The very nature of punk is that defining it requires either snark or rather a lot of 'well, it's kind of, uh... like this, only it's not... but I, uh' and a litany of vague hand gestures.

It started as a way to "epater les bourgeois" (ie embarass the hell out of one's parents in public without actually doing anything illegal) and went from there. I refer you to episodes of "The Young Ones." ;D

Stickin' it to the man... yeah?

i think it started off as a punk, a punk is someone in jail (i think) and then it morphed into a punk lifestyle.  Thats what i've heard, not sure if it's true.  But that sort of lifestyle did start punk music in the 70s with bands like iggy pop and the stooges and bad brains, which are really gritty style bands.  then you got the start of pop punk with the descendents and the ramones in the 80s and then all hell breaks loose after that.  haha.  you have hundreds and hundreds of sub genres and sub cultures from then on.

to me, punk is a music genre, but it's more about attitude than the exact music played.  being punk is doing what you think is right without shame and telling people who you think are wrong exactly where they can shove it.  it usually involves some adolescent aggression.  but yeah, down with the man and such.

Punk:
Slang.
1. A young person, especially a member of a rebellious counterculture group.
2.  An inexperienced young man.
Music.
1.  Punk rock.
2.  A punk rocker.

Slang. A young man who is the sexual partner of an older man.
Archaic. A prostitute.

punker punk'er n.
punk2 (pŭngk)
n.
Dry decayed wood, used as tinder.
Any of various substances that smolder when ignited, used to light fireworks.
Chinese incense.
adj. Slang.
Of poor quality; worthless.
Weak in spirits or health.

Well that was surprising!

i am surprised!! "young man" this "young man" that.  where are the laaadies!  oh yeah.  i forgot.  we aren't allowed in the club.  : )

punk is very much still a lifestyle. Not necessarily by bands who sound anything like the traditional definition of punk. Most true punk kids listen to pretty obscure/elitist DIY hardcore/indie stuff. It's conformist in a non-comformist kind of way. A lot of punks are vegan in an attempt to not 'support the man' and they are openly opposed to social injustices and, in some cases, governement and democracy as a whole. I think the punk idealism is cool in theory, but it turns into some crusty punk kid peeing in a donut shop to show his opposition to 'the man'. But some kids keep it real. Not many, just some.

I think this sums it up the best. They also in some cases tend to think of themselves as anarchists.

Punk:
Slang.
1. A young person, especially a member of a rebellious counterculture group.
2.  An inexperienced young man.
Music.
1.  Punk rock.
2.  A punk rocker.

Slang. A young man who is the sexual partner of an older man.
Archaic. A prostitute.

punker punk'er n.
punk2 (pŭngk)
n.
Dry decayed wood, used as tinder.
Any of various substances that smolder when ignited, used to light fireworks.
Chinese incense.
adj. Slang.
Of poor quality; worthless.
Weak in spirits or health.

Well that was surprising!

i am surprised!! "young man" this "young man" that.  where are the laaadies!  oh yeah.  i forgot.  we aren't allowed in the club.  : )

"Archaic: Punk. A prostitute." There are the laaaadies, although by definition a prostitute is not a lady in the archaic sense. The word "punk" in this context goes back to the 16th century. John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester (see "The Libertine") often used the word to refer to his hired mistresses.

I think the punk idealism is cool in theory, but it turns into some crusty punk kid peeing in a donut shop to show his opposition to 'the man'.

Ha!  That reminds me of l2a's story about under the table at the bar.

I must've missed this story.