Definition of a 'hippie'

from JoeUser Forums

In my last article, I outlined my D and my plans to get a VW vanagon or Westfalia camper and take off around the good ol' US of A every summer (this is after our kids have split, of course).  Dr Guy responded and mentioned that I might just be a 'hippie'.

This got me thinking.....what makes a person a 'hippie'?

When you say hippie to me, I think of a tye-dye and birkenstock wearing, stinky, dreadlocked, hairy legged chick who smokes a lot of pot, doesn't eat meat, and who loves the Grateful Dead.

I don't wear tye-dye, I don't smoke pot or have dreadlocks, I eat meat on occasion, I DO shave my legs, and whilst I like Jerry Garcia et al I'm sure as heck not a Dead Head.

However, I do tend to say 'dig', 'chick', 'man', 'dude', and groovy frequently, I do wear Birkenstocks and Earth Shoes, I do yoga, and I do want to own a VW.

If those things make me a hippie...then I guess I'm a hippie.

I want your opinion, though.  What do you think defines a 'hippie'?  Are YOU one?  Do you want to be one?

I'm interested in what you have to say.....

misc
12,309 views 41 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top

Dharma,

I was tongue in cheek!  But Yea!  It was fun!

Ok, you are a hippie if you Drop in, chill out and take a hike.  I.e. you dont wnat to deal with the problems of society, instead just live with nature (before we chop it down).

Hippies do not care for society, they want to live with nature and all it brings them.  They are true flower children.  In the end, they do not stay that way, but that is the old ones.

Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
its a mind set dharma not a life style... your peacefull, seeking answeres thru meditation, and kind as far as i can tell...
Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
This may come as a surprise to you (at least from what you know of me from my blog and postings), but one thing my wife knows is that I am 4 kids and a wife away from being the kind that could easily live the vagabond lifestyle. Because of schooling, disaster response, and a few other excuses, I have travelled more than my share. When I have the time, and the choice it is with the mini van, back seats removed, a sleeping bag thrown down, my bags backed, then my guitar and I hit the highway. I would probably be the most conservative dude in the bunch (which would tend to still keep me "unwelcome" among a lot of the "tolerant" hippies). ;~D

So go ahead, enjoy Jerry and those who aren't quite as grateful as he, Phish, Widespread Panic and Supertramp. Meat and "granola" are, of course optional. ;~D

Of course, some would say that if you don't resemble, think like, and act like the good folks hanging around Little 5 Points in Atlanta, you can't be a hippie. But who died and made them "The Man"... right? ;~D
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
Hippie, shmippie...labels, shmables!
Get the van! Enjoy life!! Whoe cares what you're called? Just have fun, stay healthy and always be the loving, warm person you are today.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
Is it still hip to be square?
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
I always wanted a VW Beetle painted bright purple with flowers and peace signs painted all over it while I cranked "Everyone's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey"... hair down to my waist and such stuff...

Now, I'm a part of the establishment. I'm preppy even. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a hippie, though you may want to keep up with the showers and such. Stinky people are only fun to other stinky people.
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top

Ok, you are a hippie if you Drop in, chill out and take a hike. I.e. you dont wnat to deal with the problems of society, instead just live with nature (before we chop it down).

And that's what my opinion is too.  'Hippie' is all about geting back to basics, about looking after mother earth, about being ecologically sensible and realizing that our resources here are limited...about living as one with nature and the way instead of fighting it all the time.

its a mind set dharma not a life style... your peacefull, seeking answeres thru meditation, and kind as far as i can tell.

Aww, thanks!  I try to be aware....sometimes I falter, but everyone does..

Of course, some would say that if you don't resemble, think like, and act like the good folks hanging around Little 5 Points in Atlanta, you can't be a hippie. But who died and made them "The Man"... right? ;~D

Dude, as far as I know there is no membership to the hippie club.  You can look any damn way you want to....talk any damn way you want to....and still be a hippie.  In fact, that should be the way things are - but there are, of course always the hippie purists who will say that you have to shun soap, water and combs in order to join the 'club'. 

 

Get the van! Enjoy life!! Whoe cares what you're called?

Exactly.  I've never really 'fit in' anywhere before, so there's no reason to start now!

Is it still hip to be square?

I dunno...you tell me?

But there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a hippie, though you may want to keep up with the showers and such.

No, I know there isn't...and I have the ability to be able to smell my own funkiness so there's no danger of me becoming a stinky dirty hippie!

 

So, folks...what do you think makes a hippie a hippe?

Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
My best memory of hippies was when I was about 10 (circa 1970) and I went with my older sister and cousins to a Grass Roots (anybody remember them?)concert that was held outdoors in Fort Worth, Texas one summer. Lemme tell ya, the folks that were at that concert, now they were hippies! I remember, maybe because I was just a kid, that they were all very kind to me. Either that or they were stoned, anyway. But ever since, I have always thought of a hippie as a free and fun loving person. And that's alright with me...
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top


Free and Fun loving until you wear a Tie Dye with this on it into one of their hang outs.

(((Because of the colors of the tie dye, the Peace Sign and the word "PEACE" really stand out at a distance, while the rest come into better view as I they get nearer.

In fairness, the reaction is usually mixed. The truly "free & fun loving" among them get the joke for what it is and have fun with it. Of course there is the other end of the spectrum who are completely disgusted and come up with the most judgemental of names to throw at me. Then there is everywhere in between. ;~D
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top

I have always thought of a hippie as a free and fun loving person. And that's alright with me...

That's alright with me too.  If, at the end of my life, I can say that i had fun and that I loved....then I really do think that's all I need.

The truly "free & fun loving" among them get the joke for what it is and have fun with it.

I thought it was freakin' hilarious!

Of course there is the other end of the spectrum who are completely disgusted and come up with the most judgemental of names to throw at me.

Yeah, the militant wanna-be hippies, the ones who are trying so hard to be what they think hippies should be that they miss the point entirely.

Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
Yeah, the militant wanna-be hippies, the ones who are trying so hard to be what they think hippies should be that they miss the point entirely.


But who are we to judge.. ;~D

Glad you liked my graphic!
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top

But who are we to judge.. ;~D

Me?  I'm nobody to judge....all I want to do is live my life and let everyone else lives theirs.

I did like that graphic...I think I'm going to save it and get it printed on a T shirt.

Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
Of course there is the other end of the spectrum who are completely disgusted and come up with the most judgemental of names to throw at me.


assholes come in every tone and variety...
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
I did like that graphic...I think I'm going to save it and get it printed on a T shirt.


Complete with my T-Bee's Logo? I guess some things are free and fun loving!!! ;~D

I have better copies, in all sorts of colors you could choose from.... but while they are just as fun loving, their not so free. ;~D
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top

Hippies rock


n roll. 

Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
My parents were hippies!! They wore tie dye, had long hare and smoked the ganj!!! And just typing that out makes me laugh!

I've always been told that being a hippie means believing in freedom, non aggression, nature, and self knowledge.

With the definition above I like to believe I'd qualify as a hippie...

Hippies are cool though because you can like them and curse them at the same time! Damn hippies!!
Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top

plans to get a VW vanagon or Westfalia camper


the good thing about that type of vintage vw bus is how quickly and easily you can remove the entire engine should it need repairs.   the bad thing about them is the reason i know this.

Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top

Hippies rock

Yep, I think so too.

n roll

I don't do that part.....but it was pretty funny!

  

I've always been told that being a hippie means believing in freedom, non aggression, nature, and self knowledge.

With the definition above I like to believe I'd qualify as a hippie...

I think you would as well.....as would I.  Kewl!  I'm a hippie!

 

the good thing about that type of vintage vw bus is how quickly and easily you can remove the entire engine should it need repairs. the bad thing about them is the reason i know this.

Hehe.....I had thought the same thing.   I'm not even going to ask the circumstances surrounding your discovery of that information....oh screw it, yes I am.  What happened?!

 

Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top

the good thing about that type of vintage vw bus is how quickly and easily you can remove the entire engine should it need repairs. the bad thing about them is the reason i know this.

Oh so True!  I called them Tinkertoy engines for that purpose.  Oh, and one more thing.  The lack of power!  Dont try driving over mountains in one!

BTW: I did have a VW Beetle!  With a Sun Roof to boot!

Reply #22 from JoeUser Forums Top

Dont try driving over mountains in one!

We had already talked about that....there are ways to get around it, apparently.

BTW: I did have a VW Beetle! With a Sun Roof to boot!

Aha....so you had hippie-ish tendencies! 

Reply #23 from JoeUser Forums Top

Aha....so you had hippie-ish tendencies!

True, you found me out!  Then I had to get a real job and support a family.  Had to leave my tye-died shirts and love beads behind!

Reply #24 from JoeUser Forums Top

The vets that I take my dogs to are hipies.  They are a husband and wife team and own their practice.  They are both very "natural" looking.  (Not a lot of jewelry, makeup, they have long hair and the guy has a beard).  They are also very caring and enjoy nature.  They are very earthy people and live a very modest life even though they make a lot of money.  They are both vegetarians.  The man treats farm animals and told me "you shouldn't eat what you treat".

There is actually an exhibit in the Henry Ford Museum about the "Hippy lifestyle".  It basic outline was that the people living the lifestyle believed that we needed to get back to nature and that we should learn to be peaceful toward each other.

My husband says that I am a "Yippy", which is a hybrid of a yuppie and a hippy.  I have a "professional career" and like my electronics and stuff, but I also have a very earthy side.  I recycle way more than I throw away, I shop at Whole Foods (which is mainly organic and sells earth friendly cleaning products and recycled goods), I am learning yoga, I meditate, I grow a garden, and I own a VW Karman Ghia.

I don't think I will ever be a true "Hippy" because I like my electronics too much  

Reply #25 from JoeUser Forums Top

I agree, "hippie" is a state of mind.


One of the many reasons we homeschool our children is so that their schooling needs will not conflict with our desire to travel should the funds once again present themselves. In better times, we trekked across Iowa to Council Bluffs on one vacation, went to DC and Gettysburg on another, to baseball's spring training on another, to a "hippie" music festival in NC on another (with a brief, unplanned stop in Tom T. Hall's hometown, which I thought incredibly cool).


Now I'm quixotically considering plans to try to arrange for horseback riding along part of the route where Gen.Pershing's troops chased Pancho Villa (my grandfather rode with those troops)...all part of the general coolness that is life!