All this talk about hippies, I need to ask

[johnnie]

What do *you* consider to be a hippie? It seems like the majority here think that a hippie is just someone who grows their hair wild, does a lot of drugs and has open sex in the middle of the street.
I have always considered myself a hippie and I don't ALWAYS do those things. I consider myself to being hip to a lot of liberal ideas and ideals and that is more of what a hippie is, it's not beads and bell bottoms.
Being a hippie is like the term "Rock and Roll", it's a philosophy and an attitude, not something that you can dress up and put a tag on it. Of course there are pseudo hippies and pseudo rockers, but that doesn't make them true to the form.
Beatniks, rebels, hippies.. well, I don't know if there was an equivalent in the 80s and I really don't know if there was one since. But anyway... they are all the same, just different eras.
So what is your definition of a hippie?

[ET Awful]

1. Many would probably call me a hippie if they saw me outside of

work. But I don't really think hippie is an accurate term. Hell, even when the term first came into usage in the 60's, the people that were referred to as "hippies" eschewed the term. They sure as hell didn't call themselves that.

You're right in that it's more of a philosphy than any material trappings. I'd say that the vast majority of folks at DU would fall within the mindset that can be classified as "hippie" they just deny the term and don't engage in the physical trappings commonly associated with it.

[jeff30997]

2. Why do you have Dubya's face as an avatar ?

[johnnie]

3. Heh

Why does Otto have george's brain?

[jeff30997]

5. Good question Duuuude !

[flakey_foont]

4. Hippies

have been stereotyped as drugged out, hedonistic, unhygenic loafers...but that is very far from the truth...the early hippies in the 1960's were a subset of the counterculture at large,..pursuing alternative lifestyles, curious about non-traditional (by Western standards) philosophies and religion, most believed strongly in "ahimsa" -nonviolence do no harm, taking care of the environment, peace instead of war, cooperation instead of cutthroat competition....if you had some food and your brother or sister did not have any, it was just second nature to share, and expect nothing in return, but knowing that somehow you, in turn, would be looked after...many of the early hippies experimented with drugs, not just to 'get wasted' but as a way to experience different states of consciousness,,, most that I knew were highly intelligent, widely read, familiar with literature, poetry, ..rock and roll was one of the main focal points because it was a celebration.. the dancehalls, the festivals,.....some of the heroes were Jack Kerouac, Carlos Castenada, Herman Hesse, Kurt Vonnegut, ,,writers who viewed the world quite differently, perhaps somewhat extravagantly as opposed to the world being fed ot the young in the USA viw TV, movies, the news media,,,..........the hippies look for joy, peacefulness, intellectual stimulation, different ways to experience our short existence on this rock

[johnnie]

7. Thanks

That is a great synopsis of what the real hippie was/is.
As ET says above, I think many of the people here fit into the "hippie" philosophy, but because they take baths they don't think they are one. :)

[Tsiyu]

6. Hippie used to be a derogatory name

now I think it's almost used in a patronizing way, like a euphemism for the hip aged, but maybe that's because I'm an aging hipster.

Hippies are a diverse lot but they are all willing to wear tie dye and listen to steel guitar.

[Ready4Change]

8. I think this is more a matter of how hippies are viewed.

Hippies are really a widely varied lot. I think definitions of hippies indicates the observers viewpoint more than it defines the hippies themselves.

For example, Conservatives see hippies as lazy, hedonistic, drugged out and stupid.

But Liberals see hippies as open minded, explorative, highly educated and compassionate.

In truth, the above are mere scrapings off the top of hippie culture. They, almost by definition, break out of the boxes other people may try to stuff them in. (Or at least the good ones do. :) )

BTW, I know LOTS of hippies, both people from that era, and people born afterwards but who find that culture attractive. And a lot of those hippies look VERY conventional, work in offices, etc...

In the end, hippie is more a mindset than a costume.