What does it mean to be metal?

Ive heard others say you just need to listen to the music, others say its a political/social movement. Ive heard this especially about goth and punk too. “you can’t be conservative and be punk/metal/goth” ive heard a lot lately. How true that is im not certain. im pretty new to the community so bare in mind i don’t understand the ins and outs of the metal subculture.

edit: i see the word poser being thrown around. What does it mean to be a poser, then? You just fake listening to metal or is there more to it?