[marcusverus]

In my (blunt) reading, it's an eloquent, abstract way of saying that the author was way into {thing} before it was cool, but then people found out about {thing}, at which point it was no longer hip and new, and so the author was forced to move on (in disgust!). About how it's hard to be a trendsetter, because people who follow are such tryhards!

In other words, it's Hipsterism in fancy prose.

[biztos]

I’ve never been accused of hipsterism and the excerpt really hits home for me. Probably for a lot of contrarian nerds, always doing things the hard way because doubt is a signalless virtue and I dunno, that other road already has people on it.

OTOH your summary was hilarious if a bit cynical, and I already like Brodsky so who knows.

[bscphil]

I agree with you, but I detect a certain level of irony in

> managing to pick something that attracts others denotes a certain vulgarity in your choice