Stereotype Me

There is a long running joke within my group of friends about Hipsters. There is even a certain area in town where we know they all migrate to, they all live there, eat there, work there, and hang out there. We call it Hipster territory. Ironically enough, this area of town used to be a run down "ghetto" left over from the 1960's. Much to our dismay my group of friends and I have been referred to as Hipsters on more than one occasion but we could always blow its off by saying we never even go near Hipster territory. After all, I don't associate myself in the least bit with the Hipster culture but it's easy for outsiders, especially those that are afraid to act, dress, or be "less mainstream," to look at us and see that we might not fit THEIR societal norm and group us into that category even though it couldn't be more inaccurate. This thought led me to wonder if the large subculture of the Hippies in the 1960's and 1970's had a similar stigma placed upon them. The words do seem to stem from each other and I can't help but think in thirty years time we might see Hipster as a less negative thing just like we view Hippies as a positive thing. Sure they were stigmatized at the time but it was for their counterculture beliefs and their nonchalant way of living, not their ability to spend excessive amounts at a "hip" store to look different. Although, I truly think it is ridiculous to be so close minded to the point where you think anyone who shops at a certain store, for example Urban Outfitters, is a Hipster. No, maybe they just like their shorts. People tend to assume if you listen to a certain type of music you must be a Hipster. No, maybe that's just the kind of music that speaks to them. I find it annoying that there must be a title put on everything merely based on what you chose to wear. If I want to wear tight jeans and J-Lo hoops I shouldn't have to worry about being called ghetto, and if I want to wear a little beanie that lays loosely on my head, I shouldn't have to worry about being called a Hipster. And if I want to smoke a lot and listen to the Grateful Dead in my tye-dye T, I shouldn't have to worry about being called a Hippy.