A poser is essentially everybody in High School who actually pays attention to fashion/studies how to conform to a specific group. Generally, someone who is socially awkward and/or physically unattractive gets called a poser when said individual tries to fit into a certain group, usually comprised of people who have been studying how to conform for a longer period of time. However, since all High School cliques are based on extreme superficiality, the word poser could apply to everyone in such a group. The idea that anyone is, in fact, a "real" punk/goth/hipster, etc, usually stems from how much dedication they have to putting together their personality. It's usually born from a psychological condition that has been impeded into their brain through corporate propaganda; more or less, the idea that you need to consume/conform on some level to have an identity at all.
When you are using external sources and symbols to define your personality, you are not actually being "real" in any sense, and that's especially true if the symbols have been given their meaning independently of yourself or peers. Peer pressure and conformity, of course, are normal adolescent behaviors, although teenagers take this to an extreme in consumerist societies (and corporations exploit this condition in teenagers as well, hence how important the word "poser" seems to be here on urbandictionary).
It should be noted, however, that some hipsters take this thought process deep into their twenties, and never fully mature past the point of making an identity out of secondhand symbols or processes of thought (although this behavior has more complexity and nuance to it, and has more to do with boasting of education obtained at a university level, and classism). There are an enormous amount of college graduates in western society with uniform tatse/clothing styles/mannerisms, with not only identical opinions, but identical expression of those opinions, and identical attitudes.
So, basically, "poser" is an Orwellian word, that instills fear into the minds of teenagers (and some adults), which in turn makes them consume/conform in an efficient manner to avoid being labeled as such. For corporations, this is one of many tactics that help to create a very effective society, where individuals place their own constraints instead of having those constraints come from a dictatorial system.
When you are using external sources and symbols to define your personality, you are not actually being "real" in any sense, and that's especially true if the symbols have been given their meaning independently of yourself or peers. Peer pressure and conformity, of course, are normal adolescent behaviors, although teenagers take this to an extreme in consumerist societies (and corporations exploit this condition in teenagers as well, hence how important the word "poser" seems to be here on urbandictionary).
It should be noted, however, that some hipsters take this thought process deep into their twenties, and never fully mature past the point of making an identity out of secondhand symbols or processes of thought (although this behavior has more complexity and nuance to it, and has more to do with boasting of education obtained at a university level, and classism). There are an enormous amount of college graduates in western society with uniform tatse/clothing styles/mannerisms, with not only identical opinions, but identical expression of those opinions, and identical attitudes.
So, basically, "poser" is an Orwellian word, that instills fear into the minds of teenagers (and some adults), which in turn makes them consume/conform in an efficient manner to avoid being labeled as such. For corporations, this is one of many tactics that help to create a very effective society, where individuals place their own constraints instead of having those constraints come from a dictatorial system.
Kid A: Man, that kid is a poser! He doesn't even know any other Greenday albums besides "American Idiot"
Kid B: Well, you shouldn't be too proud of knowing Greenday albums in the first place, because they aren't a very talented band. I would say they are an embarrassment to punk, but punk was never anything special in the first place. It was all Malcolm Mclaren's ploy to sell clothing in London in the late 70's.
Kid A: Dude, you're faggot!
Kid B: Well, you shouldn't be too proud of knowing Greenday albums in the first place, because they aren't a very talented band. I would say they are an embarrassment to punk, but punk was never anything special in the first place. It was all Malcolm Mclaren's ploy to sell clothing in London in the late 70's.
Kid A: Dude, you're faggot!
by a guy on the internet December 26, 2007
Get the poser mug.Person 1: look what i got at hot topic.
person 2: Hot Tpoic?..geez what happen to MAKING YOUR OWN FUCKING CLOTHES!!
person 2: Hot Tpoic?..geez what happen to MAKING YOUR OWN FUCKING CLOTHES!!
by Bob August 27, 2003
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Someone who tries to be something they're not. People, you're only a poser if you make yourself one and most people who spend all their time calling others posers are the true posers.
Annoying Girl (shall remain nameless): You shop at Hot Topic? Poser.
Girl who wheres Hot Topic simply coz she likes the clothes: You used to shop there too before your loser friends told you to stop. So who's the poser here?
Girl who wheres Hot Topic simply coz she likes the clothes: You used to shop there too before your loser friends told you to stop. So who's the poser here?
by Madeline N. April 17, 2006
Get the Poser mug.A fake person. Usually in high school or middle school. Try too hard to blend in with the group that they want to fit into. Unfortunately, the ones who try and be punks and goths usually set the stereotypical goth and punk style so no one knows what either group really is except for the true ones.
1) Poser Punk: Jack went out and bought a skateboard and considered himself to be a 'punk'. When asked by a real skater if he could do a nollie, he replied, 'a what? Is that where you take one foot off of the skateboard?'
2) Poser Goth: Daniel considered himself a goth. He shopped all the time at Hot Topic. One day, another goth bumped into him and asked him what he thought about the Bauhaus. His reply: "Is that a new drink out?"
2) Poser Goth: Daniel considered himself a goth. He shopped all the time at Hot Topic. One day, another goth bumped into him and asked him what he thought about the Bauhaus. His reply: "Is that a new drink out?"
by "ez" July 16, 2008
Get the poser mug.slutknot, korn, limp dickshit, linkin park, and other stupid ass shit. fuckers that think theyre metal but are not even close. music that requires no real talent to make. screaming pointless meaningless lyrics, and playing shit music that is composed of all power chords.
by MetallilbangeR April 5, 2005
Get the poser metal mug.when someone decides to label someone without context based on the music they listen to and to make themselves seem superior to the one they are speaking to, they degenerate the name poser by using it to be hurtful.
by facetious August 1, 2012
Get the poser band mug.People why try to be Scene by putting on large sunglasses, taking pictures at an angle, putting on excess amounts of eye makeup, using toe rings as lip rings, and using odd props and colorful clips. also by teasing hair a bit.
by Amy and Alaina July 26, 2005
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