What does the word "hipster" mean to you?

[Thaluikhain]

For me, it's about people who use "ironically" as a defence.

Someone says or does something racist or sexist or something? That's bad.

Someone does the exact same thing, but say's it's ok because they were doing it "ironically"? That's a hipster.

 

[FalloutJack]

Hipsters... They're those people that talk out of their ass about whatever they're big fans about, right? You know, snobby pricks? Or is that fanboys? I dunno, is it? Someone help me out here.

 

[R Man]

I find the only requirement one needs is to embrace a contrary lifestyle for the sake of being contrary.

Proving the latter is difficult but often times the subject gives themselves away either through admission or overwhelming occurrences.

So a hipster is only a hipster if they're different on purpose, in your opinion?

No, they're different WITH the purpose of being different. Someone can be different and that doesn't make them a hipster, it's being different for the sake of being different that makes someone a hipster.

It's almost like there's two flavours of ice cream. Vanilla and poo. Everyone's taking vanilla but the hipster takes poo. Not because he likes the taste of poo but because he wants to fight the current for the sake of fighting the current. He picks poo because everyone else is picking vanilla.

He's not contrary because his tastes are different - contrary IS his taste. Contrary is the objective.

If one doesn?t meet that criteria for something then they?re not being a hipster about something.

They can, however, just be a dickhead.

That might just be the best definition of a hipster ever.

 

[BQE]

I find the only requirement one needs is to embrace a contrary lifestyle for the sake of being contrary.

Proving the latter is difficult but often times the subject gives themselves away either through admission or overwhelming occurrences.

So a hipster is only a hipster if they're different on purpose, in your opinion?

No, they're different WITH the purpose of being different. Someone can be different and that doesn't make them a hipster, it's being different for the sake of being different that makes someone a hipster.

It's almost like there's two flavours of ice cream. Vanilla and poo. Everyone's taking vanilla but the hipster takes poo. Not because he likes the taste of poo but because he wants to fight the current for the sake of fighting the current. He picks poo because everyone else is picking vanilla.

He's not contrary because his tastes are different - contrary IS his taste. Contrary is the objective.

If one doesn?t meet that criteria for something then they?re not being a hipster about something.

They can, however, just be a dickhead.

That might just be the best definition of a hipster ever.

Well I think the reason might be because he just effectively defined a contrarian.

con·trar·i·an (Google Dictionary)

noun: contrarian; plural noun: contrarians

a person who opposes or rejects popular opinion, esp. in stock exchange dealing.

adjective: contrarian

opposing or rejecting popular opinion; going against current practice.

"the comment came more from a contrarian disposition than moral conviction"

I'd say they were nearly interchangeable but in my experience hipster oft pertains to those are contrary in regard to fashion, hobbies, and things of that nature.

 

[thiosk]

A hipster is a pretty hip ster, at least on rainy thursdays. Dont ask about monday.

 

[TakerFoxx]

In my social life, I'm called a hipster often. It's become a frequent go-to heckling amongst my friends. I don't try to be a hipster, nor consider myself one. It doesn't bother me to be called a hipster, I know I fit some of the stereotypes, so I can't blame people for the association. While I know what the idea of a hipster is,I do not actually know much about actual hipsters.

So I pose this question to you: What does hipster mean to you? Is it a social trend, a lifestyle, a mentality? Is it the kind of annoying guy that thinks he's better than you because he knows bands you don't? Please share your opinions and let's have a civil discussion, not a hate thread.

Well, based upon what I see, you're not a hipster, you're an indie kid (i.e. someone who likes a lot of independent music and whose tastes don't naturally gravitate to the mainstream). There's a lot of overlap, so they're often confused for each other. But the difference is the attitude. If you're trying to tell your friends about those underground bands because you think they're good and more people should listen to them, then you're not a hipster. But if you're doing it because you feel that only the independent scene can produce quality music and you feel obligated to fight a war against the atrocious mainstream, you're a hipster.

 

[Korolev]

To me it means people who are obsessed with staying on the "cutting" edge of social trends, desperately trying to be "different" and "edgy" for the sake of being different and edgy. These people desperately don't want to be "mainstream" or "like the others" and in doing so adopt fashion trends and cultural trends (that others have made). It's quite funny. The hipster doesn't think for himself or herself - merely blindly tries to be "hip" and "with it" and follows after other people.

They are also obsessed with showing off how different they are to everyone else - although they claim that they don't care what others think about them, their dress sense and their cloying, borderline pathetic need to have other "hipsters" verify them as being "authentic" shows just how much they indeed DO care what others think about them.

In short, they are people who are desperate to show people just how special and unique and great they are, so much so that they adopt trends from other people who they view as being special and unique and great. They are so very eager to show how much better they are, so much more enlightened and clever and unique and progressive and non-judgmental than the rest of us plebs who they look down upon and scoff at. Very enlightened and non-judgemental indeed.

 

[ShadyNinja]

Some things that come to mind when mentioning Hipsters

likes Apple products and acts like it is the second coming of the messiah and will always bash non apple products.
Don't be surprised if a Hipster owns a couple Macs, iPods, iPads, all the accessories etc.

Wears generic non label or unknown brand name clothes that aren't mainstream.
The materials for these clothes will usually be from recycled materials, eco friendly, biodegradable etc.
Will have very weird designs and logos or sometimes mainstream stuff that are worn to be ironic. Like a Hipster with a Transformers shirt probably actually hates the show but wears it to get some laughs with their hipster friends and make fans of Transformers that compliment him on the shirt feel awkward and the hipster feeds off the awkwardness and superior feeling.

Like to wear Fedoras or Beanie hat

Don't shave and get beards but some keep themselves shaved too.

Will wear what are called "hipster glasses"

Will prefer to ride a bicycle like a city bike or Moped or something instead of a car.

They will usually be "healthy eaters" in that they won't eat junk food or normal regular food. Instead they will be picky and eat like biological organics foods, homegrown foods, locally or personally grown foods and might have a vegan or vegetarian diet.

Usually have a communist socialist political leaning
Some have a save the animals save the planet activism lifestyle to save the rainforests and stuff.


usually atheist or agnostic but some are into new age and zen Buddhist type stuff.

Will like artistic or nature stuff
Hipsters might move to a city and date artists that draw paintings or sculpt stuff in their apartments.
Get into discussions about art and new modern art.

Will go on a nature trek with a group of hipsters in the wilderness for days.

Crafts like making their own necklaces, pottery and stuff


Listen to indie obscure music groups that no one knows about and that have concerts where like only 300 people go to and CDs that are given for free. The Music is usually soft classic rock stuff or modern new wave stuff.
They will usually hate on any popular songs and music from any genre so at a party or anything with a song you like they will usually hate it and let you know.


You can't really hang out with a hipster that is more than 50% hipster because everything you like they won't like and so it isn't fun.

The tv shows you like well they don't watch tv.
the games you like well they only play apple games or indie games on pc.
music you like they hate
opinions and beliefs they are completely different than yours.


And the thing that people probably hate more about hipsters is the arrogance and stuck up superior act they put on when around non hipsters.


Also hipsters never call themselves hipsters or view themselves as hipsters.
so if asked they will always say "I'm not a hipster" and be offended.






Anyway I would be fine being friends with the OP and I don't really know him in person so I won't judge or anything.
I just wrote some stuff that comes to mind to most people when hipster is mentioned.

 

[Nazulu]

I fucking hate this word. Does it mean someone who likes whatever they like regardless of whats popular, or someone who doesn't like anything that has become popular? I swear, there is so many damn meanings for it it's ridiculous.

 

[Feedmeketamine]

To me its differentiating yourself and expressing your individuality by liking the exact same things and dressing the exact same way as your hipster crew.
People wearing hipsterish clothes, (skinny jeans, fake glasses) always look like posers.

Ive got nothing against them though, just another subbaculture, but i preffered the goths when they were around

 

[UniversalRonin]

To me a hipster is someone who makes an effort to be quirky/ someone who thinks that quirkyness can be bought and makes them unique.

Now, aside from the oxymoron of making an effort to be quirky, I don't have anything against them or anyone who wants to be anti trend. I ran with the skate-punk crowd at school. Baggy jeans, Offspring/ AFI/ Vandals T-shirts and bright green hair etc, and a pair of Globes. Always a pair of globes. But we didn't think we were doing it to be quirky, jut to express ourselves differently from what we considered the sheeple. (RATM was big in those days.) Ahh! This is all so nostalgic!

Anyway, as I was saying, a hipster, to me is someone who want's to be a unique snowflake, who makes themselves as quirky as they can, just to add to their unique persona. Is it an insult? I was about to say not really, but then I realised that whenever I call someone it it's not normally in a nice context.

 

[TheKrigeron]

Disclaimer: I do not in any way intend to offend anyone with the following opinion.

The people I actually call hipsters tend to embody the negative stereotypes associated with the term. The pretentious attitude, the over the top and usually failed attempts to prove that they don't conform with society, etc. Ironically enough, just like many goths, their actions often just prove that they let society determine their choices after all, albeit in a slightly unusual manner.

As for those who remain, that is to say the more reasonable individuals that have similar superficial characteristics but are missing the toxic attitude. I tend to simply consider those people to be the newest generation of beatniks. Beatniks were a 50s-60s era social group with very similar ideals to the trend in question.

That's actually a very civilized and insightful answer. I knew a lot of goth kids back in the day that tried to prove society and trends didn't affect them, but went so hard against those things that they would avoid things that were trendy, hence making their lives directed by them. It's kind of ironic when people try so hard to be unique and all end up acting the same, like you said. I don't actually go against or with trends, I just do my own thing without any regard for it. My friend says that makes me a proto-hipster.

Then your friend must have plyed GTA V

OT: I think it's someone who dislikes things just because they got popular.
It's the kind of people who crtisizes Games/movies/anything without trying them out, a hipster is a guy who demands negative Reviews for "Balance', a hipster is... a sheep. It's just a new trend that is suposed to go against trends, stupid if you ask me.

 

[Evonisia]

I want to say "my friends" but that would require context.

I am aware that Hipster did at one point have a proper definition, but nowadays I just see them as pretentious, badly groomed people who listen to indie music and go on about how superior they are to everyone else despite never showing any indication that they are 'superior'. They also show a distaste for selling out because said 'sell-outs' once had integrity.

However that definition would perhaps extend to me, and most of England for that matter. I suppose it's just the attitude and potentially wearing 'hipster glasses' that sets off my alarm.

 

[hazabaza1]

Twats.

Also those people who wear the trousers that sag at the butt area but are then skinny on the legs.

 

[King Billi]

Hipster?

I honestly don't know but it kinda sounds like the name of Batman villain dosen't it? Some costumed rogue who commits crimes through the art of salsa dancing.

Beware the Hipster!

 

[Yuno Gasai]

Hipster is another of those annoying circulating terms which mean a thousand different things to a thousand different people.

Personally, I associate the word 'hipster' with liking things "ironically" (which is absolutely ridiculous itself) and anyone with a desire to insist that they liked X before you and/or before it was cool.

I guess we could get into fashion - wearing thrift shop clothes and/or skinny jeans, - but I don't see a lot of them around.

 

[Mausthemighty]

Hipsters: Annoying people with big glasses, bad hair, they have a lot of Apple products, they drink special coffee and are posers. Usually they have a scarf (very manly) and have a smug attitude.

Glad I'm not one of them.