Do hippies even exist?

[mrdevious]

I've been thinking of this for a while, but I thought I'd make a post after reading the other hippie thread. Now I know a lot of people are discussing the resurgence of the hippie-days, and who knows it may happen, but I personally don't think it will be a clone of the 60's.

Anyway, the reason I ask "do hippies even exist" is because I've been thinking, isn't "Hippie" really a term given to the peace-loving generation by mainstream (north) american rulers? I mean, what we have here is a massive revival of a culture in which people experiment with all states of consciousness, encourage a back-to-nature type of pure lifestyle, and seek a state of loving peace and compassion through spiritual exploration, and rejection of what mainstream society has determined to be the norm.

This seems more like a natural human compulsion, however, as cultures all around the world have done the very same thing. Look at ancient India, China, the Native Americans, the South American Natives, all forms of meditation from around the world, the countless shamans who used Salvia, Mushrooms, Cannabis, Morning Glory Seeds, and countless other psychadelics all in the name of exploring higher forms of consciousness. Some of our greatest religious and philisophical minds, and other who were only important to those around them, basically adopted the same philosophy of releasing the mind from the homogenized state of the culture in which they reside. Instead they embraced a spiritual lifestyle of mental exploration and universal love, all done through self-exploration. Yet it would seem in a society in which "spirituality" means going to church every day and thinking through conformity, those who once again sought to do what people have done since the beginnings of humanity are called "hippies", "freaks", "losers", and so on. I would postulate that these terms are merely the product of a society which has been consumed by materialism and superficial lifestyles that are set as what's appropriate, and these "hippies" are in fact the same need for mental and spiritual exploration we have always looked for, though perhapse with less or poorer guidance than we had in the ancient days, when buying a car and getting an ipod wasn't the most important aspect of life.

thoughts?

mrdevious Reviewed by mrdevious on 04-03-2006. Do hippies even exist? I've been thinking of this for a while, but I thought I'd make a post after reading the other hippie thread. Now I know a lot of people are discussing the resurgence of the hippie-days, and who knows it may happen, but I personally don't think it will be a clone of the 60's. Anyway, the reason I ask "do hippies even exist" is because I've been thinking, isn't "Hippie" really a term given to the peace-loving generation by mainstream (north) american rulers? I mean, what we have here is a Rating: 5

[Mingles]

I've been thinking of this for a while, but I thought I'd make a post after reading the other hippie thread. Now I know a lot of people are discussing the resurgence of the hippie-days, and who knows it may happen, but I personally don't think it will be a clone of the 60's.

Anyway, the reason I ask "do hippies even exist" is because I've been thinking, isn't "Hippie" really a term given to the peace-loving generation by mainstream (north) american rulers? I mean, what we have here is a massive revival of a culture in which people experiment with all states of consciousness, encourage a back-to-nature type of pure lifestyle, and seek a state of loving peace and compassion through spiritual exploration, and rejection of what mainstream society has determined to be the norm.

This seems more like a natural human compulsion, however, as cultures all around the world have done the very same thing. Look at ancient India, China, the Native Americans, the South American Natives, all forms of meditation from around the world, the countless shamans who used Salvia, Mushrooms, Cannabis, Morning Glory Seeds, and countless other psychadelics all in the name of exploring higher forms of consciousness. Some of our greatest religious and philisophical minds, and other who were only important to those around them, basically adopted the same philosophy of releasing the mind from the homogenized state of the culture in which they reside. Instead they embraced a spiritual lifestyle of mental exploration and universal love, all done through self-exploration. Yet it would seem in a society in which "spirituality" means going to church every day and thinking through conformity, those who once again sought to do what people have done since the beginnings of humanity are called "hippies", "freaks", "losers", and so on. I would postulate that these terms are merely the product of a society which has been consumed by materialism and superficial lifestyles that are set as what's appropriate, and these "hippies" are in fact the same need for mental and spiritual exploration we have always looked for, though perhapse with less or poorer guidance than we had in the ancient days, when buying a car and getting an ipod wasn't the most important aspect of life.

thoughts?

Thoughts?

Yeah you're high. Thats the only thing I was thinking as I read that whole thing.

[GratefulDead22]

hippies are all over, most on dead tour :thumbsup:

[tinkerbell]

We're everywhere.

Also, you pose a great point about culture and society and it's always nice to see someone else with a "hippie" outlook and values (if that is in fact what you were implying and not merely toying with a notion without taking it on as your own necessarily). Thing is, it's all been said before. Leary and all the greats have talked about it. Hell, even George Carlin the comedian has talked about it. There seems to be another hippie movement that seeks to essentially join forces with the old hippies and new generation of hippies. Which, to me, is the best kind of hippie community. The new ones learn from the old ones experience and the new take the infomation (hopefully) and apply it with modern society in mind, not 1968. While the dynamics haven't changed much, there's been some significant changes and just like they represented a generation, the young ones too have their chance.

Likewise, for the hardcore hippies who want to leave society in the dust in a little more radical, modernized way there's always this option.

[cannabis campbell]

yes.

[StonerDave]

Check out Humbold county, California. The streets are littered with hippies, and great weed at a good price.

[LIP]

Hmmm... Well I am a hippie, and so is my good friend Jimmy, and were damn proud.

[beachguy in thongs]

I know what you mean Mr.D. Society, these days, isn't reflecting a hippy-population. True hippies are from the 60's. I'm gonna keep the "pothead" status. "Stoner" offends me because I would never throw rocks at people, especially if they're standing against a wall.

[chisme]

im a pothead im not a hippie

im too violent, have no regard for the earth, eat processed foods, and work for money. but fuck it it pays the bills

[graymatter]

Hippie was a convenient label to throw at people seeking peace and social justice. However, these notions soon spread beyond hippiedom and began to penetrate the mainstream, thus scaring the shit out of the right wing control mechanisms (CIA, FBI). Their solution: DISCO, baby... the most effective government conspiracy of all time