We've entered an interesting timeperiod. In the 80's we were consumed with consumerism. People bought shit by the tons that they didn't need simply because they felt they needed it. The 90's experienced a counter culture in grunge and others. Then along came the double 0s. Now big marketers have taken everything we used to fight them, and turned it against us. Kids can now buy into movements such as punk, grunge and indie. Groups formerly considered on the verge of society are neatly packaged for our nu-mindless consumerism.

Coming into my 23rd year on this planet I was buying into something. Sort of a new yuppie movement. Silk ties that cost more than they're worth. Namebrands from designers that really don't design anything more than lend there name to some chump that does it for them. Checking GQ for fashion tips and Esquire for business tips on the monthly. My life revolved around appearing to fit a part that I did not fit nor deserve. Inside there was a rebellion, thriftshops started blazing a trail into my daily psyche.

Pretending to be poor can be harder than pretending to be rich at times. There comes a time when people just view someone who shops at goodwill differently. Suddenly a first class citizen becomes the common trash. Followed in stores by security, harrased by police and targeted by youngsters that haven't a clue as to where you are going.

A happy medium had to be established. How can you not spend a ton of money, not seem like an uptight yuppie, but still command respect?

In walks Complex, the original mens buyer guide. If ever there was a tool in a new consumerist culture this is it. Putting collections of shoes, clothes and miscellaneous gadgets on a level with consumer nirvana in a format. Suddenly street cred and hip hop culture has more to do with how much scrilla you threw down on your wardrobe than what made the culture so great in the beginning. Not that kicks and money weren't part of the culture to begin with, but this new breed is beyond anything the likes of RUN DMC and GMF could have dreamed of back in there day. Imagine if the furious five had been done up in Gucci, ferraris and Malibu residences.

Hip hop culture is not the only counter culture being bastardized by this new marketing empire. As previously mentioned, punk, has taken a sickening twist. In the beginning punk was about an attitude. Not a style, clothing, music or otherwise. Now punk has been granted to such pop bands as Blink 182, Sum 41 and tons of other shitty bands with random numbers in their names.

Grunge followed the same path albeit a much quicker one. In no time flat kids were running around unbathed with flannel and holes in their jeans. Now hypocriyuppies pay top dollar for holes probably put there by latin people too poor to afford anything close to the pieces of rag they're producing.

The newest form or buying in is Indie rock. Now for a small fee you too can buy girl pants, thick plastic rimmed glasses and bad sweaters and fit in with all the trendy fucking scensters.

In the near future there has to be a new counter-culture. Something stronger than anything we've seen so far. Mayhaps something so offensive and deliberate that no corporate entity would dare touch it. Although look what happened to punk.