative ideology" encourages depression, social withdrawal and suicide, according to The Moscow Times.

Dozens of emos are said to have demonstrated against the plans in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk earlier this week.

In the UK, fans of My Chemical Romance protested outside the offices of the Daily Mail in May at what they saw as unfair coverage of the emo band.

Kudos to the next guy who can come up with a mandatory "In Soviet Russia..." joke.

I can't think of any