What's the name for the drifter/traveler subculture in the U.S.?
I’m talking about travelers with dogs that often have worn out-looking clothing, piercings and tattoos, travel in groups, etc.
Someone said this subculture is called “crusty punks” but a search for that has not yieded what I’m looking for.
Click on the link to see some pictures of the kind of poeple I’m talking about.
http://ziza.es/2007/07/23/La_vida_de_vagabundos_americanos_42_fotos.html
Observing members:
0
Composing members:
0
22 Answers
Oh, sorry. A fair warning: some of the ads on this site are NSFW.
The site is in Spanish, which is probably the reason that I don’t know what these people are “called.”
The term used in the UK is “gypsies” I believe (to what you are describing), but I have no idea if that term is used within the USA as well. They usually travel around in caravans and settle on sites until they are forced out and tend to leave a lot of rubbish behind >_<.
Sorry I cannot help you with the US term but maybe this will be of some help to you or others :)
Crusties or gutterpunks is a name sometimes applied. They also commonly call themselves scumbags. Hobo and tramp fit well too. Hold your nose if you see some crusties coming your way!
Drug addicts and alcoholics in denial. Mental illness masquerading as idealism. And maybe a handful with true Kerouac idealism. But Kerouac although a brilliant writer, also happened to die from alcoholism.
“I’d be ashamed to confront you and Gary now I’ve become so decadent and drunk and dontgiveashit. I’m not a Buddhist any more”
His death, at the age of 47, resulted from an internal hemorrhage (bleeding esophageal varices) caused by cirrhosis, the result of a lifetime of heavy drinking.”
~Wikipedia
There’s a distinct difference betwen those guys and these guys
Okay so the consensus seems to be that they’re called gutter punks or crusties. I can’t seem to find much about them on the internet though. I was curious to see if I could find some sort of online community that catered to that.
And no, I do not want to be one. (lol)
Thanks, everyone.
And yet another reason not to legalize weed…
I think his name is Bill.
@AstroChuck
One man an entire subculture? Makes the Dos Equis guy seem boring.
I befriended someone when I was volunteering in South Africa who basically fits this description. He just travels wherever life takes him. He was planning on traveling from South Africa to Spain along the west coast of Africa, but I chatted with him on Facebook and he said he got deported back to England (his home country, where he is no longer a citizen).
But back to my point: he hated when people would brand him. I think the reason why these people live like that is because they want to be themselves, and not have a name like “crustie” or “gutter punk”. I guess they’re just really, extremely individualistic.
They are the transient element of society, looking to escape the likes of you lot particularly the overwhelming odor of bigotry, and comfortable liberal smugness.
In a town where I used to live in Virginia, they were called ‘urban hikers’.
I dont think gypsies is the right word here. Around where I live, we have a lot of gypsies passing through and they are always very alike- they have dark hair, lots of kids, they make messes, they’re rude, they dont care….etc. I’ve never met one that is pleasant.
I don’t know what these people would be called, though. I’m no help.
Answer this question 
This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.
Composing members:
0
