Even though this is supposed to be "Hip(pie) Forums" and a gathering place for hippie minded folks, I have noticed some hostility on the other sections of the forums, even in school in real life.... As far as my appearance, not only do I like wearing hippie clothing and hemp but I also go barefoot, partly as a statement of freedom and non-materialism and the fact that I don't want to give my money to Nike and the other shoe companies who use child slave labor. Anyway, while I realize that not all hippies go around barefoot, I am amazed at how many other younger hippies tell me that I should go buy some Birks or other shoes. Why should I have to buy anything? I realize that my bare feet did not cost anything, so I can't show off what I bought at Macy*s, but Isn't non-materialism and living close to the Earth part of being a hippie? I wouldn't imagine that a hippie from the '60s would cut down another hippie for having bare feet.
Yeah man, i agree with you...you should be called for your decisions as long as you can justify them. On the other hand though, if the people calling you can justify why they're calling you (which they probably can't) then it's more complex; but in the end your decision is your desicision, especially since it doesn't affect anybody else.
yeah i completely agree. eff them. but imo hippies =/= the 60's. 'tis a living legend but not a living time period. but you're being the purer one. keep goin dude
You better believe that they did. They weren't just hippies, they were just as human as us and I'm pretty sure they didn't live up to their ideals all the time. Also, it isn't about showing off I think. And it isn't necessarily part of being a hippie, no. It's a stereotype. Being a hippie doesn't mean you need to follow everything that's considered to be 'hippie'. And you're never only a hippie, you're human in the first place and if you like it or not we don't like all the same things (even if we are in the same subculture).
Also, wearing shoes doesn't nearly always have to be a case of materialism even if it would be a trendy brand.
Why does the fact that I don't own shoes equate to religious devotion? The fact that I go everywhere barefoot is simply because I don't own a pair of shoes.
Is it really that simply? It's not that you didn't buy new ones because you haven't thought of it. In other threads it seems more that you gave it too much thought
Actually your questions are making me think about it more...just kidding. No seriously, I have thought about it from time to time, especially when other people at school are showing off the latest shoes or boots they bought and I'm standing next to them with my bare toes gripping the floor . But then I just ponder why I need to go buy some shoes just to make a fashion statement and it makes no sense to me. I don't really have money to buy shoes right now, plus I just like the freedom of feeling the ground when I walk, and the primitive style of bare feet is cool in it's own sort of way.
We are not all the same, the term hippie can mean so many different things for different people. for instance I go barefoot a lot but I cant when I go to the store andwalking in the city, and since I dont have enough money to move to the country, I wear shoes. I admire your devotion to being barefoot all the time, and they should leave you alone about your lifestyle, but not all are going to get it. I wear vegan shoes anyways made by an american family company. so not all who wear shoes contribute to child labor. just my 2 cents, it is great what you do. give ya props for that.
It's cool when I hear about other hippies who like going around barefoot, makes me think that there's not something wrong with me for being perfectly happy with not owning shoes. I'm just curious where you are from? You mentioned that you can't go barefoot to the store or when you walk around the city. I do all my shopping barefoot: grocery store, department stores, on rare occaision even the mall. Most of the time (if I'm wearing long pants) people don't even notice that I'm barefoot. Also, I've been to NYC and Philadelphia a few times last year with friends. Since I have no shoes, I had no choice but to go there barefoot and I had no probs. In fact, my hippie friend Ariel, first invited me to visit her at school in NYC in OCT 2008. She was living there 3 months w/o any shoes.
sorry for my response to your pm, I wasnt as nice as I could have been, it is hard to read people thru the internet. I am in so cal, and the streets here tend to have glass and stuff on them, so I tend to be careful and wear my shoes. I liked it better in colorado, when I could walk everywhere barefoot and not worry about cutting my feet.
I was kicked out of store here also bc I wasnt wearing shoes, no shirt no shoes no service sign, I guess I missed that tidbit. I miss the country
I was actually suprized at how clean the streets in Manhattan are. When I went there by bus the first time, my friends told me I was crazy to go w/o shoes because the streets would be lined with glass and needles. That was far from the truth. Philadelphia (Filthadelphia) has much dirtier streets, they may leave you with black-bottomed feet but I still hadn't encountered much glass. It's very rare that stores in PA have signs like that. It must be a regional thing. I have been kicked out of stores before but it's not often enough to make me want to buy shoes.
I hope in 2 years I can move somewhere cleaner, and more welcoming to people barefoot. I grew up in the country so when I moved here it was a big change.
