Could someone explain what a "hipster" is, please?

[Kevin D]

The word keeps appearing online and in shows I like, but I have no idea what it means.

 

Google was no help, either, as it's definitions were just a serious of traits that often contradicted other aforementioned traits and left me bewildered.

 

What does a British one look like? What do they talk about? Do they have a shibboleth? Why do people hate them?

[lifetime fan]

It's a horrible 'cut' of boxers that dig in to you causing excruciating pain if you've a set bigger than two fifty pence peices.

[TheBitch]

Hipster.

 

Hipsters are a subculture of men and women typically in their 20's and 30's that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter. The greatest concentrations of hipsters can be found living in the Williamsburg, Wicker Park, and Mission District neighborhoods of major cosmopolitan centers such as New York, Chicago, and San Francisco respectively. Although "hipsterism" is really a state of mind,it is also often intertwined with distinct fashion sensibilities. Hipsters reject the culturally-ignorant attitudes of mainstream consumers, and are often be seen wearing vintage and thrift store inspired fashions, tight-fitting jeans, old-school sneakers, and sometimes thick rimmed glasses. Both hipster men and women sport similar androgynous hair styles that include combinations of messy shag cuts and asymmetric side-swept bangs. Such styles are often associated with the work of creative stylists at urban salons, and are usually too "edgy" for the culturally-sheltered mainstream consumer. The "effortless cool" urban bohemian look of a hipster is exemplified in Urban Outfitters and American Apparel ads which cater towards the hipster demographic. Despite misconceptions based on their aesthetic tastes, hipsters tend to be well educated and often have liberal arts degrees, or degrees in maths and sciences, which also require certain creative analytical thinking abilities.

 

But really...

 

Definitions are too mainstream.

Hipster's can't be defined because then they'd fit in a category, and thus be too mainstream.

[chauncey]

 

For the British mid-00s variant, watch Nathan Barley.

[Pony Princess]

Basically faggots who wear thick glasses and love apple products because they think they are so trendy. They sometimes wear old-style clothes which is acceptable but they make it massively gay by making such a big issue over it 'oooh I'm wearing old clothes, loook at me'. They read books in public and thinks that is 'edgy'.

 

Worst sub-culture ever. They have no good music, no good culture, not edgy or non-conformist at all, completely pointless. Massive bellends.

 

You know that type of sub-culture that you leave behind as you grow up, but in the future you go 'yeah I was a X, good times man'. Well, being a hipster isn't one of them because it is embarrassing and shitty. Hipsters really need to be punched in the cunt with a glove made of fist. Masculinity is slowly being destroyed by the feminist movement and other forces - the hipsters are absolute victims of this and they are running with the idea that men should be girly. They should be destroyed if manliness is to be saved.

[L19red]

we used to call them dickheads, stick with that and you'll be fine.

 

[YOUTUBE]JmWN9VYZXfY[/YOUTUBE]

[brucespanner]

A self congratulatory bunch of berks with far too much disposable income and far too little self awareness.

[Rico1304]

That über-cunt Grimmy from Radio 1, he's a hipster. And a cunt, did I mention that.

[Kevin D]

You're all absolutely terrible at explanations.

[chauncey]

You're all absolutely terrible at explanations.

 

You must have been living under a rock for about five years; hipsters are everywhere.

[Pony Princess]

A self congratulatory bunch of berks with far too much disposable income and far too little self awareness.

 

According to the recent class-thingy they all work in shoe and mobile phone shops. Their disposable income after rent etc is the £50 they made on sales commission for this month and they spent it on a rubberized holder for their faggy iPad.

 

They went to the local pub to show it off, sat for eight hours and didn't buy a pint. The pub owner felt he should have told him and his friends to buy a pint or fuck off, but the new hate-crime laws make this a real minefield.

 

Essentially hipsters are just massive fucking fags without the balls to admit they are gay. I love subcultures but being a hipster isn't edgy or cool. Sorry bro, you are just a massive homosexual.

[Kevin D]

You must have been living under a rock for about five years; hipsters are everywhere.

 

That may be true, but as I explained in the opening post, I have no idea what they look or talk like.

[Faustus]

You're all absolutely terrible at explanations.

 

I actually think all the descriptions have been spot on, personally.

[lifetime fan]

Hipsters are horrible like this;

 

 

 

 

If you've a real pair you need more room.

 

 

[Pony Princess]

That may be true, but as I explained in the opening post, I have no idea what they look or talk like.

 

 

[Anubis]

I can only provide a photographic definition - but basically hipsters like to use that fucking Instagram app on their iPhone that makes all photographs look yellow and faded because they've convinced themselves that vintage is the epitome of cool.

 

If they use an actual camera, its usually a Holga - a shitty plastic 35mm film camera that produces pictures with heavy vignetting.

 

The girl in this Crumpler advert is a Hipster, although Crumpler are deluding themselves if they think she'd pay out for one of their bags when you can get a pretend 70s Dunlop one. In the real world it would be for the best if one of the others pushed her off the roof. Hey, anyone can take a tumble in urban exploration...

 

[YOUTUBE]bkwRWFXctOA&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/YOUTUBE]

[Pidge]

I think the OP was made ironically and Kevin D is actually a massive try-hard hipster dickhead.

[Trumo]

I was going to suggest people who wear skinny jeans, have deliberately messed up hair and listen to Ed Shearer or whatever the fuck he's called. I think most of the previous posts appear to bear that out somewhat.

[chauncey]

What does a British one look like?

 

A bearded Belsen freak whose clothes were slavishly chosen by a blind man browsing ASOS. Thick rimmed glasses (Native American headdress optional).

 

What do they talk about?

 

Apple products and music you haven't heard of.

 

Do they have a shibboleth?

 

The Steve Jobs book is their bible. Audiobook, obviously.

 

Why do people hate them?

 

They are young and still have their hopes and dreams.

 

Now get back under that rock, granddad.

[Kevin D]

A bearded Belsen freak whose clothes were slavishly chosen by a blind man browsing ASOS. Thick rimmed glasses (Native American headdress optional).

 

 

 

Apple products and music you haven't heard of.

 

 

 

The Steve Jobs book is their bible. Audiobook, obviously.

 

 

 

They are young and still have their hopes and dreams.

 

Now get back under that rock, granddad.

 

Cheers. Final question, how much of this revolves around their fashion? Is it common to meet people who dress like they do, but aren't hipsters? And can you be a hipster without dressing like that?

[Anubis]

Glove and Boots have got this for you, Kev.

 

 

[YOUTUBE]jbTI7eWaQbk&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/YOUTUBE]

[stevebaby]

[Champ]

 

For the British mid-00s variant, watch Nathan Barley.

 

Geek or dork maybe but he aint no hipster

[mattyq]

Why do people hate hipsters? | Fashion | The Guardian

[bri]

instead of using "Hipster" use "absolute twat"