Would Somebody Explain Hipsters To Me ?

[Shiranu]

Same here, though I do hold some exceptions.  Also, jocks and rednecks.

I think most of the hate hipsters get is related to the possibly mistaken impression that hipsters are pretentious and judgemental.  For example, judging someone else for listening to Coldplay instead of southern Himalayan acoustic watercore.  If you're just doing your thing and not being a nuisance to others, there's no real reason to rag on you for being a hipster.

I wish I could like this post twice, for itself and for the comic.

[chill98]

So... after reading the wiki on hipsters, I have come to the conclusion that the number of people who work at my local walmart, people who I had assumed were transgender or homosexual are likely Hipsters instead.

I'm sure somebody will set me straight.

It won't be me.  :)

[SGOS]

This is all new to me.  Hipsters were a fad back during my Dad's time, say in the 30s and 40s.  They weren't a big group, nothing compared to the flappers of the 20s.  In the 60s the hippies showed up.  That was a big subsection and they showed up everywhere.  I used to wonder why such an uncreative name.  Hipster had already been used up, and there was no similarity between hipsters and hippies.  In fact, in some ways they were the exact opposites.  Now apparently, there's a new group in another new movement, same name, but completely different than hipsters.  Can the Department of Labels and Acronyms start coming up with new names for new groups, instead of just calling every new movement hipsters?  What do we pay these people for?

[stromboli]

Supposedly Hippies were a follow on to the beat generation, which saw everything from beat poetry (some of it is actually pretty good) drug usage to comedians like Lenny Bruce. "Howl" by Ginsburg should be  required reading for college students.

I have a full beard because initially it was traditional for the Sub service and I have some scars on my lower face that it covers. I have no tattoos, no distinguishing features and wear no jewelry. I am a white shadow. I can walk into any gun show, American Legion, VFW post and look like I belong. Short hair because I've had long hair and it was more effort to deal with it than cut it off. I can get a $6 haircut every other month and I'm good.

Tools and equipment? I've got tools that are older than people on the forum. I have a leather tool kit that dates originally back to the 60s. But I don't have anything I don't use on a more or less regular basis and I discard what is no longer useful by way of swaps or our yearly community yard sale.

I am all about practicality and what works. I understand hippies because people like Jeff Shurtleff founded Mother Earth News. The Whole Earth Catalog was in a way a precursor to the internet in book form. The editor, Kevin Kelly, was the first editor of Wired magazine and runs the "Cool Tools" website that I contribute to.

If I buy something it is because it is practical and has a use. Which is why I keep tools forever. My computer is 7 years old. I use a flip phone (gasp!) because I can text on it and that's all I need, being nearly deaf. I have a laptop I use mostly for word processing and watching CD videos and streaming Netflix. It is 2 years old.

All the above is why I don't get invited out much.

[Blackleaf]

For your education:

[stromboli]

Thanks for the video. About the only "quality" I could claim is having drunk Pabst Blue Ribbon. decades ago.

And I've known a share of hippies and none of them smelled.