I figured I would throw in my .02 here since it's interesting seeing what everyone's definitions are. My opinions come from the past 15 years of traveling, but I don't consider them any more valid than anyone else's, it's just what I grew up with.
1) Oogles -- These are the types of travelers that will say they've been train hopping for six years because the hopped a train once six years ago. Like others have said, they can be thought of as the 'posers' of the train hopping world, but that's only half the story.
The also tend to embody the worst of travel culture and are the root of most stereotypes about travelers. They're the ones you hear stories about begging for change while on their cellphone kicking their emaciated dog and drinking a sidewalk slam.
like from some really old folk told me it used to mean like the scummy junkie street kid type, and then it turned into like a noob type thing. and now its just whatever for the most part, like joking amongst friends, unless its really meant.
The above is true as well, the term 'oogle' really only meant a homeless junky up until around 2007 or so when it got generally re-defined as the above.
2) Crustpunks / Gutterpunks / Crusties -- Are all pretty much the same thing. Punk kids with patches and spikes, hanging out on the streets drinking booze. They may or may not travel.
4. Trainhoppers - Hop trains. A person who hitchhikes is not a trainhopper. A rubber tramp is not a trainhopper. A trainhopper....... hops trains.
The above is fairly accurate, but it's not like a train hopper never hitchhikes, in fact, there's no way you're going to not have to hitchhike at some point if you're train hopping. it's pretty much impossible to avoid. That train don't do door to door service.
I also think that there's
way too much emphasis on being a 'train hopper' these days. Like it's an elite class of wanderer or something. The truth is, train hopping overall isn't hard, or there would be a lot less people doing it. Don't get caught, don't get killed, get to your destination, and guess what, you win.
I've never introduced myself as, "Hello. My name is Matt Derrick... and I'm a train hopper." Train hoppers are travelers like anybody else.
5. Traveling kids - come on dude..
Actually, this is the main reason for my reply. This needs to be defined, since I think it's the class most good travelers fall into.
Being a traveler 'kid' has nothing to do with age, but rather someone that's a part of your subcultural community. I call folks older than myself (34) 'kids' all the time. To me, a 'traveler kid' is someone that wanders around the world in a gypsy-type fashion, but also generally has their shit together.
They might be punk-ish in appearance, but more often aren't, or look just like regular people. They usually have slightly above average gear that they worked hard for (but aren't opposed to getting it for free from corporations), aren't super dirty, and generally treat others the way they want to be treated.
I also feel like traveler kids are more likely to seek out work, although mostly seasonally, as a way to finance future travels. They're pretty much the antithesis of the oogle.
It's funny reading this thread because other than Crustie, we don't use any of these terms in Britain. We don't have
1. Oogles
2. Crustpunks
3. Gutterpunks
4. Trainhoppers
5. Traveling Kids
I've had to learn all about these from this forum and looking stuff up on the internet.
If somebody over here refers to someone as being a traveller it's usually assumed they mean they are either an Irish/English/Welsh/Scottish Traveller, Romani gypsy or perhaps New Age Traveller. It would mean that they live in a caravan or were horse drawn or maybe live in a van.
The word 'Pikey' gets used a lot over here. Its a derogatory term to describe travellers, although I know a lot of travellers who use the word to describe themselves. Others would find it a real insult. I don't know if you use the word 'Pikey' in the States, or if it has the same meaning. I used to live in a van with horse drawn gypsies and they referred to themselves and me as a 'Pikey' but I wouldn't take being called it from a non-traveller.
We have squatters, tramps, street people, street drinkers and homeless.
If you get called a train hopper here it just means you bunked on a passenger train without buying a ticket. A 'Crustie' is a bit like a hippy. Someone with dreadlocks who is a bit scruffy, probably vegan and talks about anarchy and buddhism a lot! We have 'Trustafarians' which are just crusties with money, who squat because its cool but can always go home to their mummy and daddy and massive house when they need to!
I've been called a 'jakey' before which is Scottish slang for a street drinker. Doesn't bother me, but it isn't really a term of endearment!
My name on this forum came from a time when we were being evicted from a squat and a man in the neighbouring house was shouting at us calling us really nasty things and this other man walked passed and said "Calm down, they're just Land Pirates" I really liked that. ::eyepatch::
I would say that in the UK most people would describe young people travelling around, hitchhiking and doing the sort of stuff people on here are up to as 'Backpackers'
* Sorry I wrote so much, I'm quite high right now and got really into typing!::wideeyed::
thanks for sharing that, it's actually pretty refreshing to know that things aren't all the same on this subject around the world. the definitions in the UK seem nicer
