A Story of Insecurity, I guess...

A couple of years ago, when I was 18, I was on a week-long camping trip with my Boy Scout troop to this Boy Scouts summer camp and we went to this one place with a COPE course (a lot of outdoors problem solving) and I met this old Hippie and me, him (his name was Ivy), and my friend Jim got to talking...

I was unsure if I was a real Hippie in the eyes of other Hippies of if they saw me as a wannabe, or a poser. This wasn't my biggest concern, but it tends to cross your mind sometimes...

So my friend Jim started saying that are no new hippies, just the old-heads. All the new "hippies" are just fake and only into drugs and the music. So after he went on his rant and we talked a little with Ivy, Ivy turned to me (with my baby dreads, that have been taken out, so I now just have long wavy hair) and said "You're a real Hippie". Then Jim agreed and said I'm one of the few. This helped to alleviate my concern.

I had also been working for two old Hippies making jewelry, and I still am. George, who is the guy I work for, said that there aren't many people in our area that have "it". By "it" he meant the great spirit, loving nature, openness, kindness, friendliness, accepting nature, etc. etc. He said that I am one of those few people that he's run into.

And lastly, this guy in my Electrician class who is of the "Ghetto Black" stereotype, calls me Jesus. This is his way of just saying that I have all of the characteristics listed above. He said he just sat back and watched me and knew that I was a good person. I've never had an "enemy" and every person I've ever met have enjoyed my company.

I don't say this brag, bragging is for those with a low self-esteem and just try to build themselves up to look better than other people. I only post this and tell this story to help any true young Hippies and Old Hippies alike that unsure, by chance like I was. Just be a good person and try to spread the peace.

You don't need to do drugs or drink to be Hippie, it's just a common trait. I've never done drugs, and only got drunk once in my 21 years. I just hope this encourages people to be accepting and loving, and to spread the peace and the love. And I apologize for the length of this.


-Josh

 

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You sound like a douche.

 

In a world without hypocrites and posers, the difference between a Christian and a Hippie is nothing.

Edit: And maybe those damn labelers.

 

Why do you feel the need to belong to a certain group (or sterotype, even)? Just do your own thing..

 

Ferizzle.

 

/Agree

 

I also feel that you should do your own thing. Don't try to fit under a streotype.
Do what ever comes naturally. (in other words be yourself...but that kinda gets confusing)

 

People will label you though........

 

yes they will and they are being ignorant when they do that. I was saying you shouldn't try to make yourself a certain lable.

 

Does that really matter? People can say what they want...

 

Exactly

 

Josh,

Thank You, your story is good to hear. We all use labels to communicate, and the way you describe yourself, your dreams, your hope for our world, is wonderful.

Peace be with you my Friend,


David

 

we use labels because taxonomy, nomenclature and words are how most humans communicate, it's easy it's "concrete" but because in truth different people have different lives and different meanings for words the metaphors that every word is simply by being spoken becomes muddied, so a word that is not offensive to one person may to another, a persons experiences shape their meanings associated to words, this is how the human mind works


for instance you think of a hippie as a person of one type, the sort you spoke of in your pseudo essay, my definition of hippie is similar but somewhat different, it includes an appreciation of the culture and sociatal movements of the 60's and present day, of social reform, someone who cares about evil and social injustice (tehe) but that is because I have had different experiences than you, there are also shapes and colours and flavours associated with the word hippie for me, but that is complicated and another post altogether,

all words are metaphores

all labels are metaphores

all taxonomies, nomenclatures, names and anything of that sort in any way shap or form is on some label or another is a metaphore, a way to communicate a series of ideas I hold to you as what I assume is the same series of ideas you hold, however we haven't all lived the same life and so your series of ideas is different than mine and my brain is fucked and so the degrees tilt further away....

 

everything you do puts you into certain labels. the media causes it to be so.

i have long hair and the other day some guy comes up to me (stereotypically chav) and tells me about him and his 'music' and how it's much better than my 'wfsidsjkdf' music.. he never met me before and has no idea what music i like but media stereotypes and so on make it so you are all labelled.

everyone belongs to a certain group, you can't help it, the media just drives it into you so you have no choice really..

basically doing your own thing just ends up with you putting yourself into a group anyway..

 

wanna bet?

 

yes.

 

I will bet you that there is no taxonimized group that I fit in (and I'm not talking like rejects or outsiders or something those are the antithesis of groups)

I truly think that there is no named group that I can cleanly and truly fit into (and I'm not talking echidna or platypus fit into those are bullshit)

 

well no i suppose not everyone fits directly into each group but still you probably have a 'media category' that mainly influences you..