Welcome to Gaia! ::

Now, before you all rush in saying 'no more tears!' allow me to explain the situation a little.
I am a gentleman of somewhat advanced years. In my 20 years upon this Earth I have had the great pleasure on embarking on many interesting adventures of the alternative variety.

Like many other members on here, I have experimented with various alternative cultures, such as goth or punk or whatever. Steampunk has been my most recent conquest and I fear that.. It isn't the place for me.

In the past, whenever I have gotten involved in an alternative community I've always found them to be bitterly disappointing and ripe with the stench of hypocrisy, particularly in the case of goth!
But I never found somewhere were I felt that I fitted in as such. Punk was too loud and anti-social, goth music is something of acquired taste and cybergoth/punk is just.. A fashion statement and an excuse to take lots of pills.
That ain't cool, yo.

However! Steampunk is a refreshing sea breeze. It isn't a subculture, it is a proper 'community'. There are people from all ages and all walks of life. They don't care about 'conforming' or any of that nonsense, it's about the glory of the past and how it should have been. The joys of building and creating.
Those sorts of things, positive, creative.
And the people involved are lovely. I mean, like, properly lovely. I don't think I have to tell people how up themselves various alternative folk seem to get from time to time! xD

There's this wonderful energy and optimism in the community. I can't quite put my finger on it but it's the most wonderful thing I've seen in a very long time.

Which is why, sadly, I must write this.
I don't 'get it'.
I am an imposter, a poseur, call me what you will. The enemy within.
I am hopeless at making anything, I'm far too busy reading law books to read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
What can I say? I like the clothes and I like the community. However, I feel I lack the steampunk 'attitude' whatever that might be. I feel like.. A square being pushed into a circle hole.

Obviously, one can't force upon oneself. But it'd be nice, you know? I see you people with your creations and your enthusiasm and it's very reassuring to know that that sort of magic is not lost to the world!
However, I myself stand, looking on, scratching my head and trying to think of something to contribute with.

So, I see now that;
I am not steampunk.
Probably.
But perhaps there is hope? Maybe I just need to look at this business from another angle.

I have one last question though.. 'The Question', in fact. What is steampunk to you? And why did it manage to conjure this friendly and positive community that can't be found elsewhere?

Now if you will excuse me, I need to set my airship on a collision course with Pointy Mountain. No more tears!

I agree. A community build from people who all share interests is bound to carry charm and it really matters not if you are full out into it or not.

Some days I feel slightly out of place as I dont wear steampunk clothing as much as I would like too, but in my heart, I suppose i can tell that it is more the interest of the times and the technology be it science fiction or real that intrigues me...

But there are really no rules for the 'community' or how to act, I think...Exactly what Nisha was saying there...(I lost my train of thought for a moment) ^^;

Good sir, your problem is that you're treating Steampunk as if it were just another youth fad popularity contest like punk/goth/emo/scene/etc. Steampunk is NOT something you should revel in just so that you can show off to others and say "look, look at me, over here, look, I'm steampunk! I'm steampunk just like these other guys over here next to me!" There's a reason people join up in these labeled groups, and it's to fit in. Now, if your primary goal is to fit in, then the steampunk community may not be the place for you. If your primary goal is steampunk, then what are you waiting for? Have at it!

We don't care if you've read 20,000 Leagues -- I've personally never read it, though I think I saw a movie adaptation when I was younger. We don't care if you dress up or make your own gadgets. As long as you genuinely like steampunk just like we do, that's perfectly fine. We won't call you a poser, but we might ask you to kindly stop flailing about with your cane as to avoid dashing out someone's eye.

Too old? I always got the impression that it tends to be the other way round - most people need to reach a certain age before they can truly appreciate the joy Steampunk brings them... wink

Well, I'm 28, and I don't think I'll ever grow too old for ANY genre, much less one that's so much more than just a simple genre. And this household's Steampunk fanatic is even older than that, so... no, you're definitely not too old!

I wouldnt call it an identity really...but more of a large interest? I for one am most into the Victorian era woman's clothing...but the steampunk twist seems right, somehow. ^^

I agree though, labels are quite annoying. Its as if with them we cant be more than one thing.

Ah, I beg your pardon, I totally got you wrong on that one - well, if that's what you were talking about, I have to agree wholeheartedly: YES, good Sir, you definitely ARE too old for that! xp

And, Tok, I just so have to agree - tagging yourself would take away all the freedom to be the multi-faceted people I'm sure all of us are! 3nodding

I'm planning on making steampunk my lifestyle later on in life even. I'm gonna base my whole blueprints to my dream house, as well as clothing assembly off of the steampunk era. I don't think I'm taking it too far, but wanting taking my perspective in life into a form of art. I don't look upon others as my base of inspiration, but take what I know about what I stereotype as the concept, and add on from that.
I personally think there's too many copycats in steampunk. Who says browns blacks and whites are the only colors for steampunk? I say you make it what you want, just as long the basics aren't forgotten about.

I think most people aren't saying those are the only acceptable colors, they are just a good start. A better rule, I'd say, would be to stick with "earthy" tones.