When we had the idea to tackle this nebulous “hipster” culture, we knew we had our work cut out for us. The primary challenge was simply trying to define precisely what scene we were talking about. Who exactly are hipsters? What does it mean to be one? Like Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart once said when describing porn, “I don’t know what it is, but I know it when I see it.” Well, that’s how we feel about hipsters. I can’t tell you exactly what it means to be one, but I know that when I’m dancing next to a guy with a flowey scarf and Oakley throwbacks, that I just might be in their presence.

Hell, I might even be one myself.

But seeing as no self-respecting hipster would ever call themselves such, the very word caused much consternation. As Chris Holmes so eloquently put it, “I honestly don’t think I’ve ever met a single person who would willingly describe themselves as a hipster.” It’s a remarkable phenomenon, if only because it’s the first subculture to which nobody claims to be a part of. Punks, hippies, junglists, Deadheads, Republicans, straight-edgers, fag-hags—all are self-ascribed in-groups, societal badges that people boldly wear to give themselves identity. Hipsters? No such luck. Because of this, we tried to avoid using the term when pitching the cover story—desperately trying to name this scene without the dreaded H-word: “cool kids,” “underground art scene,” “downtown fashionistas,” blah blah blah. We came up with all sorts of tangential terms, but none really seemed to nail it. We were brain-boggled.

In the end, it just didn’t make sense. We had to accept it: this would be The Hipster Issue. Like it or not, it is what it is. Although even the hippest dude at the party would bristle at the mere suggestion that they are indeed a hipster, we’re not using the term in the pejorative sense (however, it’s pretty clear Tommie Sunshine might have some heated words for us in that regard). We’re not the dude in Skechers hating on you at the Starbucks line. We’re the dude in the lab coat behind the two-way mirror writing stuff down on a clipboard.

So here it is, the examination of all things Hipster. Of all the features and articles and discussions that we’ve printed, we’ve never experienced the interest and diversity and intensity that we received from participants. For something so meaningless and transitory as a “scene” ever is, the Hipster culture, if nothing else, is truly a cultural flashpoint. Love it or hate it, chances are you feel strongly about it. Or if you’re reading BPM, you just might be it.

Oh, and one more thing: it’s important to note that people interpreted words differently, taking different definitions of somewhat vague terms and running with it. So even if two people are on the same side of this cultural land war, they just might attack a question from a different perspective. Keep it in mind, Waldo, as you take our guided tour of Hipsterville. Grab your tailored fedora, Pabst Blue Ribbon and jaded sense of irony, it’s gonna be an interesting ride…