The subculture of Gopnik is a unique phenomenon that appeared in the USSR at the beginning of the last century. Today this subculture unites representatives of different ages who specialize in small-scale robberies, thefts, extortion and hooliganism.
The very concept of "gopnik" came from the abbreviation "GOP" - the City Society of Contempt, which arose in St. Petersburg to put there antisocial elements that engaged in theft and outrage. After the revolution of 1917, the Urban Hostel of the Proletariat was organized in the same building for homeless and working young people. The third version of the origin of this concept is thieves' slang, on which robbery is called a "gop-stop", hence the name of people engaged in theft and hooliganism.
Gopovskaya subculture flourished with a new force in the 70-80s of the last century, as a sign of opposition to Soviet informals - punks and metalworkers. Due to their limited worldview and low mental abilities, Gopnik people do not accept and despise those who are different from others. Their victims can be, as other informal movements, and representatives of the intelligentsia. The Gopniks consider themselves to be part of the working class, the "proletariat", people of the people, however, often concealing themselves under these concepts, they do not want to work, interrupted by accidental earnings.
The image of Gopnik
Dress gopniki not just horrible, but strictly "in-concept" - a tracksuit at any time of the year, sneakers, baseball cap or cap, in the hands of a purse or rosary. The more "advanced" gopnik can be seen on the neck of a massive silver or gold chain.
A typical gopnik can always be seen with a bottle of beer and a packet of seeds.
Slang Gopnik is very diverse with an admixture of words-parasites, prison-thieves' jargon "feny" and profanity. From street "kents" you can hear: "Vasya" is a stupid person, "chotky" is right, "heifer" is a girl, "kentovat" - to communicate, "money", "lava" - money.
Today, in order to become a Gopnik, one must either "hang out" in their circles as "one's own", or join it, taking gopa values and a way of life.