Friday Question of the Day

Hipster Girls, originally uploaded by ultraclay!. Photo taken by a flickr user in New York City.

This is a question I’ve been wondering about for a while. On PoP and other DC blogs/sites people often use the term hipster in a derogatory/derisive manner.

Wikipedia defines hipster as:

“In the 1990s, the term became a blanket description for the trend in the alternative, “anti-fashion” fashion of middle class and upper class urban, young people moving into gentrified neighborhoods in city centers. Often hipsters came to these poorer neighborhoods from well-to-do suburbs of major cities. In youth culture, the term hipster usually refers to young people who may have an appreciation for independent rock, a campy or ironic fashion sense, or an otherwise “bohemian” style. They are typically associated most closely with alternative culture, particularly alternative music, independent rock and independent film.”

Seems pretty harmless to me but today it seems like the term has a very negative connotation. Why is that? Some of the most hate filled comments I’ve seen usually throw the term in. Where does all the vitriol come from? It seems like even “hipsters” hate to be called hipsters. Why does this word/group evoke such strong emotions?