On Hipsters
- Thread starter deathmetal
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There are problems with that chart. Fishermen and farmers wear flannel shirts and have beards for example. I am a retired professional photographer and collect old cameras, I have a Polaroid from the 1950s. I do have a beard, wear flannel shirts on cold days and I even wear an earring in my left ear, and, of course, I smoke a pipe. Come to think about it, I am what a hipster aspires to be when they grow up.
I spent a bit of time as a "turnkey" early in my career, certainly not the length of time nor with the intensity you did. But, I cannot buy into the idea that a prison is a microcosm of general society. I choose my acquaintances and refine that list when selecting friends, a mere handful, as I am intolerant of "hard keepers" or needy people. I simply do not have the time to cater to people. Only family gets that kind of attention.
Prisoners are penned in with others, generally do not select where they will fit in, that is done for them. They must learn an entirely different set of social rules if they are to survive relatively intact. Are the behaviors similar to the outside? Superficially I suppose. But, life on the inside, I speak generally, is much more intense, discipline is enforced with a heavier hand by the inmates, choice is severely limited. So, while I'll concede to certain behaviors being similar, the intensity of living in a prison is very different to the accommodating behavior of society. My time working in jails, I do not like the term corrections, short as it is, was about the time various sociologists became apologists for psycho's and sociopath's behaviors, trying to excuse aberrant behavior.
A prison population lives by different rules or, at the least, in a different environment than the outside. This is especially true in prisons where the inmate population actually runs the institution within the walls.
Prisoners are penned in with others, generally do not select where they will fit in, that is done for them. They must learn an entirely different set of social rules if they are to survive relatively intact. Are the behaviors similar to the outside? Superficially I suppose. But, life on the inside, I speak generally, is much more intense, discipline is enforced with a heavier hand by the inmates, choice is severely limited. So, while I'll concede to certain behaviors being similar, the intensity of living in a prison is very different to the accommodating behavior of society. My time working in jails, I do not like the term corrections, short as it is, was about the time various sociologists became apologists for psycho's and sociopath's behaviors, trying to excuse aberrant behavior.
A prison population lives by different rules or, at the least, in a different environment than the outside. This is especially true in prisons where the inmate population actually runs the institution within the walls.
The first rule of hipster club is to be a moving target. For this reason, hipsterism is not definable by a set of external behaviors, which was the point of this thread.
For example, the metal hipsters started out as emo kids in Burzum shirts... then they figured out that their cover was blown, and switched to full 1980s metal gear: bullet belts, kuttes, speed metal patches, ball caps with flipped lids.
The point of hipsterism is ironism: nothing is serious, and everything you do is to make yourself look cool. Hipster is a variant of poseur as well.
The only way to fight hipsterism is to insist on sincerity.
Warren, interesting comments. One thing that has occurred to me many times regarding law enforcement: it is important to give clear signals to people about what behavior is acceptable and not, and introducing any ambiguity is injustice. Our law seems to be going in the opposite direction, which is to make exceptions and excuses, which weakens that signal and makes it more likely that we are deceiving people.
For example, the metal hipsters started out as emo kids in Burzum shirts... then they figured out that their cover was blown, and switched to full 1980s metal gear: bullet belts, kuttes, speed metal patches, ball caps with flipped lids.
The point of hipsterism is ironism: nothing is serious, and everything you do is to make yourself look cool. Hipster is a variant of poseur as well.
The only way to fight hipsterism is to insist on sincerity.
Warren, interesting comments. One thing that has occurred to me many times regarding law enforcement: it is important to give clear signals to people about what behavior is acceptable and not, and introducing any ambiguity is injustice. Our law seems to be going in the opposite direction, which is to make exceptions and excuses, which weakens that signal and makes it more likely that we are deceiving people.
@cosmic:
@billkay:
Hipsters are kind of like the kids who have trouble socializing in school and become "cut-ups."
Here I disagree. Your intent is sincere, but your methods are playful. Not an uncommon archetype among those of certain accomplishments.
@billkay:
Interesting point. It is not so much that people are the same, but that they have the same desires which are based in practicality, because the process of survival is not all that much different between places. As a result, they adopt similar methods.
Hipsters are kind of like the kids who have trouble socializing in school and become "cut-ups."
That was David Brooks' thesis, sort of. His point was that the new yuppies act more like hippies. That trickles down to those who imitate them without the same success.
At the time you were wearing that ensemble, I was wearing black jeans, a black cape my girlfriend made for me, and a black top hat (bought at Disneyland) while carrying a black walking stick. This was in Southern California, so I could only wear my thrift shop tuxedo with the long tails during the fall and winter. I have no idea why I made those years so difficult for myself =)
Back in the 70s I wore a uniform that included bell bottoms with 13 buttons, a jumper with a flap on the back and a white dixie cup hat - think Crackerjacks - until the switched us to a uniform that more resembled a bus driver or airline pilot. I retired from that uniform in '93 and switched to one that included a fishing shirt, jeans and deck shoes. Now my daily uniform is t-shirts and jeans or shorts.
Cowboy boots, Members Only, a closet full of Oxford shirts that were all identical, and boot cut jeans. Being a redhead, I really didn't have to dress to stand out, but I did sport a mullet cut my first year of college, and a Panama Jack shirt that I wore to tatters.
Slayer shirts? They say that people tend to pick enemies that are the most like themselves. I see hipsters as a culmination of all subcultures just rolled into one; hippies, metal fans, yuppies, flappers, slackers, gen Xers, zoot suiters, punks, beatnicks, greasers, with. little lumberjack, and sea captain thrown into the mix.
Slayer shirts? They say that people tend to pick enemies that are the most like themselves. I see hipsters as a culmination of all subcultures just rolled into one; hippies, metal fans, yuppies, flappers, slackers, gen Xers, zoot suiters, punks, beatnicks, greasers, with. little lumberjack, and sea captain thrown into the mix.
Early 60's - Pendelton shirts, Lees and boots. Sometimes my treasured "letter" jacket.
Mid-60's through mid-80's - those were were for leisure times. Flight suit or the bag were the uniform of the day.
Since the mid'80's pretty much all Carharts, all the time. Seems I like not having to make clothing decisions in the morning.
Haven't been without a hat sixty plus years, since the day I was presented my first cowboy hat. The mustache was started the day after retirement from the P.D. Muttonchops come and go, like the seasons.
Mid-60's through mid-80's - those were were for leisure times. Flight suit or the bag were the uniform of the day.
Since the mid'80's pretty much all Carharts, all the time. Seems I like not having to make clothing decisions in the morning.
Haven't been without a hat sixty plus years, since the day I was presented my first cowboy hat. The mustache was started the day after retirement from the P.D. Muttonchops come and go, like the seasons.
And then when there is the kind of emergency that requires a dedicated metal fan to save the day, you run to the closest phone booth and tear off your work shirt?
Ha ha, i'm the old man yelling at the kids, and the guys yelling at the kids. Then, I yell at the dog and the cat. The dog takes it well, but the cat pisses on my laundry, which sparks more yelling. Damn it all, damn clouds!!! I relate well with that old cartoon guy! When did I become my dad?
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