Ok, I'm dying to know what about me makes travelers ask me if I'm a hippy. I should say, I consider it more ironic coming from hobos than from the general population. I mean sure, I'm a proponent of non-violence, like folk music, practice non-materialism, etc. But surely there's others in the traveling community? I'm not saying I wouldn't fall into some version of the definition of a hippie...but read on.
So, today I went to go see who was under the bridge, and there were a few atypical riders and hitchers well on their way to hangovers. Anyways, after introducing myself, the L.A. guy asked me I'm a hippie. This is at least the 3rd time I've been called or asked about being a hippie. Now, I've never considered it an insult, except when it's posed as one.
So, is it my shaggy un-dreaded hair? Is it my brown pants and green t-shirt? Is it my beard? Is it the fact that I don't wear exclusively black or have Amebix and G.G. Allin patches?
Is it douchebags? I don't really feel that offended over it, but find it a bit of a social anomaly, that people identify me as being that different from them, based on my appearance. It's like there's a rivalry between punks and hippies, and they're contending for that same counter-cultural space in society.
What do you guys think? Have you come across any punk vs. hippie sentiments? Perhaps there's some bad blood based on events? Also, how do the crust punks define hippies? How do they deal with the fact that they're sometimes referred to as "hippie punks?"
I know most of you will respond with "fuck labels" or something like that, but seriously, what's your input?
So, today I went to go see who was under the bridge, and there were a few atypical riders and hitchers well on their way to hangovers. Anyways, after introducing myself, the L.A. guy asked me I'm a hippie. This is at least the 3rd time I've been called or asked about being a hippie. Now, I've never considered it an insult, except when it's posed as one.
So, is it my shaggy un-dreaded hair? Is it my brown pants and green t-shirt? Is it my beard? Is it the fact that I don't wear exclusively black or have Amebix and G.G. Allin patches?
Is it douchebags? I don't really feel that offended over it, but find it a bit of a social anomaly, that people identify me as being that different from them, based on my appearance. It's like there's a rivalry between punks and hippies, and they're contending for that same counter-cultural space in society.
What do you guys think? Have you come across any punk vs. hippie sentiments? Perhaps there's some bad blood based on events? Also, how do the crust punks define hippies? How do they deal with the fact that they're sometimes referred to as "hippie punks?"
I know most of you will respond with "fuck labels" or something like that, but seriously, what's your input?