When I wrote All Hope Abandon Ye Who……., I either missed it or it was not mentioned in the article that led me to write that article that the survey covered only hipsters! Now let me quote from another interesting article in the Guardian – “The reason this was deemed newsworthy is because beards have become what we in the fashion column-writing business call A Thing, and the reason they have become A Thing is because they have become associated with a certain demographic called hipsters.”
This was in response to a reader writing in with this question – “As a near lifelong beard sporter, I was concerned to read an article in the Guardian last week saying that we have reached “peak beard”. What does this mean, exactly?
Jimmy, London”
I was intrigued enough to try and find our what hipster meant and must say that I am very relieved that I am not one. “Hipster is a term popularly used to denote a contemporary subculture in North America, South America, Australia, and Europe primarily consisting of Millennials living in urban areas.The subculture has been described as a “mutating, trans-Atlantic melting pot of styles, tastes and behavior[s]” and is broadly associated with indie and alternative music, a varied non-mainstream fashion sensibility (including vintage and thrift store-bought clothes), progressive, independent, or far-left political views, organic or artisanal foods, and alternative lifestyles. Hipsters are typically described as affluent or middle class young Bohemians who reside in gentrifying neighborhoods.” – Wikipedia.
None of those qualifications apply to me, and I mean NONE. Particularly, the affluent part living in gentrifying neighbourhood.
To the best of my knowledge, my friends, Shackman, David and Mike don’t qualify either.
It is therefore greatly satisfying to me that I have not reached peak beard and therefore can keep my beard. So can my three friends listed above.
That leads me to the next development which was for my to change my avatar to one with a peruke following a suggestion from Grannymar. Now that my trademark beard is safe, I can revert to my normal avatar.
An interesting thought however is the suggestion in the article that “the only really impressive thing a man can do with facial hair is growing a Salvador Dalí-like moustache”. Let me see how that will look!
I’ll pass on the Dali – but I suggest you delve a bit deeper into hipster as it is an old term – thinl Kerouac and Ginsberg, etc. Now there may be some common ground here – and I think the milennials need to wait til all of us aging boomers have departed before they start stealing our terms. Just shows original thought is not one of their strong suits 🙂
History repeating itself with new terminology?
I love beards. They’re so totally masculine. (Not so fun to kiss a bearded, mustache face.)
Welcome back BHB. I am delighted to see you here. And thank you for the vote of confidence.
Not sure about a Salvador Dalí-like moustache, but please never go back to the full bush you sported when Ranjan bought a scooter.
Grannymar recently posted..Map Of Britain And Ireland
No, that is one style that I am unlikely to indulge in any time soon.
HAHAHAHA.
yuppie. hipster. boomer. millennial. AAAGGGHH.
i agree with chuck.
and partly with bhb…. love beards…
but i always loved being kissed with them!
something so primitive and earthily wonderful.
but. it had to be a fully grown real beard. stubble like don johnson started and that still seems to be the excuse for men not shaving or growing the real thing… well… that silly nasty looking stubble HURTS.
or hurted. good grief.
it’s been so long now that i barely remember! LOLOL.
like the way i used barely there? oh. stop. this is ridiculous.
no dali’s please. he’s just strange. the smiley is cute though.
tammyj recently posted..mother
It is the smiley that kind of inspired me to consider the Dali mustache!
I once had a position where I had to shave in order to be able to get a good seal wearing a full face respirator. During periods where respirators weren’t necessary, I kept a shaving kit in a filing cabinet drawer, just in case, and let my beard grow. These days, they don’t allow the just-in-case option. If you work in Operations, you have to be able to don the respirator at any time and, thus, cannot wear a beard.
I can honestly say that I have had a beard for well over half of my life and it has nothing to do with it being “A Thing.” It’s just Me.
Mike recently posted..Tornado Season?
Yes, the Indian Navy too allows men to keep beards but on some critical positions, they are asked to take the beards off.
Ah, another trend for the young. Doesn’t sound subversive or dangerous. Organic and artisanal food? That sounds good. Indie music? Not bad. Vintage or thrift-store clothing? Many of my friends and college-age grandkids wear these. Sounds like another swing away from the generation before. The pendulum keeps swinging.
Talk to Me…I’m Your Mother recently posted..All-Over-The-Earth Day
What I liked in the article is the totally new expressions being used quite comfortably.
Hi Rummy,
It is with much pride that I say that I am not a hipster either. What a dreadful description.
There seems to be a beard-focus going around lately: articles are being written, people are discussing it etc. Conclusion: there is a lack of interest for real issues.
You look great with your beard, Rummy. 🙂
Cheers
Max Coutinho recently posted..Religious Freedom in Europe? Only For Some…
Good you are not a hipster. Incidentally I am eminently qualified to be a hipster with both my hip joints having been replaced and revised too!