RIP: "Hipster"
Maybe it's outside of my role and rights, but I'm officially declaring the word "hipster" dead. It wasn't a very descriptive word in the first place, but then it just started getting applied to anything and everything, with the implied meaning being either:
- something that the speaker of the word doesn't understand and therefore wants to belittle by implying that the ONLY reason anyone would want it is to seem cool and not for any sincere reason, or:
- something that the speaker of the word realizes is clearly uncool, but tacks the word hipster onto to make it seem more stylish than it could ever really hope to be.
But secondly—and much more importantly—there is absolutely NOTHING hip about 3x5 notecards and a binder clip! Necessary? Useful? Something you only think about on the first day of school or a new job, where they will sit unused in your desk for years? Yes. Hip? No!
Rest in peace, "hipster". I never really liked you anyway, but it's still kind of sad to see you go.
18 comments:
well, i'm all for killing hipsters, er, i mean the WORD hipsters, but i've gotta take some issue with your reasons.
from my understanding, the hipster PDA came from merlin mann, who runs 43folders.com. basically, he's a personal organization and tech guru personality type. although he's a techie, he's also an advocate for NOT using tech when it doesn't make sense to. the hipster PDA arose from ever more complicated smartphones, palm pilots, etc. his point is that often a low- or no-tech solution is best, and in this case many things that one could use a palm pilot for can better be done with a simple piece of paper and a pencil/pen. the 3x5 card and binder clip assembly is there to replicate the size and weight of a typical PDA.
check his site out. he's got some great podcasts (his phone guy is hilarious), as well as some really useful content.
summary: hipsters = kill
merlin mann = cool
Oh, I have absolutely no issue with the idea at all. And I do really like his website, and I LOVE Lifehacker, which is where I found that thing. If I could marry a website, it would be Lifehacker.
I'm taking issue with using the word "hipster" in a place it doesn't belong (though I think there are very few places it does belong). I'm definitely in favor of lifehacking, but the use of the word "hipster" makes me retch. It doesn't help describe it or define it, and it's not funny. It doesn't matter how smart his PDA is...there's no reason for it to be in any way associated with the word "hipter", even as a joke.
I'll go ahead and say it, since for you to be so self-referential would be a clear violation of statutes:
By declaring the word "hipster" dead, you are the ultimate hipster and, by both cause and effect, the reigning king of irony.
I...don't know how to feel right now.
That's so cool!!
I will stop using the word "Hipster" right now. Instead, I will use the term "Hepcats." Can you dig it? I knew that you could.
No need to declare the death of the word "hipster". Rather, let's all just embrace the fact that the term has become decidely pejorative. Anyone who declares himself/herself a "hipster" is a douchebag. What's a douchebag, you ask? That's simple: anyone who thinks of themself as a "hipster". See how that works?
hey guys --
have you heard? the word 'hipster' is no longer cool! i'm going to start using it ironically right now: kim jong il is such a hipster!
This bunch of comments used to be kind of a cool place, but then it became one of those obnoxious hipster comment pages, where all of the comments think they're better than you. So I don't go there anymore.
This comments page so has a beard and drinks Pabst Blue Ribbon.
this comments page goes to bars and plays bocce and orders milk and cookies, all while wearing a beard.
This comments page has underwear parties and tries to make you believe that it's bisexual, when it's actually just a run-of-the-mill hetero sleaze.
This comments page's neighborhood used to be really cool, but in the last few years a bunch of wanna-be-comments-pages have moved in and it's just not authentic anymore.
Please do not wear trucker hats when posting to the comments page.
Nice job, fellas. Some of these comments have made me snarf Pabst.
i'm late to this, as this comment thread had me at the thrift store buying cheap, ugly shirts with big collars for a really long time.
I downloaded this comments board months ago, but now that it's finally released, I'm totally sick of it and I've moved on to another comments board that won't be out for another six months.
I would mention that this comments page got a review of 8.455847 from Pitchfork, but, being hipsters, none of you would care about that anymore.
Post a Comment