In #goth, it's not just a overused cliche, it's a way of life. We in #goth pride ourselves on our biting wit, our self-preserving nature, and our seemingly endless flow of new and imaginative insults. Please review the following information carefully as it may benefit you in the long run. Also, Sabrael has been kind enough to draft a FAQ, which you also had better take a look at. Darwinism In Practice-If Not In Theory, composed and submitted by Prof. Mao S. Trapp and Dr. B. Bächs For over a century, the belief that people in society compete for survival, and that the superior individuals within a society become wealthy and powerful has gained wide acceptance. With the incorporation of certain principles based on the research of the late Charles Darwin, renowned evolutionary biologist, concepts like natural selection-or survival of the fittest as it is also called-have been applied in studies of human behavior as well. This use of Darwin's teaching in conjunction with the various social sciences has come to be known as Social Darwinism. And so it has come to be practiced throughout modern society, as well as in the microcosm that is #Goth. Of course, the disillusioned few first encountering the harsh realities of these ideals in the closed setting of #Goth, may be tempted with the notion that we are, in fact, the notorious "Übergoths". The ones who are deeply involved in the Gothic subculture that you tend to hear about. Needless to say, this is a derogatory term coined by the less fortunate, lower-class Goths who know no other way but to resort to petty, vile objections of the facts of life. To enlighten these select, pathetic few and further our own causes, offered here are some pale insights into the impetus of Humankind as seen through the eyes of Social Darwinists and #Goth-ops, alike. Primarily, individuals must compete with one another to survive; the principles of natural selection favor the survival of the fittest. Such people adapt successfully to the environment. Unfit individuals fail to do so... and inevitably perish. Secondly, people best able to survive demonstrate their fitness by accumulating wealth, property, and social status. Accordingly, poverty is the proof of an individual's unfitness. Thusly, charities and welfare programs are shunned, for such functions interfere with these crucial laws of nature. Finally, true progress can only result from the survival of the strongest members of society and the elimination of the weakest members. Despite the aggressive posture of this trend, it insures only a positive balance as well as change for the better. To know, understand, accept and follow these items taken directly from Social Darwinist doctrine in itself is a virtual guarantee of success in life if not in #Goth. Although not a full guarantee, since you might still prove yet to be inherently genetically weaker than other members of society and thus prone to inadequacy and failure, you may still express the dignity of being superior to the doomed masses ignorant to the clauses of Social Darwinism. Therefore, denial of the tenets of Social Darwinism and the indisputable affects and hold they have upon society as a whole is merely a catalyst for your own eventual downfall. Now, "how does all of this apply to me?" you may ask yourself. Assuming that you do choose to undergo the abusive rigors of #Goth, you may initially encounter some hostility. This is merely the competitive nature of our channel and this should become well evident in time. It is the amount of time you spend in #Goth which will judge the outcome of your overall performance. For instance, if this revelation appears instantaneous and harsh, you will never endure, and would serve Humanity best to simply crawl away and die while avoiding any contamination of the human genome. However, should you find immediate comfort in the demanding and brutal environment-if the severity of our cruelty finds no significant bother with you to the point that it would take obvious mention to remind you of the extremes occurring in your surroundings-you may shows signs of being a survivor. But, in order for this certification, you must also prove yourself beyond a reasonable doubt through enhanced competition with your fellow human beings. Far from being a forum for "Who's The Gothiest Of Them All" contests, the ops and the regulars equally relish in comedy and, thus, you may feel free to take full advantage of any whom you believe to be fair game in the open wilderness of the channel. To prey on the inferior is a statute of naturalized existence and applies as much in #Goth as in the animal kingdom, as was so uniquely observed by Charles Darwin himself. Vicious, verbal assaults on one another's being and slander replace the primitive attacks of claw, beak, venom, and fang, and humor and hilarity reign as the fresh kills of the day. Unanimous victories are rewarded, though rarely. But brazen slurs with no comedic value whatsoever will be punished unfairly and without mercy. To avoid such penalties and perhaps better increase your understanding of the true nature of the comedy hidden deep within proliferant social taboos, you may be temporarily relieved of the burden of exhausting concern for your behavior so that you might concentrate fully on entertaining the ops and proving your loyalty solely to them. This may be done in any of several ways made convenient through simple guidelines to facilitate your compliance. Gratuities, donations or other similar monetary contributions are supported under the following conditions: they consist of an amount of cash payable to all #Goth-ops and equaling no less than the total value of all your wealth, property, and assets fully liquidated. While the previous method is standard procedure and certainly the most preferable, other methods made available to those unable to afford offerings of hard currency include the following, listed only as alternatives: sexual favors, rare and precious music (CDs and vinyl only, please), and any number of illegal articles, including narcotics or other controlled substances, such as prescription medicine, warez (pirated software), and nude pictures of Ernest Borgnine or any of the Golden Girls (Betty White and Bea Arthur, preferably). Hopefully, you now have some measure of basic understanding regarding the correct approach to behavior appropriate to #Goth. Ignorance of this dogma is no defense and shall not be tolerated, although rarely will you find yourself banned from the channel, regardless of offense, since it simply would not be possible for you to provide us with satisfactory amusement in your absence. Besiding these set forms of punishment common throughout IRC: the kicks, the bans, the moderations, we have devised more formidable and extravagant methods of injustice to wreak on those unfortunate enough to incur our wrath. We promise to do our best to humiliate you in ways unthinkable to a lesser intellect. This includes but is not limited to the following: pursuing you from channel to channel ridiculing you all the way in front of family, friends, acquaintances, and business associates and/or uncovering your e-mail address and callously subscribing you to countless, obsessive Christian-oriented mailing lists. We assure that we are more than capable and fully-prepared to fulfill such threats should the need ever arise. Make no mistakes regarding the extent of our sass! Beware! For we are easily-provoked, belligerent supermen, capable of nearly infinite aggression. Regardless of the ultimate outcome of your visit to, and interaction with, #Goth, take comfort in the fact that all we do is exclusively within our interests, which should be your interests if you have any idea what is best for you. If you do not have the knowledge of what your main concerns should be; if you are feeling lost, empty, or deprived of some critical meaning in your life, we extend the invitation to explore our ranks so that we might properly present true meaningfulness to you.