TOW 17 Rewrite: How to Live Without Irony

Christy Wampole, a columnist at New York Times, recently published an article that was, for the most part, aimed towards the so-called "hipsters". These "contemporary urban harlequins" who are living a life of irony, nostalgic for times they have never experienced and are partial to outdated fashions and hobbies. I feel as though this article was written in an appropriate time as this generation has been experiencing a growing phenomena of hipsters. A fad you could call it. Or even a cult. Wampole probably felt a need to address this growing number of hipsters emerging from every suburban corner and making their way to cities with obscure bars and farmers' markets.
It seemed like Wampole's targeted audience was not only those who identified themselves as hipsters, but also those like Wampole, herself. People who are afraid of giving sincere gifts because something about choosing a personal, meaningful gift is too intimate and too momentous. There is a belief that this generation has little to offer in terms of culture and originality. Medicines have already been invented, unknown planets have already been discovered, technology has already reached its pinnacle. This belief has made people feel as if they cannot give sincere, sentimental gifts. Why? Because it feels too intimate and momentous and they cannot bear the rejection they might feel if the receiver of the gift does not like it. This defensive behavior may come in forms of  "a kitschy painting from a thrift store" or "plastic Mexican wrestler figures". This is a form of self-defense. Instead of potentially running the risk of getting hurt because your friend does not like the gift of sincerity, you evade the whole situation all together. Hipsters and their outmoded fashions, you and your self-defensive gifts ―all forms of ironic living.
I think Christy Wampole did a good job of not only defining the modern-day hipster and how ironic his/her way of living is, but also adding a personal aspect to it with the use of anecdotes. Wampole mentioned how hipsters are not the only ones leading an ironic life. She, herself, is living ironically by her struggle of giving sincere gifts. Giving absurd and usually ridiculous gifts is a self-defensive behavior she, and most people today, has acquired. It made the article more relatable and less insulting. Wampole also utilized ethos in her article to make it more interesting and credible. She mentioned relevant and important facts such as the Berlin Wall and Generation X to support her article. 
Christy Wampole wrote a very interesting and very true article that captures the essence of what a "hipster" is. Her purpose was clear throughout the article and she lessened the blow (of insults) to hipsters by saying that she, herself, also has fallen victim to this growing fad.