What did hippies ever do to you?

Question

I frequently see questions (and answers) bashing "hippies." But I can't remember them doing anything so terrible. What specifically has a hippie done to you? And don't even start on Charles Manson - he doesn't qualify for this question, because I never considered him a hippie.

Answer 1

Yeah? What gives??? Hippies are some of the coolest people I have ever met!!!

I tell you what hippies have done to me: They fed me when I didn't have any food. They gave me a smoke when I was out of cigarettes. They told me stories about bein on the road. They shared good tunes with me. In fact, they share EVERYTHING!!! AND They're nice to EVERYBODY!!!

Some people just dis them because they are so afraid of what hippies have to say. Seriously. And I know for a fact that they have no idea what they are talking aobut.

Answer 2

I can name two real hippies from the '60s that make me laugh -- Gallagher and Tommy Chong. Charles Manson technically was a hippie, but he falls more in line with cult leaders like Sun-Myung Moon and David Koresh and...is it Jim Jones I'm thinking of? "Drink the Kool-Aid..."

I think when your average person thinks about a "hippie" he/she thinks about counterculture (those who rebel for the sake of rebellion). The only hippies I have anything against are those who simply regurgitate the same old, tired rhetoric we've heard so many times already. They call themselves free-thinkers, but they're conformists to the highest degree. You can find that anywhere though. Conservatives and liberals alike spew the party line without being able to give an intelligent argument as to WHY they believe what they believe or constructively criticize the opposing point of view. So my yardstick is whether a person can defend his/her beliefs without resorting to bashing or name-calling. Tie-dyes, sandals, long hair -- hey, that's not my thing, but no points against you if it's yours.

Answer 3

Nothing. I haven't met one hippie who really rubbed me the wrong way. A lot of people who don't understand the hippie culture bash it, b/c they only see a few parts of it. I'm not one, but I do sort of understand it. Then of course there are the teenagers who mis-interpret what "hippy-ism" so that they can serve and cater to their own self-serving idealisms, and just sit around and smoke pot and do nothing all day, citing that "this is how a hippie lives, why are you being so mean to me?" and all the typically victimizing whiny bullsh*t teenagers spew. That doesn't help either. Charles Manson wasn't a hippie, he used that as a front to draw followers who also did not fully understand the hippie lifestyle. Once he had sufficiently brain-washed them, they kept the cosmetic effect going. None of the Manson Family were true hippies either, but a few probably believed they were.

Answer 4

uh oh...here I was thinking there were no hippies left but according to some of the other answers what hippies did was turn me into one of them ARGH
i knew plenty of older hippies when I was a teen. I think they had a negative influence on me. But seriuosly, they are lazy but very kind hearted and most people except maybe red and christina don't even know what a hippy is.

Answer 5

People need someone to blame-hippies are a good choice.

People lash out at those that dont fight back.

People lash out at those they dont understand.

People lash out at people who oppose them.

The movement took a huge slide, but there are real hippies out there. They move amongst the modern 'hippies' and are hard to tell apart.

The only thing either group has really done is pan handle, but at every gathering this is discouraged in town-dont want to anger the townspeople.

Edit: Im with Christina:
What have hippies done for me?

Theyre helping cleanup the woods in my backyard.

Also give me cigs and food when Im on hard times (both are free among friends).

Theyre always up for giving you a ride if you need one.

Theyll lend a buck or two if they have it, and will help you find it if they dont.

I appreciate anyone who can scramble out of a dumpster with an arm full of bread (one day old dumpster diving) and make it to the car that quick!

Answer 6

Nothing, free love, pot, at the time what more could you want.
I do disagree about Manson, he was not a hippie, but a life long criminal that used the troubled kids for his own means, and their life styles aided Manson in his thirst for blood.
But this was the exception rather than rule

Answer 7

The times have changed, and we are in a much different world than the past. People have become more solitary and sedentary due to the explosion of the internet. If all the machines failed tomorrow then maybe. Why not keep that that was good in that era in yourself? Be idealistic, independent in thoughts, words and expression. Ask questions and never be afraid to speak up when something is unjust to others. Keep the dream alive young blood! The world is there for your asking.

Answer 8

Have you ever watched the hippie episode of South Park?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=db6IrI5RvI8
That's pretty much how I feel about hippies.

Answer 9

I can't stand the hippie bashing.

Jeez, my parents were hippies! Only things they ever did were becoming a volunteer EMT (mom) and volunteer firefighter (dad) ON TOP of their day jobs, and the most loving, caring, concerned, hard working, and supportive parents on God's green earth!

Answer 10

the "original" hippies who came about in the 60's were people who refused to work, and refused to participate in society for "ethical" reasons.
They refused to go to war, whilst millions of people were sacrificing themselves for their country, and they followed beatnik poets who glorified drugs and "dropping out". They were sexual promiscous and open drug users, whilst not contributing anything to society except "love-babies" and drug addicts.

Nowadays, of course the meaning of hippies has changed slightly, and not quite so extreme, but the negative stigma is still attached.