I had a friend try to tell me that I need to cut my hair and shave my moustache because it makes me look like a hipster and "you're not a hipster." I've heard a lot of different descriptions that don't seem to match regarding what hipsters do and what they look like. Can someone explain to me what a hipster really is?

Definition of a Hipster

Hipster - One who possesses tastes, social attitudes, and opinions deemed cool by the cool. (Note: it is no longer recommended that one use the term "cool"; a Hipster would instead say "deck.") The Hipster walks among the masses in daily life but is not a part of them and shuns or reduces to kitsch anything held dear by the mainstream. A Hipster ideally possesses no more than 2% body fat.

http://www.hipsterhandbook.com/

Well, my motivations are not to be "deemed cool by the cool" (or deck). I had just cut my hair the same way for several years, and I got bored of it. The moustache is just a novelty in that now I can grow a real moustache, whereas when I was in my 20s, I could only grow bad-looking thin whiskers like one might see on the upper lip of a high school guy. Therefore, I don't consider myself a hipster.

Me either.

Back in the day, everyone I knew wore flannel when it was cold, liked well made old things and shopped at thrift stores.

We were called practical.

Years passed.

Then, "grunge" happened.

Suddenly, all the rich white kids wanted to look like working class locals, lumberjacks, fishermen and starving artists.

Same sheeple, different decade.

"Hipness is not a state of mind, it's a fact of life!" - Cannonball Adderley

"What's a hipster?"

The answer, my friend, is walking around on Hawthorne Blvd right now. Or did they all move over to Alberta? I have trouble keeping track.

"Listens to bands that you have never heard of. Has hairstyle that can only be described as "complicated." (Most likely achieved by a minimum of one week not washing it.) Probably tattooed. Maybe gay. Definitely cooler than you. Reads Black Book, Nylon, and the Styles section of the New York Times. Drinks Pabst Blue Ribbon. Often. Complains. Always denies being a hipster. Hates the word. Probably living off parents money - and spends a great deal of it to look like they don't have any. Has friends and/or self cut hair. Dyes it frequently (black, white-blonde, etc. and until scalp bleeds). Has a closet full of clothing but usually wears same three things OVER AND OVER (most likely very tight black pants, scarf, and ironic tee-shirt). Chips off nail polish artfully after $50 manicure. Sleeps with everyone and talks about it at great volume in crowded coffee shops. Addicted to coffee, cigarettes (Parliaments, Kamel Reds, Lucky Strikes, etc.), and possibly cocaine. Claims to be in a band. Rehearsals consist of choosing outfits for next show and drinking PBR. Always on the list. Majors or majored in art, writing, or queer studies. Name-drops. May go by "Penny Lane," "Eleanor Rigby," etc. when drunk. On PBR. Which is usually."

This from Wikipedia;

Hipster may refer to;

Hipster (1940s subculture)
Hipster (contemporary subculture)
Hipster PDA, a paper-based personal organizer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hipster

Don't forget the black, horn-rimmed glasses. It's a requirement.

OK, so here is my hipster score card:

• Listens to bands that you have never heard of. - matter of dispute
• Has hairstyle that can only be described as "complicated." (Most likely achieved by a minimum of one week not washing it.) - no
• Probably tattooed. - no
• Maybe gay. - no
• Definitely cooler than you. - no
• Reads Black Book, Nylon, and the Styles section of the New York Times. - no
• Drinks Pabst Blue Ribbon. Often. - no
• Complains. - yes
• Always denies being a hipster. - no
• Hates the word. - no
• Probably living off parents money - and spends a great deal of it to look like they don't have any. - no
• Has friends and/or self cut hair. - no
• Dyes it frequently (black, white-blonde, etc. and until scalp bleeds). - no
• Has a closet full of clothing but usually wears same three things OVER AND OVER (most likely very tight black pants, scarf, and ironic tee-shirt). - no
• Chips off nail polish artfully after $50 manicure. - no
• Sleeps with everyone and talks about it at great volume in crowded coffee shops. - no
• Addicted to
  • coffee - yes
  • cigarettes (Parliaments, Kamel Reds, Lucky Strikes, etc.) - no
  • cocaine - no
• Claims to be in a band. - no
• Majors or majored in art, writing, or queer studies. - no
• Name-drops. - no
• May go by "Penny Lane," "Eleanor Rigby," etc. when drunk. - no

"What's a hipster?"

Isn't that a style of pants usually seen on muffin top's?

Hipsters are followers in the world of culture. They aren't leaders, innovators or even all that creative. They just like being seen or looked at - but especially noticed. Always a tad late on the " scene " because they didn't want to commit to a look or way of thinking until they knew they wouldn't be alone.

That seems kinda shallow.

Here is the thing with PBR in Portland yeah its a hipster thing but you go to the suburbs and its usually the looked down on "cheap" beer and in rural communities is considered "the" beer of choice no that they no longer make Blitz.

# Listens to bands that you have never heard of. - To some extent, yes.
# Has hairstyle that can only be described as "complicated." (Most likely achieved by a minimum of one week not washing it.) - No.
# Probably tattooed. - Yes
# Maybe gay. - No
# Definitely cooler than you. - Lemme get back to you on that....
# Reads Black Book, Nylon, and the Styles section of the New York Times. - God, no.
# Drinks Pabst Blue Ribbon. Often. - Only if I need to induce vomiting
# Complains. - Constantly.
# Always denies being a hipster. - Can't say as I have, or haven't.......
# Hates the word. - Depends on which context it's used in. (see footnote)
# Probably living off parents money - and spends a great deal of it to look like they don't have any. - No
# Has friends and/or self cut hair. - No
# Dyes it frequently (black, white-blonde, etc. and until scalp bleeds). - Used to when I was still a Cascade Cougar, but grew out of that phase
# Has a closet full of clothing but usually wears same three things OVER AND OVER..... - To some extent
# Chips off nail polish artfully after $50 manicure. - No
# Sleeps with everyone and talks about it at great volume in crowded coffee shops. - No
# Addicted to

* coffee - Yes, and tea
* cigarettes (Parliaments, Kamel Reds, Lucky Strikes, etc.) - No
* cocaine - No

# Claims to be in a band. - Was for a while when I was an EHS Plainsman
# Majors or majored in art, writing, or queer studies. - No
# Name-drops. - I try not to
# May go by "Penny Lane," "Eleanor Rigby," etc. when drunk. - No



*Footnote:
This is a Hipster.

At least, it is if you've spent any considerable amount of time around the southern parts of Vancouver Island in the mid-late 1990s. ;o)

> *Footnote:
> This is a Hipster.

I've always found those things geeky, and I never have had a desire to wear one.

Same here.

Doesn't the word come from "hippie", or vice-versa?

When I was a kid growing up in Seattle, often times the family entertainment would be to drive through the U-District to see the "hippies"! I think parents told us not to "point".

Doesn't the word come from "hippie", or vice-versa?

I thought it did too, Paul.

Now by the definitions above it sounds to be a cross between Goth, Yuppie, geek and Gen X with a little bit of slob thrown in for good measure!

I'll always be a hippie at heart.

Remember; Old hippies never die, they just trim their beards! (that's me!)

* Listens to bands that you have never heard of. - yes, but I share
* Has hairstyle that can only be described as "complicated." - no
* Probably tattooed. - no
* Maybe gay. - no
* Definitely cooler than you. - no
* Reads news section of the New York Times. - yes
* Drinks Pabst Blue Ribbon. Often. - never drink at all
* Complains. - yes, about injustice
* Always denies being a hipster. - yes, in a modern way
* Hates the word. - not in a jazz context
* Probably living off parents money - no
* Has friends and/or self cut hair. - yes, clippers
* Dyes it frequently - no
* Has a closet full of clothing but usually wears same three things OVER AND OVER (most likely very tight black pants, scarf, and ironic tee-shirt). - no
* Chips off nail polish artfully after $50 manicure. - no
* Sleeps with everyone and talks about it at great volume in crowded coffee shops. - no
* Addicted to
o coffee - yes
o cigarettes - yes
o cocaine - no
* Claims to be in a band. - yes, quietly
* Majors or majored in art, writing, or queer studies. - no, but my girlfriend has a B.F.A.
* Name-drops. - no
* May go by "Penny Lane," "Eleanor Rigby," etc. when drunk. - no

(Zak -- I love Nanaimo!)

* Listens to bands that you have never heard of. - Sometimes
* Has hairstyle that can only be described as "complicated." (Most likely achieved by a minimum of one week not washing it.) - No (mine can't fall out fast enough for me!)
* Probably tattooed. - No
* Maybe gay. - Hell no
* Definitely cooler than you. - No
* Reads Black Book, Nylon, and the Styles section of the New York Times. - Nope. Never heard of them. (The sections, not the NY Times)
* Drinks Pabst Blue Ribbon. Often. - Hell No
* Complains. - Yes, all the time!
* Always denies being a hipster. - No
* Hates the word. - No
* Probably living off parents money - and spends a great deal of it to look like they don't have any. - No
* Has friends and/or self cut hair. - No
* Dyes it frequently (black, white-blonde, etc. and until scalp bleeds). - Nope. I've earned every one of these gray hairs!
* Has a closet full of clothing but usually wears same three things OVER AND OVER (most likely very tight black pants, scarf, and ironic tee-shirt). - No
* Chips off nail polish artfully after $50 manicure. - Hell No. Real men don't wear nail polish.
* Sleeps with everyone and talks about it at great volume in crowded coffee shops. - Hell No

Addicted to:

* coffee - No
* cigarettes (Parliaments, Kamel Reds, Lucky Strikes, etc.) - Hell No
* cocaine - Hell No
* Diet Coke - Yes (My addition!)

* Claims to be in a band. - No
* Majors or majored in art, writing, or queer studies. - No
* Name-drops. - No
* May go by "Penny Lane," "Eleanor Rigby," etc. when drunk. - No