All you Alt girls…

[Rock_chick]

Do you count "Steam Punk" as "Alt"?

Yeppo...I know a few people that rock the steam punk look and it rocks

[heatherrose]

I build "Steam Punk" among other useful artsy stuff and things.

[LordKAT]

Forgive my ignorance.

            Steampunk?

[Nilisa]

Forgive my ignorance.

            Steampunk?

It's basically a gothic-y based style which is based around the Victorian era in Britain. A good way to sum it up is by thinking about what would happen if steam powered everything, and if technology had stayed very 'Victorian'.

It's amazing Steampunk Wiki page.

[Rock_chick]

Forgive my ignorance.

            Steampunk?

It's the world that would have resulted if charles babbage had actually built his mechanical computer.

[Kay]

Forgive my ignorance.

            Steampunk?

.
I'll have to disagree with Lairiana a small amount.  Usually steampunk isn't particularly gothic. (though I do like the gothic slant to the picture on the page she linked to)  Other than that though, she hit it right on the mark.
.
Generally: Fantasy/Sci-fi involving Victorian style dress/stylings, machinery comprised of the best 19th Century (often steam-power) science had to offer, doing amazing things that that type of machine generally couldn't do in the real world (think:  "The Time Machine" (HG Wells)  or "20 thousand Leagues under the sea" (Jules Verne).  Or maybe "Wild Wild West (60's TV show or 90's movie) or "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" (Movie or Graphic novel)  Or the anime "Fullmetal Alechemist".  Or one of my favorite web comics "Girl Genius." (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php)
.
Great stuff though. 

[Rock_chick]

.
I'll have to disagree with Lairiana a small amount.  Usually steampunk isn't particularly gothic. (though I do like the gothic slant to the picture on the page she linked to)  Other than that though, she hit it right on the mark.
.
Generally: Fantasy/Sci-fi involving Victorian style dress/stylings, machinery comprised of the best 19th Century (often steam-power) science had to offer, doing amazing things that that type of machine generally couldn't do in the real world (think:  "The Time Machine" (HG Wells)  or "20 thousand Leagues under the sea" (Jules Verne).  Or maybe "Wild Wild West (60's TV show or 90's movie) or "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" (Movie or Graphic novel)  Or the anime "Fullmetal Alechemist".  Or one of my favorite web comics "Girl Genius." (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php)
.
Great stuff though. 

Have you read Difference Engine by william gibson? So steam punk it hurts

[PixieBoy]

The Difference Engine was written by Gibson AND Bruce Sterling.

To me, it's one exaple of "actual" steampunk. It seems like a lot of people think "if I stick a bunch of cogs on this thing, it'll be SO STEAMPUNK!!!". To me, mere cogs/other brass stuff is not enough. It needs to be functional and Victorian, or possibly Edwardian. I like the style, though, when done right.

[Nilisa]

I'll have to disagree with Lairiana a small amount.  Usually steampunk isn't particularly gothic. (though I do like the gothic slant to the picture on the page she linked to)  Other than that though, she hit it right on the mark.

Gothic is pretty much a Victorian thing, and it does go hand-in-hand with Steampunk quite a bit. It's not as "goth" as gothic, but there's definitely some gothic influences from the dress style to the music/writings and even the art. Steampunk is like a brown 'n' gold goth at times

[n00bsWithBoobs]

The Difference Engine was written by Gibson AND Bruce Sterling.

To me, it's one exaple of "actual" steampunk. It seems like a lot of people think "if I stick a bunch of cogs on this thing, it'll be SO STEAMPUNK!!!". To me, mere cogs/other brass stuff is not enough. It needs to be functional and Victorian, or possibly Edwardian. I like the style, though, when done right.

I have drooled and fantasized over this ever since I first saw it: http://www.datamancer.net/steampunklaptop/steampunklaptop.htm

I have a few plans for tattoos...well more than a few...more like loads.

I really like the fact i can show off the ones i'v already got better than i could before

I want a tramp stamp, damnit!

[AmySmiles]

I love steampunk stuff   Haven't tried to build anything yet, but I plan on it eventually.

I guess by your description I'm not much of an alt girl though.  I really like science and science fiction, but my appearance is pretty average and every-day... most of the time

[tekla]

I have musical ADD

That's a good thing to have.  People ask me if I like a certain band or sound and I give them a number.  They get all like 'is that how many points out of a hundred?' and I go: "No, that how many minutes I can stand it before I feel compelled to get up and put something different on."

Sometimes, like if I'm doing a show like I did a year ago or so, where the top 3 acts are Hatebreed, Trivium and Cannibal Corpse I have to try pretty hard not to really listen to anything before the band I really want to listen to comes on, on or I will be uselessly burning through my daily allotments of Metal.  45 minutes of that at 100+db is good by me, I don't need more than that in a day.  (Cannibal Corpse for those of you who were wondering.)

There is stuff like classical string music - trios and quartets in particular - late 50s/early 60s jazz, Bob Dylan and live Dead/Garcia tapes that I have enough of a taste in the genre (or unfortunate events in the past) to let that music play for days and days and days and not think about changing it.  But some stuff like Tuvan throat singing, a couple songs are cool, 20 minutes of it is pushing it, and more than that is officially irritating.

Hell, after 90 minutes (out of what I knew was a 3 hour show) of Paul McCartney I got up and left walked around the stadium, went to a market, and had a doughnut and tried to clear my head so I could come back and watch the last hour (which of course had all the best stuff in it.)

[Kay]

Have you read Difference Engine by william gibson? So steam punk it hurts

.
I haven't yet, but if it's that good, I'll definitely add it to my reading list.    Thanks!
.

Gothic is pretty much a Victorian thing, and it does go hand-in-hand with Steampunk quite a bit. It's not as "goth" as gothic, but there's definitely some gothic influences from the dress style to the music/writings and even the art. Steampunk is like a brown 'n' gold goth at times

.
While I can see where you're coming from, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. 
.
To me, goth (clothing) is a general style (usually involving darker elements ) with several vastly different sub-genres.  There's Cyber (circutry and rather bright flourescent almost rave scene), Industrial (chains, metal, rivethead, etc), Lolita (think gothic china-doll, lace, frilly), Punk , Fetish (Vinyl, Latex, etc), Victorian (often Edwardian and Renaissance styles get lumped in here, even if they're not technically the same) , Wa (Traditional Japanese dress), Qi (Chinese dress from the Qing dynasty), and a ton of other styles and sub-categories. 
.
Maybe I've read/viewed different steampunk material than you have.  Generally the ones I've viewed don't tend to be filled with the darker subjects and themes of traditional gothic literature. 
(Though, gothic + steampunk would be absolutely awesome.    Sadly, I haven't seen an example of it yet.)
.
Anyway...my point is that Victorian is a style in it's own right that is separate from Gothic.  One sub-genre of Gothic can be very Victorian...but just because something has Victorian  leanings, doesn't necessarily mean that it's gothic. 
.

I have drooled and fantasized over this ever since I first saw it: http://www.datamancer.net/steampunklaptop/steampunklaptop.htm

.
Love it! 

[Riannah]

you're never too old Millie, look at vivian westwood

I sooo love Vivienne Westwood! I used to be some kind of combination of new-wave/punk/girlie when I was young but now I think 'punk chique' would probable best describe me. A punk chique woman that is I adore Vivienne Westwood Anglomania, Alexander McQueen, etc. I always try to not stand out too much because of, well, you know, but I just can't manage to be very plain either. I still love safety pins, lol, but I prefer them with little diamonds now Designer clothing is expensive though. If you know some more afordable brands in that style with an online store then please DO let me know.

We have one very nice brand here in the Netherlands: http://www.corakemperman.nl. Unfortunately she doesn't have an online store. I always spend too much whenever I go there.. The people working there have always been so nice and helping. Another Dutch brand I like: http://www.yarnunit.com and they do have an online store. Ooohhh shopping. I just can't get enough of it. Just today I bought a lovely grey softleather shoulder bag full with zippers and a gorgeous dress from Best Behavior. Oh yeah, love that brand too: http://www.bestbehaviorshop.com/

[heatherrose]

Steam Punk: 21st and 22nd century technology built using 19th century methods and material.

[tekla]

Steam Punk: 20th and 21st century technology built using {a veneer of} 19th century methods and materials.  To be sure, we don't have a clue as to what 22nd century technology would look like.  It's really what the world might have (kinda, not really, its a retro nostalgia fashion deal more than a reenacting deal) been like had it not resorted to electricity and plastic.

It would be more punk if they really used more steam power.  Steam is all messy, and with all that water vapor under pressure is was very dangerous.  Boilers had this nasty problem of exploding.  Just like gas light had that very pleasing yellow light, but also was pretty filthy and would, on occasion, blow up houses.

[n00bsWithBoobs]

Steam Punk: 20th and 21st century technology built using {a veneer of} 19th century methods and materials.  To be sure, we don't have a clue as to what 22nd century technology would look like.  It's really what the world might have (kinda, not really, its a retro nostalgia fashion deal more than a reenacting deal) been like had it not resorted to electricity and plastic.

It would be more punk if they really used more steam power.  Steam is all messy, and with all that water vapor under pressure is was very dangerous.  Boilers had this nasty problem of exploding.  Just like gas light had that very pleasing yellow light, but also was pretty filthy and would, on occasion, blow up houses.

You know, I just had a GREAT idea for a short story that I'm going to write. I'm thinking... steam punk meets Star Trek. My nipples just got hard thinking about how awesome steam punk in space would be (which makes me a very, very, very weird nerd) (better than Harry Potter slash fiction, I suppose)

[tekla]

Steam power in space, why not?  It's not like Trek didn't take certain liberties with physics.

[n00bsWithBoobs]

Steam power in space, why not?  It's not like Trek didn't take certain liberties with physics.

WHAAA-?? Are you saying that Heisenberg Compensators and moving 10x the speed of light isn't possible?!?!   

[tekla]

I always thought that the original Star Trek took place in a time far, far away, were there were no acting schools anymore.