# So what is a hipster exactly? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 20, 2011, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-a-hipster-exactly/600226 "2011-10-20T07:28:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![The\_Lovely\_Margo\_Lane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/34f0e0/32.png) [@The\_Lovely\_Margo\_Lane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Lovely_Margo_Lane)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-a-hipster-exactly/600226/81 "2011-10-21T16:57:46Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > As has been said hipsters never want to be identified as hipster, but I recently had a sighting of a person hoping to be identified as a hipster: > > I was talking with a friend of mine on the street and his friend. I’m 44 and the friend of the friend is probably 50. We were talking about an incident that involved the cops on my street that I had witnessed, but they had not. I said “it happened up on that corner by where the hipsters live.” > > The friend of a friend said, “well, don’t you consider yourself a hipster, I know I’m one.” I laughed and said, “dude, we’re both way too old for anyone to consider us hipsters,” I was joking but I could see I had accidentally chipped away at an important part of his identity. Most of the (in their 20s) hipsters I know who will cop to it refer to themselves as “Scenesters” ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-a-hipster-exactly/600226/82 "2011-10-21T17:01:34Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > But how do you _know_ they consider themselves “specially unique”? > > Don’t be bitter. We all grow old. Unless we die young… Get off my lawn! I happen to be very good at being bitter 😉 (I was just referring to stuff already mentioned upthread - folks who think they have some cool, obscure reference or fashion choice, or whatever…that many of their peers have, too…) ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-a-hipster-exactly/600226/83 "2011-10-21T20:16:31Z")
What is a hipster? “Everything you hate.” [/Obligatory Kane quote] ---
**Author:** ![GovernmentMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9c0ed/32.png) [@GovernmentMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GovernmentMan)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-a-hipster-exactly/600226/84 "2011-10-21T21:29:50Z")
> [@The\_Lovely\_Margo\_Lane](#): > > Most of the (in their 20s) hipsters I know who will cop to it refer to themselves as “Scenesters” scenesters are a completely different scene. they’re emo kids. girls with the racoon hair and guys with eye liner, etc [![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9On3-x6YRfI/SO0CvOc7S9I/AAAAAAAAAzs/XmFjCGpAMs0/s400/scenesters.jpg) ](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9On3-x6YRfI/SO0CvOc7S9I/AAAAAAAAAzs/XmFjCGpAMs0/s400/scenesters.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Lovely\_Margo\_Lane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/34f0e0/32.png) [@The\_Lovely\_Margo\_Lane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Lovely_Margo_Lane)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-a-hipster-exactly/600226/85 "2011-10-21T22:04:21Z")
> [@GovernmentMan](#): > > scenesters are a completely different scene. they’re emo kids. girls with the racoon hair and guys with eye liner, etc > > [http://3.bp.blogspot.com/\_9On3-x6YRfI/SO0CvOc7S9I/AAAAAAAAAzs/XmFjCGpAMs0/s400/scenesters.jpg](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9On3-x6YRfI/SO0CvOc7S9I/AAAAAAAAAzs/XmFjCGpAMs0/s400/scenesters.jpg) And here we get to the heart of the problem with trying to define these things in any but the most general terms. I personally know people who fit the working definition of contemporary hipster laid out in this thread who refer to themselves as scenesters. In my experience, scenesters can be used to refer to young people heavily into a variety of different “scenes” - the one you link to being only one of them. The kids I’m thinking of consider themselves part of an indie-rock/fixie bike etc “scene” but to my eyes they are pretty much hipsters full stop. I don’t think either is fully correct or that they’re mutually exclusive. I just think it’s a little amusing that one is considered a positive self-applied label by individuals who shudder at the other label, while fitting it in appearance. The opposite of “scenester” is probably dilettante or poser - someone only superficially into the given scene. Hipsters can be either in relation to one or multiple scenes. ---
**Author:** ![GovernmentMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9c0ed/32.png) [@GovernmentMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GovernmentMan)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-a-hipster-exactly/600226/86 "2011-10-21T22:23:21Z")
> [@The\_Lovely\_Margo\_Lane](#): > > And here we get to the heart of the problem with trying to define these things in any but the most general terms. I personally know people who fit the working definition of contemporary hipster laid out in this thread who refer to themselves as scenesters. In my experience, scenesters can be used to refer to young people heavily into a variety of different “scenes” - the one you link to being only one of them. The kids I’m thinking of consider themselves part of an indie-rock/fixie bike etc “scene” but to my eyes they are pretty much hipsters full stop. I don’t think either is fully correct or that they’re mutually exclusive. I just think it’s a little amusing that one is considered a positive self-applied label by individuals who shudder at the other label, while fitting it in appearance. > > The opposite of “scenester” is probably dilettante or poser - someone only superficially into the given scene. Hipsters can be either in relation to one or multiple scenes. What kind of bands do they listen to? Because from my experience scenester only applied to guys who listened to emo, screamo, posthardcore, metalcore, etc ---
**Author:** ![The\_Lovely\_Margo\_Lane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/34f0e0/32.png) [@The\_Lovely\_Margo\_Lane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Lovely_Margo_Lane)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-a-hipster-exactly/600226/87 "2011-10-21T23:21:44Z")
> [@GovernmentMan](#): > > What kind of bands do they listen to? Because from my experience scenester only applied to guys who listened to emo, screamo, posthardcore, metalcore, etc Art-rock, electronica, noise and general indie, in different ratios. Also, most of these kids identify more strongly with certain artsy hobbies or activities like biking rather than just a genre of music. The [first definition here](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=scenester) fits how I’ve always understood it, which is not genre-specific but rather referring to the degree of immersion. Also, what is your deal with hipsters? ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-a-hipster-exactly/600226/88 "2011-10-21T23:30:57Z")
> [@Tully\_Mars](#): > > Or, to point a finer point on it: “youngish person whom I find annoying because they’re young and I’m not.” The only people I’ve ever seen dishing out hipster hate are ones my age and I’m 21. People can say that labels like “weaboo,” “emo” and “hipster” are meaningless, but type that shit into Google images and a definite pattern emerges. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-a-hipster-exactly/600226/89 "2011-10-21T23:45:38Z")
[Hipster bike.](http://thepwnzone.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/hipster-dog-meme-generator-hipster-dog-says-ugh-walking-is-so-mainstream-b6385e.jpg?w=510) [Hipster Ariel.](http://s-ak.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/terminal01/2011/2/22/14/enhanced-buzz-30296-1298404780-9.jpg) [Hipster Friday.](http://blog.joerenken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Rebecca-Black-Friday-Hipster-Meme.jpg) [More hipster Ariel.](http://www.sadanduseless.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/ariel.jpg) [Hipster Indiana Jones.](http://files.sharenator.com/memes_hipster_dr_jones_Meme_base-s476x500-144226.jpg) [Hipster hobbits.](http://wildammo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/7.png) [Hipster Einstein.](http://www.verbicidemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/hipster_einstein1.jpg) [Hipster Gandalf.](http://roflrazzi.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/b0ffee9c-954c-4577-8a9a-3e5d1141c361.jpg) [Hipster Commander Shepard.](http://cdn.pastemagazine.com/www/system/images/thumbs/www/articles_2011_03_16/HE11_300x410.jpg?1300299365) ---
**Author:** ![GovernmentMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9c0ed/32.png) [@GovernmentMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GovernmentMan)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-a-hipster-exactly/600226/90 "2011-10-21T23:56:55Z")
I don’t get the “hipsters only like obscure stuff” either. If Pitchfork is any indication of what hipster like, then they like plenty of mainstream stuff ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-a-hipster-exactly/600226/91 "2011-10-22T00:03:07Z")
You remind me of **PSxer**. You’ve probably never heard of him. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Lovely\_Margo\_Lane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/34f0e0/32.png) [@The\_Lovely\_Margo\_Lane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Lovely_Margo_Lane)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-a-hipster-exactly/600226/92 "2011-10-22T00:08:23Z")
> [@GovernmentMan](#): > > I don’t get the “hipsters only like obscure stuff” either. > > If Pitchfork is any indication of what hipster like, then they like plenty of mainstream stuff Hipsters like to think that they are ahead of the curve and/or quirky and original. So obscurity is considered a positive trait and assigned to things that may or may not be objectively “obscure”. What is your deal with hipsters? ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-a-hipster-exactly/600226/93 "2011-10-22T00:28:19Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I was really into this thread before there were any replies. 😃 _That_ is definitely one of the defining characteristics of the annoying type of hipsters. There’s also the idea that some hipsters are not only trying too hard but looking down on other people for not doing so. In most cases the latter is not true, but it certainly can come across that way. Many of my friends are hipsters of some sort or other, mostly not the annoying type, just the way they dress and the hobbies they have. I think only my dress sense prevented me ever being characterised as a hipster - I live in Bethnal Green, was a bass player in a punk band, and work (kinda) in the media. But I also live here just because I live here - I didn’t move here because it was cool. But, especially on a Sunday, I am surrounded by hipsters. It’s like a fashion show. > [@Jragon](#): > > “Ironically” wearing something basically means you don’t like the way it looks, but you wear it because it’s hideous and wearing hideous things is mildly amusing to you. Or something like that. > > Weeaboo is the old 4chan censor for “wapanese,” which, like “wigger” defined a white person (or in reality, any non-Asian) who like to pretend or act like they were Japanese or liked Japanese culture to the absolute exclusion of American culture. Unfortunately, it kind of evolved over time to the point that mentioning you prefer cartoons to live action at all (even if it’s not only Japanese ones), or just happening to like any anime that’s not Cowboy Bebop, or indeed making any comment about Japanese culture not filled with hate and revulsion for anybody that finds it interesting or attractive will get you branded a dreaded weeaboo. Which is a shame, since it’s supposed to specifically label people who don’t feel they belong in their own culture, and project their own values and ideals onto Japanese culture and self-identify as if they “belong” in that culture, often being hilariously mistaken about it in the process. > > This usually involves a lot of the following: > > Liking crappy anime “just because it’s anime” and not grading the show on its merits, but simply because it’s a Japanese cartoon. > > Assuming if you go to Japan you’ll be accepted because of such a love for their culture (read: anime), when in reality most of the things they “love” would cause you to be treated, at best, with mild distaste by the general populace (and that’s the best case scenario). > > Relentlessly pursuing a Japanese girlfriend/boyfriend to the exclusion of all else. > > Note the pattern of “to exclusion of all else.” Just liking Japan, or wanting to move there, or happening to have a Japanese SO doesn’t (or rather originally didn’t/shouldn’t) make you a weeaboo, it’s when somebody becomes so focused and entranced by their distorted mental vision of Japanese culture that they basically completely reject their own culture from a “grass is always greener” standpoint, often devolving into assuming things are better simply because they’re Japanese. My God, it’s like you’re describing my daughter! She’s only 13 though, and is intentionally choosing a ‘tribe’ to fit into because it’s an easy way of socialising. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-a-hipster-exactly/600226/94 "2011-10-22T00:32:49Z")
> [@GovernmentMan](#): > > I don’t get the “hipsters only like obscure stuff” either. > > If Pitchfork is any indication of what hipster like, then they like plenty of mainstream stuff All those “hot new bands” on Pitchfork? They sold out. Real hipsters were listening to them last year. They only listen to that mainstream stuff to be ironic. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-a-hipster-exactly/600226/95 "2011-10-22T00:39:21Z")
Ah, hipsters. The perpetually tortured teenager that’s just too old for this world. ---
**Author:** ![GovernmentMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9c0ed/32.png) [@GovernmentMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GovernmentMan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-a-hipster-exactly/600226/96 "2011-10-22T00:46:54Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > All those “hot new bands” on Pitchfork? They sold out. Real hipsters were listening to them last year. They only listen to that mainstream stuff to be ironic. Well, according to the poster before you, SciFiSam, that’s only one type of hipster. Though, honestly, I can’t tell whether this is a serious post or a sarcastic one. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-a-hipster-exactly/600226/97 "2011-10-22T03:16:58Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > What if their parents were hippies or hipsters? I finally found [this picture](http://www.thefugs.com/fugsfinal.html). Was it a New Yorker cover first? Now it’s adorning _The Fugs Final CD (Part 1)_. Ah, the Fugs! The last gasp of the Beats? (Hey, they sang lyrics by The Originally Beatific William Blake.) Nobody ever called himself a Beatnik–until Fug Ed Sanders wrote _Tales of Beatnik Glory_. Then he went on to try to levitate the Pentagon. (And is [still going](http://www.woodstockjournal.com/).) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-a-hipster-exactly/600226/98 "2011-10-22T06:32:24Z")
I’m confused. The thread title is “what is a hipster exactly?” but the OP seems to have a very precise idea of what hipsters are and very strong feelings about them. What’s the point of this? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-a-hipster-exactly/600226/99 "2011-10-22T08:45:15Z")
To maunder on about hipsters. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-a-hipster-exactly/600226/100 "2011-10-22T09:03:32Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I’m confused. The thread title is “what is a hipster exactly?” but the OP seems to have a very precise idea of what hipsters are and very strong feelings about them. What’s the point of this? He doesn’t really know what a hipster is because knowing what hipsters are is too mainstream. Also, [Hipster Kitty](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/hipster-kitty#.TqKGSp5Co8k) and [Hipster Ariel](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/hipster-mermaid-hipster-ariel#.TqKGvJ5Co8k) (sorry, call her Helvetica). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-a-hipster-exactly/600226.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-a-hipster-exactly/600226.md?page=6)