Hipster

Lately the word "hipster" is flying out of the mouths of everyone and their mother. According to Wikipedia, the word "hipster" was coined by Harry Gibson in 1940. His stage name was "Harry the Hipster." Back then, "hipster" described jazz performers.

These days, the word takes on an entirely different meaning-one with a negative connotation. It is defined by urbandictionary.com as

" A pretentious person who thinks s/he is cultured and often superior to others simply because s/he listens to indie music, watches art films, and drinks overly expensive coffee at coffee houses that are often crowded with other hipsters. They delude themselves to the point of thinking they're more refined than everyone else when they're really just pseudo-intellectuals who need to stop wearing used clothing and take showers more often."

Now, I'm not going to go and argue that I'm not a hipster. I probably am. I listen to indie music, watch art films, and drink coffee at hipster places (caffeine dreams shout out!). Hell, my favorite places to shop are Urban Outfitters and thrift stores. That's pretty much the definition of hipster. But one thing that bothers me is the negative connotation of "hipster".

Hipsters, or at least "true" "authentic" hipsters, who aren't just in it for the fashion (important distinction) became hipsters originally to step away from the mainstream. Back in the early 2000s when Fiddy Cent ruled da clubs and da world, these hipsters felt fake listening to gangsta rap in their cushy suburban homes. These kids needed softer music, like The Shins, to fulfill their whiny and non-gangsta desires. Thus, hipsters were born.

They weren't quite hipsters yet, just kids that were different. Then, as more white children realized they weren't gangster, the bandwagon became the hipster wagon, and everyone jumped on. It was cool to not listen to rap anymore. Hence, "hipster" as we know it today was born. It was cool to pretend to be different. In doing so, everyone is the same.

Anyone who hears "hipster" pictures kids with big headphones, plaid shirts, skinny jeans and chucks. Nowadays, this has become a UNIFORM for all "hipsters." This has become fashionable, even to those are are not hipsters. Ergo, the hipsters' original dream of being different and authentic has died.

"I killed hipster!"

From now on, when one balks at being called a hipster (as I do so often..."IM NOT A HIPSTER"), I hope they will remember this and think of the original hipster. It's not an insult, fellow hipsters. It just means that you are/were trying to break away from the mainstream...unless of course you were one of the kids who jumped on the hipster wagon, in which case, fuck you, you goddamn hipster...

"I'm the best hipster of them all!!"