What is your opinion on this? Before Hippies, there were Beatniks (also known as Beats {long before the Beatles}), people who were out of the mainstream in their value system. Not precisely the fore runner of Hippies, but belonging to that same continuum as Hippies. Beatniks used the word "hip" in their lingo, such as I'm hip man! or That's hip man! (They also used the words "man" and "dig" a lot) My question, of which I am certain there is not "correct" answer, is when did the Beatnik era begin and when did it end? AND when did the Hippie era begin and when did it go in to semi retirement? Did these two era's overlap at all and if so what was the impact of that over lap? By the way the Peace Sign used by anti war demonstrators, originated in 1958 anti war/nuclear arms march in England. Beatniks were very anti war/nuclear in their views. Please share your opinion.