Defining the term "hipster"

**Exo** · 05-18-2014, 11:03 AM

Okay, so last night I was called a hipster. I asked why and was told that it was because I was wearing dark jeans and a flannel shirt. This prompted me to ask this person, who was completely serious, what draws the line between somebody who is a hipster and somebody who is not a hipster. He gave me these examples of what constitutes being a hipster...

My attire that evening
Jazz
Beanies
PBR
Serious girlfriends
Record collections
Bookshelves
Ten speed bikes
Aviator glasses
Scarves
Mustaches
Beards
Drinking coffee multiple times a day
Poetry
Old technology
Converse shoes
Glasses

I have bolded the terms that refer to me. Now, I have hated the term "hipster for a long time now. Not because it has been used a hundred times to describe me, but rather because I feel it is starting to get really f*cking loose with its use. Apparently if you do anything besides work out, listen to EDM, drink in bars every night, or watch the same action films over and over again...you're a hipster. I've even found with my cousin/roomate, who shares the exact opposite qualities as I do, that even discussing the themes and symbolism behind a film is grounds for being a hipster (We watched Animal Kingdom earlier and he hated it because it was boring).

So what constitutes being a hipster now? If I order a pizza, is that being a hipster? What if I mail a letter? Will listening to the radio in my car be deemed hipster worthy anymore? I'm not trying to be defensive. I have serious hipster roots but since when does wearing jeans and a f*cking flannel shirt declare me as being a snobby hipster douche?

Look at this picture I found when I Google image searched "hipster"

WHAT IN THE F*CK IS WRONG WITH THE SECOND GUY ON THE LEFT? THAT IS BASICALLY ME. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT? I can understand the guy on the right but the others look completely normal to me. They look like guys.

If you called this guy a hipster I would totally agree.

I just don't understand anymore. Thoughts?

~~Sansa Stark~~ · 05-18-2014, 11:17 AM

Who cares

**Frownland** · 05-18-2014, 11:20 AM

A person younger than 30 years old, potentially with a beard. In times past they've been called beatnicks, hippies, slackers, swing kids, etc. People are always just surprised when there are young people I guess.

djchameleon · 05-18-2014, 11:23 AM

Rjinn · 05-18-2014, 11:25 AM

I think you shouldn't listen to people who are so concerned with labeling others because of trivial ****.

Paedantic Basterd · 05-18-2014, 11:28 AM

It's no different from when people tossed about "emo" in the late 00s.

I too drink a lot of coffee, only shop in the thrift store (I AM SO POOR OK), listen to independent music, and love irony or own ironic possessions. I love modern art and screenwriting, and chuck taylors are the only shoes that will fit my weirdly-sized feet. I've never been called a hipster though, because none of that information is visible to others. It's just a new development in stereotyping/categorizing others. Eventually when it becomes too hard to label people, because the label has been spread thin over everything, something new will come along.

This post was 100% hot air, but I'm going to follow through because I spent 7 minutes thinking about it. I don't have anything substantial to add because the question wasn't specific enough.

**Exo** · 05-18-2014, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedestrian

This post was 100% hot air, but I'm going to follow through because I spent 7 minutes thinking about it. I don't have anything substantial to add because the question wasn't specific enough.

I guess it wasn't really a question. I usually couldn't care less what people think but I was just a bit surprised last night because apparently my jeans and flannel shirt screamed a specific identity at somebody. It was strange. The thread is more of an exploration of what constitutes being a hipster today cause I obviously don't know anymore.

It doesn't matter at the end of the day but social grouping and stereotypes do exist in the world. The right response is "who the hell cares" but discussing it isn't such a waste of time I feel.

EDIT: Oh, and nice one DJ. That made me chuckle.

**Janszoon** · 05-18-2014, 12:02 PM

Ten speed bikes are hipster now? It seems like just yesterday fixies were the hipster bike. Man, I really need to get with the times.

djchameleon · 05-18-2014, 12:03 PM

Film snobs do get called hipster. Hipster is just a lovely catch all phrase at the moment. I am guilty of calling a movie geek a hipster because of his opinions during a movie review that was basically trashing big blockbusters while praising art house flicks. It was more detailed than that but that was the basic gist of it.

Ninetales · 05-18-2014, 12:14 PM

Wow thanks for the checklist. I've always wanted to become a hipster and heres my ticket. I don't look good in aviator shades tho can someone help??

05-18-2014, 11:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
Exo All day jazz and biscuits Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 7,354	Defining the term "hipster" Okay, so last night I was called a hipster. I asked why and was told that it was because I was wearing dark jeans and a flannel shirt. This prompted me to ask this person, who was completely serious, what draws the line between somebody who is a hipster and somebody who is not a hipster. He gave me these examples of what constitutes being a hipster... My attire that evening Jazz Beanies PBR Serious girlfriends Record collections Bookshelves Ten speed bikes Aviator glasses Scarves Mustaches Beards Drinking coffee multiple times a day Poetry Old technology Converse shoes Glasses I have bolded the terms that refer to me. Now, I have hated the term "hipster for a long time now. Not because it has been used a hundred times to describe me, but rather because I feel it is starting to get really fcking loose with its use. Apparently if you do anything besides work out, listen to EDM, drink in bars every night, or watch the same action films over and over again...you're a hipster. I've even found with my cousin/roomate, who shares the exact opposite qualities as I do, that even discussing the themes and symbolism behind a film is grounds for being a hipster (We watched Animal Kingdom earlier and he hated it because it was boring). So what constitutes being a hipster now? If I order a pizza, is that being a hipster? What if I mail a letter? Will listening to the radio in my car be deemed hipster worthy anymore? I'm not trying to be defensive. I have serious hipster roots but since when does wearing jeans and a fcking flannel shirt declare me as being a snobby hipster douche? Look at this picture I found when I Google image searched "hipster" WHAT IN THE FCK IS WRONG WITH THE SECOND GUY ON THE LEFT? THAT IS BASICALLY ME. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT? I can understand the guy on the right but the others look completely normal to me. They look like guys. If you called this guy a hipster I would totally agree. I just don't understand anymore. Thoughts? __________________ LastFM SUPREME POO BAH MODERATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE*

05-18-2014, 11:20 AM	#3 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	A person younger than 30 years old, potentially with a beard. In times past they've been called beatnicks, hippies, slackers, swing kids, etc. People are always just surprised when there are young people I guess. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

05-18-2014, 11:25 AM	#5 (permalink)
Rjinn The Aerosol in your Soul Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: New South Wales, Australia Posts: 1,546	I think you shouldn't listen to people who are so concerned with labeling others because of trivial ****. __________________ last.fm

05-18-2014, 12:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	Ten speed bikes are hipster now? It seems like just yesterday fixies were the hipster bike. Man, I really need to get with the times. __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm

05-18-2014, 11:17 AM	#2 (permalink)
~~Sansa Stark~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Eyrie, Vale of Arryn, Westeros Posts: 3,234	Who cares

05-18-2014, 11:28 AM	#6 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	It's no different from when people tossed about "emo" in the late 00s. I too drink a lot of coffee, only shop in the thrift store (I AM SO POOR OK), listen to independent music, and love irony or own ironic possessions. I love modern art and screenwriting, and chuck taylors are the only shoes that will fit my weirdly-sized feet. I've never been called a hipster though, because none of that information is visible to others. It's just a new development in stereotyping/categorizing others. Eventually when it becomes too hard to label people, because the label has been spread thin over everything, something new will come along. This post was 100% hot air, but I'm going to follow through because I spent 7 minutes thinking about it. I don't have anything substantial to add because the question wasn't specific enough.

05-18-2014, 12:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ninetales Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: livin wild Posts: 2,179	Wow thanks for the checklist. I've always wanted to become a hipster and heres my ticket. I don't look good in aviator shades tho can someone help??