Definition of the word Hippie

Definition of the word Hippie

I see this term used so much that I thought a definition might be useful.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hippie

Interesting that the definition allows 'hippy' as an ok alternative spelling.
I know that spelling drives many people nuts, but I suppose insisting on one 'right' way is often not a healthy thing.

Jeanine Gurley wrote:Definition of the word Hippie

I see this term used so much that I thought a definition might be useful.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hippie

Well, I think this definition just uses the stereotypes. I think as for any named group the range is much broader than that...I always liked being called a 'hippie'...and I still do 'Freak' was used just as much in my world among those who were. I guess my parents believed the stereotype...they read about 'hippies' in life magazine and were sure they knew what I was doing???

I had escaped to one of my favorite hang outs and was sitting by myself enjoying a drink and calamari. In my happy place.

Some guy sits down next to me. He wants to talk. Starts out with interrogating me about my tattoos. "I have never understood why people want to do that!' he says.

There follows some more painful attempts at conversation. Then he says "Well at least you're not one of those g*#damn hippie treehuggers".

I smiled and said "On the contrary, I am a g*#damn hippie treehugger in the most extreme form that you can imagine".
Paid my bill and left.

Jeanine Gurley wrote:I had escaped to one of my favorite hang outs and was sitting by myself enjoying a drink and calamari. In my happy place.

Some guy sits down next to me. He wants to talk. Starts out with interrogating me about my tattoos. "I have never understood why people want to do that!' he says.

There follows some more painful attempts at conversation. Then he says "Well at least you're not one of those g*#damn hippie treehuggers".

I smiled and said "On the contrary, I am a g*#damn hippie treehugger in the most extreme form that you can imagine".
Paid my bill and left.

Yes!!! and proud to know you, jeanine

...so what do you suppose defines a 'crazy hippie'? That seems to be the name thrown out there when someone wants to hold them up to ridicule. Is 'crazy hippie' a subset?

i get called a hippie locally. don't mind at all. never gone in for such narrow minded stereotyping myself. i love my lifestyle and don't really care what others think, as long as they leave me alone. traveler is the usual term over here for anyone without a mortgage around there neck who lives in a bus. i have lived in buses for 30 years and never traveled all that much. fuel is too expensive to do that unnecessarily. strange thing is if you live on a boat that is ok you are part of the establishment. tried that too, far too cold and wet in the UK, plus there is always the chance you may end up on the bank if it floods. yes that did happen to me.

Jeanine Gurley wrote:Then he says "Well at least you're not one of those g*#damn hippie treehuggers".

I smiled and said "On the contrary, I am a g*#damn hippie treehugger in the most extreme form that you can imagine".
Paid my bill and left.

AWESOMENESS!!!

That "well at least you're not" tactic is so often used as a passive aggressive way to shame or intimidate people. Thank you for saying EXACTLY who you are and not allowing him to get away with that BS.

Your next virtual drink and calamari are on me!

I agree - all kinds of excellent here, Jeanine - well done!

To my folks, who were young, conservative parents in the '60's, hippie means free love/sex and drugs in addition to the alternative culture and love for the natural world. So when I started espousing natural living beliefs and making all kinds of choices for myself and my kids in the '80's and '90's that could be called hippie, my mom preferred calling me a "granola-head." She even used that term with affection even though I didn't make much of a dent in convincing her to go more natural/healthy.

Now, it seems the folks (mostly women or moms?) who are making whole, natural foods choices, making home remedies, going 'poo-less and such, like to call themselves "crunchy."

Almost any label or name pigeon-holes more than it expands. I suppose it's human nature because it helps our worlds be less overwhelming. I have to admit I am one of the worst for stereotyping people. I'm trying to get better and more open to wider spectrums of people possibilities.

I've been called a hippie for decades (but not so much now - I guess that it is considered passe).

At least, I've never been called a conformist ! That would upset me !

I typically use the word "hippie" only in a couple of specialized contexts.

Most often, I'll use it in the phrase "old hippie" as a shorthand semi-respectful term for the folks from my parents' generation who are old enough to have enjoyed the 1970s and still show signs (demeanor, hairstyle, lifestyle, that certain faint reek of hemp and patchouli) that they actually did.

Sometimes I'll use the phrase "hippie bull****" to express my defensive uncertainty about a new-to-me idea that's outside the mainstream, when I'm talking to someone even more skeptical than myself. Typical usage: "I don't know if this is real or hippie bull***, but I was reading on the internet about a way to..."

Some of my husband's coworkers made some disparaging remarks about hippies and he claimed to be one. "But you're a great worker," they argued.
"I've got long hair, I've lived off the grid for 20 years, and we grow our own food. I think I'm a hippie" he replied.
"Oh" was all they could respond with.

"faint reek of patchouli" - hahahah, I resemble that remark

If some hippies in 1970 had not celebrated the first official Earth Day and Steve Jobs had not taken a walk on the wild side I wonder if permies.com would be here now ?