What is a hipster?

[mayfair70]

I've understood a hipster was what I had once referred to, when on a trip to Chicago, as the "Gleaming Hip." They are usually to some degree affluent and concerned primarily with appearance and being seen, not character or substance. They are a subculture of the bankers and financiers who feel the need to consume the planet and peoples' lives for profit and denigrate those less educated and lucky than themselves. The Adbuster article cited at the beginning of this thread is hogwash. That writer is resentful, within the age range of his subject, and is not detached nor analytical in his approach. I suspect he didn't get invited to parties or has trouble getting dates. Maybe he just needed fodder for his worthless blog. There is no relationship between hipster and the second article cited, except to say the large woman campaigning against traditional body image is the antithesis of what a hipster is. She is being individualistic, challenging social norms, and rebelling against the status-quo of rail-thin models and glamazon fashion dictates.

I completely agree with Warren and others' assessments of labeling others and being labeled. I will not insult the intelligence of this group by lecturing on social perceptions, culture and anthropology. While the gleaming hip blind the world with their brilliance, I'll continue to better myself and others by learning and perfecting skills in their oily shadows.
Hipster Fate

 

[johnnyreb]

If you want to have a man bun on the back of your head that's your business. But at least cover it up with a rasta beanie...and don't you dare remove the rasta beanie while in a 5-star restaurant! Better yet, just stuff some tissue under your rasta beanie like girls used to do in their bras, and everyone will think you got something in there.

 

[drezz01]

 

[deathmetal]

Glad someone posted this:

Good find.

It was a very good read that made me see them in a different light as actual die hard capitalists pretending to be the exact opposite.

Also important, I think. They are hyper-consumers pretending to be outsiders.

Carver: I suspect your nationality in China inspired some endearing names and with others, most likely behind your back, not so respectful and derogatory. When I worked in Russia I was well respected to my face. I learned enough Russian slang to understand that a lot of "party people" were not so endearing with their references to me as an American, an enemy they had hated all their lives. Hard to change one's life long prejudices or the fact that "different" often causes discomfort in others.

Also, that old resentments exist for a reason, namely the competition between groups.

 

[dutch65]

The great thing about being a redneck, is that you never have to worry about being mistaken for a hipster.
Plus, the old right wing curmudgeons down at the local tobacconist, would much rather see a redneck coming than a hipster any day of the week. They know the redneck won't buy up all the high grade sticks and tins of tobacco, nor will he ignore the curmudgeons by giving his cell phone undivided attention.
Once the hipster has heard all the right wing conservative politics he can stand (while pretending to surf the internet,) he gets up abruptly and leaves, while the redneck is left in peace to enjoy his pipe or cigar.

 

[deathmetal]

This thread was started because everytime the topic of hipsters comes up in another thread, it sort of takes over. One thread to rule them all, and one thread to bind them, I suppose.
The point of identifying hipsters is not to round up the boys, grab the bats and go beat these people. Instead, it's social criticism like any other: some behaviors are illogical, so we point that out, so that better behaviors can prevail. Call it cultural Darwinism I guess.
Some of the people that I enjoy are, in fact, hipsters. I don't hold it against them, nor mention it. But they have to be tolerant of my realism in other areas and if they are, I think they're good people: morally-inclined, intellectually alert and able to see more than their own immediate perspective.
I think of Tom Wolfe when these topics come up. He helped America over so many illusions. Or at least, he helped some people face what they were afraid to articulate.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Note to self: stop clicking on threads with the words, hipster, Penzance, or Dunhill in them. My eyes get sore from all of the rolling around. :roll:

 

[davet]

Note to self: stop clicking on threads with the words, hipster, Penzance, or Dunhill in them

Sound advice :clap:

 

[jackswilling]

+2 No Mas

 

[johnnyreb]

This thread was started because everytime the topic of hipsters comes up in another thread, it sort of takes over. One thread to rule them all, and

+2 No Mas

Yep...SOSDD.

 

[iamn8]

Ironically or perhaps not, Hipster is also a style of women's panties (hate that word). Hey, don't judge me! You learn things as a guy shopping for girls at Victoria's Secret

 

[drezz01]

This thread was started because everytime the topic of hipsters comes up in another thread, it sort of takes over. One thread to rule them all, and one thread to bind them, I suppose.
The point of identifying hipsters is not to round up the boys, grab the bats and go beat these people. Instead, it's social criticism like any other: some behaviors are illogical, so we point that out, so that better behaviors can prevail.

A fair reason to start a thread, I would say. My silly picture wasn't meant to trivialize the good discussion that has been going on, I just tend to think of the Catcher in the Rye when it comes to these hipster witch hunts.
Yes there are some painfully obnoxious hipsters out there but the same can be said of any loose grouping of people. Most hipsters I know (heck I have a beard, work in a creative industry, smoke a pipe, wear boots with cuffed pants and have a smattering of tattoos so I likely am a part of that loose grouping of people) aren't necessarily trying to be anything - it's just the fashion sensibilities and hobbies they've come to prefer. I understand the argument that these people are somehow in-genuine, "phonies" if you will - but all you have to do is look at facebook for 10 seconds to realize most of us portray an in-genuine narrative about the life in which we live.
Frankly, I'm not sure why some people (not pointing fingers here per se, more so just in general) are so personally offended by these hipsters. Whenever there is a counterculture, regardless of weather we decide it is substantial or just a pastiche, I think it is more interesting to take a look at the culture in which it is opposed to. I know personally my sensibilities have been shaped by an exhaustion of the hyper-consumer focused cheaply produced, acquired and produced narrative of the 90's and 00's. I look for clothing that looks like it is robust, motorcycles that I fell I may be able to fix, coffee and liquor that I can enjoy less of instead of consume more of. If the lasting effects of the proliferation of hipsters across north america (and arguably, the world - as the latest podcast of The Urbanist illustrates) is more local coffee joints and better beer then heck, why are we all so butthurt?

Hipster is also a style of women's panties

Language Nate, Jeez!

 

[misterlowercase]

Tomorrow is a king size drag,

man,

the future is a flake.
:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PjXlXZ5a-I
:

 

[lasttango]

Lumbersexuals are pretty interesting too... http://www.buzzfeed.com/mrloganrhoades/introducing-the-hot-new-trend-among-men-lumbersexual#.fpwBL6X49

 

[andrew]

Lumbersexual would just be a repressed form of homosexuality masquerading as an ultra-butch male. Personally I enjoy hipsters, as they're fun to follow, I think rounding them up is a bit extreme. They would voluntarily go to a hipster island where they wouldn't have to deal with the rest of us, and there would be only starbucks, apple products, and the idea of a communist utopia that would collapse when the political discussion started, or the dinner menu started and it wasn't locally sourced vegan, or someone wanted to eat meat, or an egg.

 

[davet]

Lumbersexuals are pretty interesting too...

That is just wrong, anyone who is or was a Logger will agree. If at any time, while logging, I came across one of these Dandy's I'd give him a sandwich and directions to town. :rofl:

 

[perdurabo]

Andy you forgot to mention Subaru with bike rack. But I never see a bike on that rack. Same damn Subaru with bike rack every morning. Wears a beard, with horn rim glasses, Apple sticker, NPR advertisement, and with that specific sunrise American flag sticker on the bumper.

 

[pappymac]

I guess I'm just confused...

Have a beard - check

wears wire rimmed glasses - check

smoke a pipe - check

work in a creative industry - check

have 3 pairs of boots - check (but seldom wear them anymore)

prefer to drink craft beers
But...

I work for myself

usually just wears shorts, t-shirts and either sandals or deck shoes.

don't usually comb my hair before noon

did trim my beard once this year (for my daughters wedding)

drink my whiskey and rum straight - maybe with a little ice

drive a pick-up

own 3 hats - ball cap, white panama and black fedora
either I'm not trying hard enough to be a hipster or else I just don't give a damn about being one.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

You're as hip as they come, Pappy. Don't let these hipsterbashers get to ya. :wink: ha ha!!

 

[aggravatedfarmer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkMGVtJXLkE
About sums up my past with the counter culture.