Definition of a 'hippie'

Published on January 17, 2005 By dharmagrl In Misc

In my last article, I outlined my D and my plans to get a VW vanagon or Westfalia camper and take off around the good ol' US of A every summer (this is after our kids have split, of course). Dr Guy responded and mentioned that I might just be a 'hippie'.

This got me thinking.....what makes a person a 'hippie'?

When you say hippie to me, I think of a tye-dye and birkenstock wearing, stinky, dreadlocked, hairy legged chick who smokes a lot of pot, doesn't eat meat, and who loves the Grateful Dead.

I don't wear tye-dye, I don't smoke pot or have dreadlocks, I eat meat on occasion, I DO shave my legs, and whilst I like Jerry Garcia et al I'm sure as heck not a Dead Head.

However, I do tend to say 'dig', 'chick', 'man', 'dude', and groovy frequently, I do wear Birkenstocks and Earth Shoes, I do yoga, and I do want to own a VW.

If those things make me a hippie...then I guess I'm a hippie.

I want your opinion, though. What do you think defines a 'hippie'? Are YOU one? Do you want to be one?

I'm interested in what you have to say.....

Comments (Page 1)

Dr Guy

on Jan 17, 2005

Dharma,

I was tongue in cheek! But Yea! It was fun!

Ok, you are a hippie if you Drop in, chill out and take a hike. I.e. you dont wnat to deal with the problems of society, instead just live with nature (before we chop it down).

Hippies do not care for society, they want to live with nature and all it brings them. They are true flower children. In the end, they do not stay that way, but that is the old ones.

Moderateman

on Jan 17, 2005

its a mind set dharma not a life style... your peacefull, seeking answeres thru meditation, and kind as far as i can tell...

ParaTed2k

on Jan 17, 2005

This may come as a surprise to you (at least from what you know of me from my blog and postings), but one thing my wife knows is that I am 4 kids and a wife away from being the kind that could easily live the vagabond lifestyle. Because of schooling, disaster response, and a few other excuses, I have travelled more than my share. When I have the time, and the choice it is with the mini van, back seats removed, a sleeping bag thrown down, my bags backed, then my guitar and I hit the highway. I would probably be the most conservative dude in the bunch (which would tend to still keep me "unwelcome" among a lot of the "tolerant" hippies). ;~D

So go ahead, enjoy Jerry and those who aren't quite as grateful as he, Phish, Widespread Panic and Supertramp. Meat and "granola" are, of course optional. ;~D

Of course, some would say that if you don't resemble, think like, and act like the good folks hanging around Little 5 Points in Atlanta, you can't be a hippie. But who died and made them "The Man"... right? ;~D

Manopeace

on Jan 17, 2005

Hippie, shmippie...labels, shmables!
Get the van! Enjoy life!! Whoe cares what you're called? Just have fun, stay healthy and always be the loving, warm person you are today.

Danny Bassette

on Jan 17, 2005

Is it still hip to be square?

Sugar High Elf

on Jan 17, 2005

I always wanted a VW Beetle painted bright purple with flowers and peace signs painted all over it while I cranked "Everyone's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey"... hair down to my waist and such stuff...

Now, I'm a part of the establishment. I'm preppy even. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a hippie, though you may want to keep up with the showers and such. Stinky people are only fun to other stinky people.

dharmagrl

on Jan 17, 2005

Ok, you are a hippie if you Drop in, chill out and take a hike. I.e. you dont wnat to deal with the problems of society, instead just live with nature (before we chop it down).

And that's what my opinion is too. 'Hippie' is all about geting back to basics, about looking after mother earth, about being ecologically sensible and realizing that our resources here are limited...about living as one with nature and the way instead of fighting it all the time.

its a mind set dharma not a life style... your peacefull, seeking answeres thru meditation, and kind as far as i can tell.

Aww, thanks! I try to be aware....sometimes I falter, but everyone does..

Of course, some would say that if you don't resemble, think like, and act like the good folks hanging around Little 5 Points in Atlanta, you can't be a hippie. But who died and made them "The Man"... right? ;~D

Dude, as far as I know there is no membership to the hippie club. You can look any damn way you want to....talk any damn way you want to....and still be a hippie. In fact, that should be the way things are - but there are, of course always the hippie purists who will say that you have to shun soap, water and combs in order to join the 'club'.

Get the van! Enjoy life!! Whoe cares what you're called?

Exactly. I've never really 'fit in' anywhere before, so there's no reason to start now!

Is it still hip to be square?

I dunno...you tell me?

But there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a hippie, though you may want to keep up with the showers and such.

No, I know there isn't...and I have the ability to be able to smell my own funkiness so there's no danger of me becoming a stinky dirty hippie!

So, folks...what do you think makes a hippie a hippe?

Shovelheat

on Jan 17, 2005

My best memory of hippies was when I was about 10 (circa 1970) and I went with my older sister and cousins to a Grass Roots (anybody remember them?)concert that was held outdoors in Fort Worth, Texas one summer. Lemme tell ya, the folks that were at that concert, now they were hippies! I remember, maybe because I was just a kid, that they were all very kind to me. Either that or they were stoned, anyway. But ever since, I have always thought of a hippie as a free and fun loving person. And that's alright with me...

Shovelheat

on Jan 17, 2005

Here we go: Link

ParaTed2k

on Jan 17, 2005

Free and Fun loving until you wear a Tie Dye with this on it into one of their hang outs.

(((Because of the colors of the tie dye, the Peace Sign and the word "PEACE" really stand out at a distance, while the rest come into better view as I they get nearer.

In fairness, the reaction is usually mixed. The truly "free & fun loving" among them get the joke for what it is and have fun with it. Of course there is the other end of the spectrum who are completely disgusted and come up with the most judgemental of names to throw at me. Then there is everywhere in between. ;~D

dharmagrl

on Jan 17, 2005

I have always thought of a hippie as a free and fun loving person. And that's alright with me...

That's alright with me too. If, at the end of my life, I can say that i had fun and that I loved....then I really do think that's all I need.

The truly "free & fun loving" among them get the joke for what it is and have fun with it.

I thought it was freakin' hilarious!

Of course there is the other end of the spectrum who are completely disgusted and come up with the most judgemental of names to throw at me.

Yeah, the militant wanna-be hippies, the ones who are trying so hard to be what they think hippies should be that they miss the point entirely.

ParaTed2k

on Jan 17, 2005

Yeah, the militant wanna-be hippies, the ones who are trying so hard to be what they think hippies should be that they miss the point entirely.

But who are we to judge.. ;~D

Glad you liked my graphic!

dharmagrl

on Jan 17, 2005

But who are we to judge.. ;~D

Me? I'm nobody to judge....all I want to do is live my life and let everyone else lives theirs.

I did like that graphic...I think I'm going to save it and get it printed on a T shirt.

Shovelheat

on Jan 17, 2005

Of course there is the other end of the spectrum who are completely disgusted and come up with the most judgemental of names to throw at me.

assholes come in every tone and variety...

ParaTed2k

on Jan 17, 2005

I did like that graphic...I think I'm going to save it and get it printed on a T shirt.

Complete with my T-Bee's Logo? I guess some things are free and fun loving!!! ;~D

I have better copies, in all sorts of colors you could choose from.... but while they are just as fun loving, their not so free. ;~D

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