hipster

[fdrjk]

I was thinking of creating a topic/rant so I decided to post this here.

Me and a bunch of other people I know always joke about what does or does not constitute a "hipster". I'm always pretty adamant on my position on it, which is always 'I don't know what that means'. Really, I don't know what that word means anymore. When I think of the word, I think of a bunch of upper middle-class white people in their mid 20's wearing wide brimmed classes, a beanie, a scarf, jeans, and various other forms of plaid clothing. I think of your typical hipster as someone who drinks PBR in their local Starbucks with a bunch of other people who dress the same and constantly discuss what the best Pavement album is.

But the thing is, the most typical definition of a "hipster" is, again, white middle-class people in their mid 20's, but with a deep appreciation for alternative culture, independent music, counter-culture, and a general deep-seated hatred for mainstream media.

I don't get that. In my experiences, the word hipster is generally used to de-legitimize someone's musical taste or fashion sense, but it's mostly the case with music. Usually, when people come across others with a taste or appreciation for other forms of independent, alternative, or experimental music, their initial reaction is usually, "Only a hipster would like this kind of stuff" (Not generalizing, since I know not everyone is ignorant to that kind of music). Personally, I think this is usually because when someone listens to something that is so outside of what they listen to, their initial reaction just shows they either don't understand it, don't find the appeal, or just decide to shit over someone elses' taste for not listening to music that's more popular, which I think is bullshit, because there should be no excuse for this kind of close-mindedness. Nobody should be expected to have the same two or three most popular artists or projects from a particular genre or movement as their all time favorite artists. Really, nobody should be expected to like or dislike anything at all. What you listen to makes you different, and I personally think you should listen to whatever you want, but also explore things you either don't know about or don't think you would enjoy, because there's only music you've listened to and music you haven't listened to. 

Another point is people who enjoy music "ironically", or people who listen to something, but are also self-aware that what they're listening to isn't really well-liked, or popular, or is really out-dated, or cheesy.
In my opinion, people use the phrase "I only listen to X ironically" because they can't explain why they like something that other people either don't like or just find bad. I don't know about everyone else, but I only willingly listen to things I like, so if I listen to eurodance or disco, it's because I enjoy it unironically for reasons I can very easily explain, so I can't wrap my head around that. Why would you willingly listen to something you know or think is bad?

Another factor is the distancing away from mainstream media, or music, which I personally think is bullshit. There's some mainstream music / media I both hate and love, so I guess I'm one of those freaks who doesn't perfectly fit into a uselessly stereotypical generalization of a wide audience of art. (But I'm getting off topic).

The biggest thing that bothers me, however, is the sense of fashion. The biggest thing that's highlighted in the definition of a modern hipster, is the adherence to conformity and appreciation of counter-culture. But my question is, is the kind of fashion that is usually mocked by everyone online and offline really counter-culture at this point? Is there a single person who has an internet connection and is not privy to the stereotypical fashion sense that most people in their demographic actually wear at this point? It's not counter-culture if everybody is a part of it. I don't know about you, but every time I see someone wearing the same dopey look that I posted at the top of this post, I ask myself things.

"Is this really what people are wearing now? Is this how people are expressing themselves today? Do people seriously wear this faux counter-culture style of fashion that almost everyone makes fun of thinking that this really accurately reflects their personality?"

Another HUGE problem I have with most people is the very obvious hypocrisy. Is it really OK to look at mainstream media and think "Oh, I'm above that. I'm not going to go down that road", yet constantly use uselessly trendy internet memes from tumblr for their own ironic enjoyment as a shallow form of cheap humor? That, I think is utter bullshit.

So generally, when using the word hipster, don't be a dick. And don't ironically self-identify as the shallow definition of what idiotic and bitter people define as a hipster as a way to shit all over peoples' personal taste. You know how to be different? Actually be yourself. If there's a musical trend going on, don't be afraid to explore it to see if you like it, or don't like it. Don't be afraid to wear something some people might find really flashy or really trendy. Not conforming to anything means not conforming to anything, which is an intimidating way of saying "Be your-fucking-self". If people call you a hipster in the process, who cares? You're not a hipster, you're not a hippie, you're not a yuppie, you're just you, and words are just words.

I'm sorry I just felt like ranting and really wanted to type something long. If you got any thoughts, then go ahead and shoot.

[[BTF]Sigma]

obligatory

[The Happy Friar]

Someone on moddb called me a hipster!  I took it as a compliment.  I guess I'm hip.   

[yahoo]

idk but maybe this can be of use

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/hammer_vs_hipster

[haunted]

It pisses me off that pbr has become the new hipster beer. That's just supposed to be What 17 year olds an 60 year old alcoholics drink.

Didn't read yet but you're definitely a hipster little buddy.

[|iR|Focalor]

Yeah, Pabst in bottles is pretty decent for a dirt cheap mass produced american beer. It ain't "terrific", but it's drinkable. It tastes like shit in cans though. Then again, most anything, even non-alcoholic beverages, will taste like shit in a can. I think I heard one time that they spray the insides of aluminum cans with a light layer of some kinda chemical or enzyme substance either to protect the flavor or kill germs or something.

The one beer I actually prefer in the can is Miller Lite. It tastes like crap in a can OR a bottle. It ain't something I regularly drink, but I've become somewhat fond of how characteristically crappy it tastes and the aluminum can flavoring process really enhances that. But on a really hot day out somewhere, it's the perfect totally watered-down beer-flavored beer drink beverage... because it's refreshing (from all of the watery watered-down water) and yet it still gives you that US government approved standard issue 1-beer incremental dose of ethyl alcohol.

[Golgo13]

OWS Crowd?? Lol