If it's hip and trendy, they're not interested

Los Angeles Times: Calendarlive.com ^ | July 20, 2005 | Christian M. Chensvold

[Loyalist]

For Melinda Wilferd, nightlife in Los Angeles was a lot like high school. The 35-year-old ran with a crowd that often went to parties in downtown lofts, "where all the faces turn around and look at you, assessing whether or not you're going to fit in the hipster club." Where if you enjoy watching TV, you're held beneath contempt. And where "they talk about music like it's some revelation."

Continued

[Loyalist]

Bernbaum wonders if conservatism from the heartland may be infiltrating hipster-heavy metropolises, "making people seek out something more meaningful" in their lives.

In hipster and media-driven Los Angeles, it's easy to forget that most Angelenos ages 25 to 40 don't wear checkered Vans with distressed blazers or go to downtown gallery openings or Echo Park dive bars.

Sheesh. I was never "with it" to begin with, and now it's "with it" not to be "with it"?

[Always Right]

Sheesh. I was never "with it" to begin with, and now it's "with it" not to be "with it"?

Dude, you are so ahead of the curve.

[Tax-chick]

For Leland, cultivating one's inner garden is the perfect antidote to the overexposure of hip. He suggests nourishing "secrets" or "private knowledge" one keeps to oneself, like a diary locked with a key, rather than a blog for the whole world to see.

Sounds like just a different crowd of goofs.

[BenLurkin]

This guy represetns the dwindling population of urban wimps which share our useless cities with the exploding population of urban barbarians.

[Tax-chick]

Good phrasing, Ben!

[Knitting A Conundrum]

I like that description....

I've been carefully following the fashion and celebrity rags the last two months (I have this vague notion of starting a blog for people who want to look well dressed but who don't like the trailer park nouveau riche look that seems to be in right now).

But the urban wimps frequently are those with the money, and who think they run things...and they cluster together to keep from realizing how few they are in number...Sometimes, they are like the Gracchi brothers manipulating the masses for power in a move that led ultimately to Augustus Caesar, but that's another story....

[squarebarb]

Very interesting analogy, the Gracchis and Augustus Caesar.

We are now an urban nation. Hier to all the ills of almost 90% urbanity.

Things like the above can happen.

[Disambiguator]

It's hip to be square.

[Porterville]

"35-year-old "

She really just got old an unattractive.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Fashion slaves are nothing more than axle grease for the wheels of commerce. Sheep have more brains. I am so anti-fashion that, in fact, I set fashion. Being a traditional representative of working class filth also puts me at the epicenter of ideological proletariat iconography for the left, so I should seriously think about eBay-ing my sweaty T's, overalls and stinky work boots. These pathetic worms are so sick, it would probably sell.

Anybody out there a marketing person?

[AggieCPA]

But..but...but whatever are they going to do with all their black clothing???

[Clock King]

Yep, can't attract the men like she used to, and get free drinks, etc.

[Conservomax]

The hipsters around here (boston) are "Blue Collar" Hipsters.

They dress like mechanics, hang out in dive bars and Drink PBR.

Their saving grace: Good taste in music.

Hilarious Read for anyone who knows a hipster, BTW:

[NormB]

I try to teach my kids that "culture" is a waste of time, and I point out all how all the culture vultures are working crap jobs and into drugs etc.

Tatoos are now LAMESTREAM!!!

[uncitizen]

Hence, conservatism is now cool.

[AppyPappy]

I live in a college town so I see some slavishness to hipness. My only concession is to wear my polo shirt with the tail outside the pants. It's more comfortable.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Yep, the Gracchis destabilized the Roman constitution by their manipulation of the tribune system, which allowed a lot of other unstability, in some ways like people who are pushing the court system to play with our constitution...we'll see where it goes.

[Conservomax]

The conversation, post purchase:

1. "What's that scent your wearing"?

2. "Working Class Filth, it comes with the shirt"

1. "fascinating."

2. "I hate you."

[Conservomax]

It's funny, each town has its own breed of hipster. The hipsters I was referring to are mostly between 25 and 35.

I had to go out to Northhampton, MA a few months ago - this is where Smith College is located(everyone minors in Awkward Lesbian Experimentation).

Apparently, a hipster there is someone who wears a bombastic anti-Bush T-shirt.

The fit in by being rebels.

Sad losers.

[small voice in the wilderness]

Bernbaum wonders if conservatism from the heartland may be infiltrating hipster-heavy metropolises, "making people seek out something more meaningful" in their lives.

Their souls are as cavernous and empty as the lofts they purchase. And they attempt to fill both with this and that and the other, yet hollowness remains. Maybe some are beginning that inward search. If so, Hollywood and Los Angeles had better watch their backs. People are going to be pi$$ed when they realize the truth they were sold was nothing more than beautifully packaged lies.