November 8th, 2007
Justin’s Hipster Rebuttal
The hipster debate is now officially open. Yes Amy, we have been to Urban Outfitters more than “two separate occasions” and you go without me even more than that.
For a quick review of a hipster take a look at Amy’s definition. In that post Amy has already proclaimed what I am about to repeat and possibly reveal her hypocrisy. So why am I defending myself?
“Perhaps the one thing I would really like to point out is how snobbish Justin can be. He thinks he can “pick out” total strangers and totally diagnose them with an identity disorder. Who are you to judge someone? They could be the most down to earth and nicest person, but if they are dressed in what you deem to be hipster clothes than they need to be categorized as a hipster just based on their looks. When did this become all about looks and not about attitude? And you’re the one who doesn’t like to be categorized, but yet you have the tendency to pass judgments on others so easily. Shame, shame!!!”
Amy called me a snob, isn’t she passing judgement on me?
I will not deny that I categorizing people. How does one not do so? In order for one to efficiently categorize we have to judge. We are constantly judging our politicians, coworkers, and neighbors by their actions. How do you know whom to vote for, how do you know you can depend on your coworker, and how do you know your neighbor is not going to steal your lawnmower? We have to judge, it is impossible not to. Whether its the person you are sitting next to or your food you are developing an opinion, a category, or a decision. These are things we do everyday and can not happen without first making some sort of assessment.
In order for us to make the right call we need some sort of evidience to base our descions on and a lot of that evidence can come from first impressions. Dates and job interviews are two examples that weigh a decision heavily on this concept? To illustrate this, I once was refused a job when I purposely did not wear a tie for a design position. The work environment was not creative enough for me, or to corporate, and I was not corporate minded enough for them, or to rebellious. I did not want the job — even if it was offered — and they did not want me to work for them. Both decisions, and the categories we were grouped in, were based on a judgement of our first impressions of each other.
So what can we learn from the first impressions of someone who dresses and shops at Urban Outfitters? Urban Outfitters stocks its inventory with a certain style. This style is found on major bands playing MTV, found in the majority of Williamsburg, and is worn by musicians and artists that don’t have much real talent. What do all three of these things have in common? They are all part of the hipster stereotype and these people are actively seeking out this sterotype. That is the evidence that I base my judgement and the reason for my judgement. Their reasons for dressing this way is their own and I can never know 100 percent why, however, it is safe to say they must be thinking about first impressions because why would they dress in a way that is accepted by the majority of people their age (and sadly my age too). I just don’t associate with people of this mind set and I am just the one guy who wont accept them so sue me.
I used the term “identity crisis” to loosely. I really meant to say “people who are confused about their identity but have the ability to choose their identity.” I say this because ones identity should not include working so hard to mimic an image for acceptance. Yes I categorize them but as I said before what is not categorized. Its the risk we run for living. Still, you said I don’t want to be categorized and that is not entirely true. To correct you I hate the categories I am sometimes lumped in. I get called Emo and hipster all the time but I never go to Urban Outfitters, unless someone drags me there like someone I know to well.
November 8th, 2007
When you talk about this topic I really think its all about attitude. Yes you don’t shop there, but you do have a hipster attitude. Its not about where you shop (that’s only a superficial part of it). Hipster is an attitude, just like the hippies and just like the punks. Actually, the most “real” punks I ever met didn’t dress in the liberty spikes, Mohawk and tight black pants uniform, you wouldn’t even tell they were punk if you looked at them. But in attitude, they were. In other words, its not bad to be in a social category – hipster, punk, preppy, gangster, whatever – We, as social beings, naturally seek out group acceptance and identify ourselves according to group norms/values. As long as its not for superficial means/reasons and you truly identify with the group of your choice I don’t see anything wrong with it, actually its a sign of a healthy psychological being.