Are you a Hipster?

[Deberg_1990]

First of all, what is a hipster? I keep seeing this term thrown around, but what is it exactly? Would you describe yourself or a friend as one?

What defines a hipster in your opinion?

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by BWillie007

Ppl that wear those black glasses and want to save the environment

I wear black glasses while I cut down tress and dump used motor oil in the creek...

[kaplin42]

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by okoye35chiefs

typically in their 20's and 30's that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter.

I love the independent thinking. Yes, people who dress the same way and consume many of the same products based on how they are perceived, and who follow a certain political ideology, are most certainly independent thinkers.

[okoye35chiefs]

Hipster's can't be defined because then they'd fit in a category, and thus be too mainstream.

[NewChief]

Intellectually, I'm a hipster in that I keep abreast of current cultural movements with my tastes running toward the avante-garde in literature, art, music, food, and architecture.

Fashion-wise, I'm a 40 year old soccer dad.

[loochy]

Why is it that thinking politically liberal is always called "thinking independently?" It's not independent at all.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

I wear black glasses while I cut down tress and dump used motor oil in the creek...

You are okay in my book.

[SNR]

Originally Posted by kaplin42

Almost everyone in line in this commercial is one

http://www.youtube.com/user/samsungm...?v=ZKh68YfQYkE



Beverage of choice.

"Woah what did you just do?"

"Just gave him teh ghey AIDS"

"Just by touching dicks"

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by loochy

Wear them if you like but I can't stand them. I think they look horrendous.

I’ll admit Mrs. Radar has me dressing more retro but in my defense the Chuck’s, cuffed Levi’s, wallet chain and work shirts fit my gear head personality.

[BWillie]

Hipsters like Run DMC and A Tribe Called Quest, yet have no idea who the fk they really are.

[PGM]

Originally Posted by SNR

"Woah what did you just do?"

"Just gave him teh ghey AIDS"

"Just by touching dicks"

[Canofbier]

Originally Posted by okoye35chiefs

at least that is what the urban dictionary says it means...

You beat me to it, but for the benefit of everyone here, I'll post the entire insufferable entry. This is how hipsters see themselves, and why they are hated by almost everyone who isn't one.

Hipsters are a subculture of men and women typically in their 20's and 30's that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter. The greatest concentrations of hipsters can be found living in the Williamsburg, Wicker Park, and Mission District neighborhoods of major cosmopolitan centers such as New York, Chicago, and San Francisco respectively. Although "hipsterism" is really a state of mind,it is also often intertwined with distinct fashion sensibilities. Hipsters reject the culturally-ignorant attitudes of mainstream consumers, and are often be seen wearing vintage and thrift store inspired fashions, tight-fitting jeans, old-school sneakers, and sometimes thick rimmed glasses. Both hipster men and women sport similar androgynous hair styles that include combinations of messy shag cuts and asymmetric side-swept bangs. Such styles are often associated with the work of creative stylists at urban salons, and are usually too "edgy" for the culturally-sheltered mainstream consumer. The "effortless cool" urban bohemian look of a hipster is exemplified in Urban Outfitters and American Apparel ads which cater towards the hipster demographic. Despite misconceptions based on their aesthetic tastes, hipsters tend to be well educated and often have liberal arts degrees, or degrees in maths and sciences, which also require certain creative analytical thinking abilities. Consequently many hipsters tend to have jobs in the music, art, and fashion industries. It is a myth that most hipsters are unemployed and live off of their parent's trust funds.

Hipsters shun mainstream societal conventions that apply to dating preferences and traditional "rules" of physical attraction. It is part of the hipster central dogma not to be influenced by mainsream advertising and media, which tends to only promote ethnocentric ideals of beauty. The concepts of androgyny and feminism have influenced hipster culture, where hipster men are often as thin as the women they date. The muscular and athletic all-American male ideal is not seen as attractive by confident and culturally-empowered hipster women who instead view them as symbols of male oppression, sexism, and misogyny. Likewise, culturally-vapid sorority-type girls with fake blond hair, overly tanned skin, and "Britney Spears tube-tops" are not seen as attractive by cultured hipster males who instead see them as symbols of female insecurity, low self-esteem, and lack of cultural intelligence and independent thinking. Hipsters are also very racially open-minded, and the greatest number of interracial couples in any urban environment are typically found within the hipster subculture.

Although hipsters are technically conformists within their own subculture, in comparison to the much larger mainstream mass, they are pioneers and leaders of the latest cultural trends and ideals. For example, the surge of jeans made to look old and worn (i.e. "distressed"), that have become prevalent at stores such as The Gap, American Eagle, Abercrombie and Fitch, and Hollister, were originally paraded by hipsters who shopped in thrift stores years before such clothing items were mass produced and sold to the mainstream consumer. The true irony here is that many of the detractors of hipster culture are in fact unknowingly following a path that hipsters have carved out years before them. This phenomena also applies to music as well, as many bands have become successful and known to mainstream audiences only because hipsters first found and listened to them as early-adopters of new culture. Once certain concepts of fashion and music have reached mainstream audiences, hipsters move on to something new and improved.

Because of the rise of various online photo-blog and social networking sites, insights into urban hipster culture is reaching sheltered suburban audiences at an exponential rate. Cultural "norms" have been deconstructed by hipster culture as a whole. Hipsterism is often dismissed as just an image thing by some, but the culture as a whole is effecting changes in society, leading to feelings of insecurity and resentment in people who are no longer a part of the cultural ruling class. For example, a lot of anti-hipster sentiment evidently comes from culturally-clueless suburban frat boy types who feel that the more sensitive, intelligent, and culturally aware hipster ideal threatens their insecure sense of masculinity. Anti-hipster sentiment often comes from people who simply can't keep up with social change and are envious of those who can.

A conversation outside a hipster bar in downtown NYC:

Frat Boy #1: Dude, are you having any luck picking up chicks in there?

Frat Boy #2: Man...I haven't experienced anything like this before. These chicks are totally rejecting me and going for all these hipster guys in tight pants and shaggy hair instead.

Frat Boy #1: Maybe we should head back up to that bar in Murry Hill where you hooked up with that drunk b*tch from Alpha Sigma Phi last week?

Frat Boy #2: Yeah...I don't think we have what it takes to compete with these guys in here. These hipster chicks won't even give us the time of the day!

[MIAdragon]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

I’ll admit Mrs. Radar has me dressing more retro but in my defense the Chuck’s, cuffed Levi’s, wallet chain and work shirts fit my gear head personality.

You carry a switchblade too?

[loochy]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

I’ll admit Mrs. Radar has me dressing more retro but in my defense the Chuck’s, cuffed Levi’s, wallet chain and work shirts fit my gear head personality.

Throw on some big black boots

[Pushead2]

I have hipster-ish clothes and hang out at hipster bars in Williamsburg but I don't consider myself a hipster. I enjoy a good shave, haircut and smelling acceptable to society.