- the girl who told me to wake up is my best friend/"sister." known her for 17 years. her husband strikes me as being one of these "tenther"/"birther" chumpstains (a "tenther," BTW, is a person who has suddenly determined that the tenth amendment renders most government programs unconstitutional - which is a gross misreading of the amendment) - a union guy who hates his union, even though he wouldn't be able to afford the house/wife/kid if his union hadn't kicked some ass before he got there.
- the "socialist" guy is a guy i've known for 22 years. also a close friend, he's the guy who co-hosts my (maybe never-coming-back...) political radio show. he thinks this new hatred for islam is his "jewish heritage" kicking in, which is ridiculous (some of our friends think he's doing too much cocaine, which is far more likely an explanation). i told him repeatedly during our discussion that i was physically sickened and repulsed by his sudden and fervent hatred of islam.
i posted up a comment on my facebook that read, "...was today stunned many times by people of varied political persuasions having such seemingly hateful and/or willfully ignorant positions (because it's easier to simplify and hate than to comprehend and rectify). Comprehension and derivation of a solution require people to move beyond differences to see their similarities. In other words: It takes work... but we're lazy Americans! So, we deserve what we get. :(" ... fortunately, a few of my other friends came out in support of me, so i don't feel like i'm in the ****ing twilight zone anymore
EDIT: the "socialist" didn't learn from our three hour shoutfest, and spewed on the facebook message above.
FML indeed.
"just do what ya feel and never follow." 
How you equated these two characteristics with a "hipster" is, frankly, beyond me. Rude cell phone usage is ubiquitous, and bass so loud it shakes you from a hundred feet away is notably anti-hipster.
Can't you just enjoy something because you enjoy it, and not because of how others react to it?
Did I say I was? I am not a "hipster," FYI... Just someone who disapproves of modern culture and has spent a life actively seeking out the different and novel to find stuff I appreciate. I have spent a lifetime being judged for my tastes for no reason other than it was different. But that treatment hasn't informed my opinion on culture and counterculture, because I'm not a judgmental prick.
And you don't see how your derision perpetuates this further?
The smart thing to do is ignore the silliness and judge individuals and things strictly on their own merits. But we (as humans) are so absolutely hung up on labeling and separation, for only self-aggrandizing reasons, that we can't help but do these things.
Personally, I fight these negative tendencies as best as possible, despite what you might think.
Sounds like it wasn't for you. Why put others down for it?
Pot. Kettle. Black.
Peace... as I doubt I have much more to say on this topic that I haven't said already.
What you know are people. I've never met anyone who self-identifies as a hipster; on the other hand, I never hear "hipster" used in any sense that is not meant to attempt to belittle others for silly, insignificant and inconsequential reasons.
Edit:
Based on your attitude, I don't blame him for not identifying himself as a target for scorn.
And, for the record, PBR is a decent American beer... Way better than Bud or Coors, which are closer to carbonated urine than beer.
Tastes change and are somewhat cyclical, and people's tastes in music are amorphous and inconsistent when preferences are expressed.
In other words, it's just a phase.
I can - and often do - say this about bands I like, many of which have been around forever. Again, nothing wrong with this on its own.
The real problem is that they wear it on their sleeve, and most non-"hipsters," in their dislike of the different, take some sick pleasure in tearing them apart for it.
Again, jealousy.
Given that pop culture, at the moment, is a cesspool... Yeah I do feel quite superior for eschewing it. And I am quite proud that I have survived the spears of those who can only hate that which is different.
This.
I've found Facebook to be useful for two things:
1. Keeping up with groups/organizations you belong to/support;
and
2. Keeping "in touch" with people without actually having to communicate with them.
The second is why I've come to call it Fakebook.
We have a natural human tendency to disregard/denigrate/hate those not like us, and leads to the "hipster hate" that seemingly always exists. It is a shameful state of human condition, and one we should fight, not accede to and accept.
The one moderately saving grace for me in that decade was the later popularity of new wave music. If not for that...
Also, one thing I find highly ironic as a 40-year-old is that the same people who called me a "devil worshipper" - and worse - for being a heavy metal fan in the '80's are the exact same people who now claim to love it... now that Metallica, Pantera, etc. have their music blasted in sports arenas.
This is the future of counterspells, guys. My Islands are all in perpetual weeping.
In general, I'm not a fan of most piercings outside the traditional ear piercings, and I highly disapprove of the whole stretching phenomenon. I just don't see the art or pleasure in any of that stuff.
Imagine living with people that shallow. I am amazed I made it to my twenties.
House/dance music, mostly. Here, often it is played blasting all frequencies from their cars, or similarly blasting out of a club.
Even worse for me is the older Italians gushing over Sinatra and the rest of the Crap Pack crooners.
Actually, I think, ultimately, my biggest problem with these people is their attitude of, "If you're not like us, you deserve to be **** on." Doubly worse when it comes from your own family...
I despise American Italians in general (triply so for Brooklyn Italians - myself being born, raised and living in Brooklyn, NY) and the "off the boat" goomba attitude many of them have. Can't stand their music, either. And mob movies... Just no.
When people ask me what I am, I say "American." When they ask for my heritage, I say "American." I refuse to acknowledge my heritage, other than my love of pasta and pizza.
I've said my piece on this issue and I will leave this thread after this post.
While the first two are matters of opinion, the last, as evidenced strictly by my posts in this thread, is patently false.
I can't discuss anything with someone so inherently biased that he's already assumed a position for me without even digging into my posts in this very thread.
You posit that you don't "require adulation on Internet forums." Then, why belittle me, and my opinions? Surely, YOUR beliefs are strong enough that you can express them without name-calling or assumptions.
But, it seems that's not the case. Too bad for you.
Oh, and goodbye. I've got not one word left for you.
You can take it as you like, but it doesn't make it so.
You can't win a competition that doesn't happen. Sorry, you'll have to find some other way to feel better about yourself. I will not assist you.