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Insecurity maybe? Living in Harlem and having had many encounters with the newest throng of hipsters in the "hood" and on the A train, I am getting a little weary of the attitudes. Well, sometimes... At other times I find the whole situation funny, weird, curious... They kind of act like high school kids (reformed nerds) who are trying very hard to be cool, but who think that being cool means putting down everyone else around them. Most people just ignore them, but I am a big people watcher, so I tend to notice patterns. As a writer and singer-songwriter, I also like to understand, to get to the bottom of things. So, what's up with the uptown hipsters? What do you think lies beneath all the posturing? What's going on there?
Insecurity maybe? Living in Harlem and having had many encounters with the newest throng of hipsters in the "hood" and on the A train, I am getting a little weary of the attitudes. Well, sometimes... At other times I find the whole situation funny, weird, curious... They kind of act like high school kids (reformed nerds) who are trying very hard to be cool, but who think that being cool means putting down everyone else around them. Most people just ignore them, but I am a big people watcher, so I tend to notice patterns. As a writer and singer-songwriter, I also like to understand, to get to the bottom of things. So, what's up with the uptown hipsters? What do you think lies beneath all the posturing? What's going on there?
Well Indi, a hipster is someone who thinks of himself/herself as being real cool and tries real hard to project this image. There's a lot of insecurity for many as living up to an image perpetuated by others on the hipster train is not always easy.
See not all hipsters are born hipsters - some attain that status via association with others carrying the label and thus bow to peer pressure and hang the label on themselves also. Others are mistakenly called hipsters by natives because they are outsiders moving in to neghborhoods with backpacks, nose rings, ipods, cells, faded jeans and outdated skirts, and affected accents simulating Valley girls when many are from Midwestern or New England towns and this is their first foray away from the home turf.
I daresay that it's not just our uptown hipsters who appear misguided, sometimes obnoxious and misplaced geographically and mentally. These are universal trademarks of a hipster. Perhaps the ones you see in Harlem and on the A train have just narrowly been able to retain the much coveted status of Manhattan hipster thus qualifying to look down on hipsters from other boroughs They might be putting everyone else down as an artificial means of elevating themselves - but probably succeed in doing so only among themselves. For as you quite accurately surmised, most folks just ignore them.
Unfortunately, unlike with other creatures who are ignored, these just won't go away.
Just ignore them. They leave after a few yrs of saving cats and protesting worthless causes. They realize this isn't the nyc they saw on tv. They usually reach their mid 20's and then decide it's time to make something of their lives. Those that don't relinquish their idiotic lifestyle usually pack it up and move on to the next "cool" city.
To all the hipsters out there, I'm just being whimsical. I'm not one of the fellas who blame hipsters for all the trials and tribulations in life. I'm just giving indi something to give her a few laughs.
Actually this is self-stire as I've often overheard ladies say to each other as I take an afternoon summer stroll in the park, "Why, isn't he real hip!" Perhaps it's my green trousers, shoulder belt straps, yellow shirt, red tie, Nike sneakers and blue socks, and polka dot parasol on a sunny day, that impresses them so much. As I head to the Central Park Zoo each summer Saturday, map outstretched and magnifying glass in hand (I tend to get lost every time) I often hear them say, "Here comes the hipster again!"
Being a hipster is not an easy task and I've decided to let them salivate a little before stopping to chat. My status of hipster allows me the privelege to leave a trail of mouth-watering ladies and to walk the parks elegantly and with well earned airs.
Insecurity maybe? Living in Harlem and having had many encounters with the newest throng of hipsters in the "hood" and on the A train, I am getting a little weary of the attitudes. Well, sometimes... At other times I find the whole situation funny, weird, curious... They kind of act like high school kids (reformed nerds) who are trying very hard to be cool, but who think that being cool means putting down everyone else around them. Most people just ignore them, but I am a big people watcher, so I tend to notice patterns. As a writer and singer-songwriter, I also like to understand, to get to the bottom of things. So, what's up with the uptown hipsters? What do you think lies beneath all the posturing? What's going on there?
A++ post
also applies to Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and Bushwick
Insecurity maybe? Living in Harlem and having had many encounters with the newest throng of hipsters in the "hood" and on the A train, I am getting a little weary of the attitudes. Well, sometimes... At other times I find the whole situation funny, weird, curious... They kind of act like high school kids (reformed nerds) who are trying very hard to be cool, but who think that being cool means putting down everyone else around them. Most people just ignore them, but I am a big people watcher, so I tend to notice patterns. As a writer and singer-songwriter, I also like to understand, to get to the bottom of things. So, what's up with the uptown hipsters? What do you think lies beneath all the posturing? What's going on there?
So would you rather they act Thuggish/Ghettoish? Will you be ok with them then?
If I were living in the "hood," hipsters would be the least of my worries. A rude hipster is not going to mug me. I've never heard of a hipster home invasion or a hipster hooker or a hipster hitman.
So would you rather they act Thuggish/Ghettoish? Will you be ok with them then?
the name of the game is be respectful of your surroundings and remember that the African American community in Harlem was there way before these hipster clowns were born in 1988
same way with Williamsburg- Williamsburg was once a neighborhood known for dodging bullets- and know it's known for dodgeball (sigh....); gentrification only works when you can respect the people who were there first without forcing them out or making them feel unwanted by a bunch of segregationist artsy hipster communes
and its not about acting a certain way- its about assimilation to your surroundings- same way if you moved into any neighborhood- understand that these communities have many working people trying raise families and live normal lives- they are not- to the surprise of many non New Yorkers- trying to be gangsters all day long selling drugs all day
people in Harlem don't need a bunch of skinny pants wearing, florescent sunglasses trendhoppers in the neighborhood being obnoxious 24/7/365
if hipsters want to live there- then cool live there- but don't bring in this chip on your shoulder that you have to prove how cool or how down you are with trends or culture and be respectful of people
my $.02- these hipsters might pop all kinds of trouble, but in reality- the thing that they are most afraid of is being judged- go to any Bedford L Train bar and see a bunch of hipsters bouncing around to the most gangster rap but would they go to C-Pac or Temptations in Flatbush and do the same thing?
^ What you just wrote can also be apply to immigrants. They come here and bring their own values and cultures and dont care about how the people there were living. So you will hate on them aswell?
NYC is a city full of diversity and different likes, all trying to live toguether. even though they don't have to like eachother. I like that NYC. Hipsters, Immigrants, White, Black, Hispanic, Asians, Proffesionals, Working Class, Middle Class, Poor, Yuppies or even the Thuggish types, LOL. That is NYC.
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