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AIBU?

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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:
Gunznroses · 07/08/2013 12:18

Is his wife not 'utter bliss' then or is she just lovely, is she adored too ? Hmm

catinabox · 07/08/2013 12:18

Isn't the ironic thing just a get out clause in case something might be perceived as
uncool or a bit shit?

I might start saying 'utter bliss' now. I think it'd go with 'gosh'

I might say it 'ironically' to start with.

jamdonut · 07/08/2013 12:19

My daughter (16 ) has been invited to an "after exam results" party, where they have to dress in different styles. She had "hipster" picked out for her.

She wants to borrow my Muse T-shirt, because she said hipsters always seem to wear band t-shirts! (Oh dear god...does that make me a hipster??!!)

She never said it was a derogatory term, just a style.

Whereas Chav is definitely derogatory...and looks like it sounds.

Original poster
ElleMcFearsome · 07/08/2013 12:22

Gunz she is indeed adored, lovely and utter bliss. They're a wonderful couple with wonderful children.

I do not have designs on X. I have a DH whom I won't describe, as any adjectives I apply to him will doubtless make me sound even more witless than people on this thread appear to think I am.

Christ, I meant this to be a moderately light hearted thread...

OP posts:
daddyorchipsdaddyorchips · 07/08/2013 12:23

The authentic quality of vinyl is just utter bliss...said the hipster

Is this him?!

ViviPru · 07/08/2013 12:25

I meant this to be a moderately light hearted thread

It has lightened my morning Smile

limitedperiodonly · 07/08/2013 12:29

wonderful children.

Feminine · 07/08/2013 12:29

I don't think you sound witless Elle.

I think you sound artistic.

But that (to me) is still a very unusual way to talk about a person especially someone else's husband Grin

ViviPru · 07/08/2013 12:30
Gunznroses · 07/08/2013 12:31

Im taking it as light hearted OP (i'm laughing really hard here), Ive just never heard of most of the slangs you used, the way you describe the X is very OTT, its not by mistake that quite a few people on here including myself seem to think you might fancy him slightly.

What on earth is muso? hipster has already been explained (i thought is was a style of jeans too). I can't think of a single person on God's green earth who is 'utter bliss' to be with, not a word I would ascribe to a human being. Now swimming in the blue sea in the Bahamas is 'utter bliss' Grin, Dc going to bed early after rowing all day long again is 'utter bliss'.

mignonette · 07/08/2013 12:35

Love your tunr of phrase Elle. and is English supposed to be this wonderfully versatile and amorphous language?

Am a fan of John Waters too Estelle.

And considered 'Bliss' as a name for DD!

Original poster
ElleMcFearsome · 07/08/2013 12:36

Muso is just someone who is really into music. The kind of person who wishes that independent vinyl-selling record shops still exist.

For me, spending time with people that I like being with is utter bliss. Won't argue with swimming in the sea in the Bahamas being utter bliss either though!

Apologies if I was a bit abrupt - I genuinely don't fancy X at all and was taken aback that it came across as if I did!

OP posts:
Nagoo · 07/08/2013 12:38

I still have a top from English C&A Grin They don't make quality like that anymore.

mignonette · 07/08/2013 12:41

It is a turn of phrase just like you hear people saying 'I am obsessed with' as in 'obsessed with these new boots'.....It doesn't mean they are frotting them or erecting a shrine to them in their sitting room.

You hear 'super' a lot too as in 'super cool' 'super smart'' etc.

Just a phrase that's all.

limitedperiodonly · 07/08/2013 12:43

We used to describe an erm, individualistic, colleague as a wild-eyed rider on the road to oblivion.

Make of it what you will. All I'm saying is that he wasn't widely respected by us squares. Daddio.

Gunznroses · 07/08/2013 12:45

Thanks for explaining 'muso'.

It wasn't just the 'utter bliss' that made it sound funny, but the 'i adore him" too that really made eyebrows go up, bearing in my you were asked about the 'couple' yet you didn't mention her at all. I suppose that's just how you talk and didn't mean anything by it but be aware that it may sound odd to a third party.

Gunznroses · 07/08/2013 12:46

Nagoo Grin Grin Grin

limitedperiodonly · 07/08/2013 12:47

You hear 'super' a lot too as in 'super cool' 'super smart'' etc.

I know someone of 44 who says that. It makes me wince for him.

He's also into vinyl records and pronounces it 'rekerd'.

He's from Yeovil originally.

EstelleGetty · 07/08/2013 12:48

You should check out his book Role Models, mignonette, I think you'd like it. Really witty, compassionate and hilarious. Smile

I watched a programme about Alan Cumming seeking out hidden places in Glasgow the other day, and this thread's reminded me of it. Now there's a man who knows how to twirl the English language round his little finger to wonderful effect!

Original poster
ElleMcFearsome · 07/08/2013 12:49

Gunzi think its fair to say, after this thread, that I'm going to be paranoid for some time about what I say Blush

The only reason I didn't mention X's wife was the post was about using hipster as a descriptor, which I was applying to him.

And the wonderful children aren't called Keith and Joyce, they're called Maud and George Wink

OP posts:
mignonette · 07/08/2013 12:50

Yes but the context of the thread is about hipsters and the male friend is one so of course he would be the topic of this thread. It isn't about what you call the female partner of a male hipster. (Who may or may not be one too.)

Not really getting why people think it is odd. Bliss is quite a pretty turn of phrase. Different.

Original poster
ElleMcFearsome · 07/08/2013 12:51

Especially about adding 'i' to the end of a name accidentally...

OP posts:
mignonette · 07/08/2013 12:52

Estelle. Have ordered it after your recommendation as love that kind of thing. I love looking at The Sartorialist to see what is considered 'photographable' style. Some of them are eyebrow raisnhg, some enviably stylish.

Maud is lovely. As is Maeve.

Feminine · 07/08/2013 12:54

but a person can't be "utter bliss" it makes no sense.

However, maybe I'm out of touch?

you know though, Elle it really doesn't matter :)

Gunznroses · 07/08/2013 12:55

Slight diversion, On Sky News 2 nights ago, I nearly wet myself laughing when someone on the news panel said, 'We better shout it out!", then 'We've got to shout that one out!' in response to where people can go to for more information about a condition.