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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that describing someone as 'hipster'...

199 replies

ElleMcFearsome · 07/08/2013 09:45

... Is not remotely as derogatory as describing them as 'chavvy'?

Had DHs long term friend and his wife over recently. A mutual friend asked how they were and I said words to the effect of 'oh X (male half of the couple) is utter bliss as ever. I adore him, he's so hipster!' She recoiled in horror and told me that I couldn't use 'hipster' to describe someone as it was as bad as saying someone is 'chavvy' (though, obviously with completely different meanings). FWIW it would never cross my mind to describe someone as 'chavvy' as for me it has unpleasant connotations.

X is in his 40s, I'm late 30s. X works in tech, is v stylish, wears clothing brands that will be fashionable in a years time, is a real muso, can talk for whole minutes about which coffee he prefers, is off beat and cool and adorable and good fun... which equates to hipster in my mind.

MN - am I using the word wrongly? Has 'hipster' acquired a derogatory meaning? Help!

OP posts:
mignonette · 07/08/2013 11:19

Just another way of saying 'early adopter. That whole look is so contrived as to be anti style. Trying a little too hard but not everybody can be effortlessly stylish I guess Wink

NobodyPutsTomArcherInTheCorner · 07/08/2013 11:23

I've never heard of it (other than jeans). Or 'muso' while we're at it.

curlew · 07/08/2013 11:23

At dd's school, the hipsters carry slim volumes of poetry round with them. And talk all intellectual. And wear hats.

squoosh · 07/08/2013 11:23

Anyone who thinks 'hipster' is as derogatory as 'chav' is a fool.

It's like people who say being called 'ginger' is on a par with racial abuse. It really isn't.

catinabox · 07/08/2013 11:24

YABU for talking like Mr Humphries on crack

Ha Ha Ha I just woke DH up laughing Grin

YouTheCat · 07/08/2013 11:25

In the 50s/60s these types were called Beatniks and were equally irritating.

Original poster
ElleMcFearsome · 07/08/2013 11:25

Wow - I really have managed to offend numerous people. Yes, I do describe someone as being utter bliss.

No, my Dh has nothing to worry about.

Apologies for offending the pedants!

OP posts:
ViviPru · 07/08/2013 11:26

Artex that the best thing since Being a Dickhead's Cool

mignonette · 07/08/2013 11:26

Drinking out of Mason Jars/Jam jars has been shamelessly copied from the Deep South where this originated not as an 'ironic' statement but out of necessity. Check out Ernest Micklers boks here. This is the spiritula home of the jam jar thing and no I do not approve of the term white trash but I guess the author would say he is reclaining it.

NobodyPutsTomArcherInTheCorner · 07/08/2013 11:27

'can talk for whole minutes about which coffee he prefers..'

Blimey charlie.

curlew · 07/08/2013 11:29

""X works in tech, is v stylish, wears clothing brands that will be fashionable in a years time, is a real muso, can talk for whole minutes about which coffee he prefers, is off beat and cool and adorable and good fun... "

Sounds like a git to me.

catinabox · 07/08/2013 11:30

I really have managed to offend numerous people. Yes, I do describe someone as being utter bliss

Not offended, just amused!!

dirtyface · 07/08/2013 11:31

where i live, hipster = pretentious twat

i would honestly rather be called a chav

ArtexMonkey · 07/08/2013 11:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mignonette · 07/08/2013 11:34

Some very nasty personal comments on here. Really nasty. Calling somebody a git. Charming.

Original poster
ElleMcFearsome · 07/08/2013 11:35

Just to be clear: Mr Humphries (on crack) = Mr Humphries from Are You Being Served? Grin

OP posts:
curlew · 07/08/2013 11:36

I don't call him a git. I said he sounds like a git from the description given.

MarmaladeTwatkins · 07/08/2013 11:36

LOL at "very nasty" and "git". Grin

ArtexMonkey · 07/08/2013 11:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EstelleGetty · 07/08/2013 11:37

I wouldn't ever use it as a compliment, but it's not in the same league as 'chav.' If I call someone a hipster, or hear someone being called a hipster, I know there's no malice intended, it's just gentle ribbing. I went to art school and (forgive the rest of this sentence) quite a few of my friends are hipsters!

Whereas if I ever hear someone saying 'chav' or my personal most despised term, 'common,' I think the speaker is an out and out wank.

mignonette · 07/08/2013 11:37

Oh that makes it sound so much nicer, Curlew....

Northernexile · 07/08/2013 11:39

Artex that's brilliant!

MarmaladeTwatkins · 07/08/2013 11:39

Mignonette, have you gorn all delicate flower on us?! DS (6) has called me worse than a git, such as a pig's nuts or dunderhead :(

mignonette · 07/08/2013 11:44

It is the increase in sheer unpleasantness on MN that bothers me really. Things are said here that you just wouldn't say if the person was in front of you. Or at least you wouldn't say unless you had a pretty nasty disinhibited streak.

I have heard far worse believe me (work as MH professional in the forensic setting) and am not bothered by salty language but that was unnecessary and just spiteful.

And your 6 yr old's insults are funny Marmalade.

limitedperiodonly · 07/08/2013 11:44

mignonette someone once asked me if I was an early adopter. I thought it meant children. He meant queuing outside the Apple shop in the wee hours of the morning.

I thought 'muso' was bad enough. I missed 'utter bliss'.

hahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahaha