based
image:
screenshot of a Tweet from Running With Scissors reading
“We’ve been told our games are too expensive in some countries but we’ve been using Steam’s recommended pricing for a while. We trust Valve enough to not change this. If our games are still too expensive for you, you can pirate them until you have enough to support us.”
I’m getting old … what does this mean and why is it objectionable? Google suggests it means they have strong character, which seems like a fair assessment.
What I understand this originates from is “not based on anything”, so essentially bucking the trend or the norm. Doing things not because something or someone told them.
It’s 4chan type of language, itself an alt-right cesspool.
Gotcha… From reading all the responses, it sounds like the word and meaning itself isn’t really objectionable, it’s more the people that use it. Which isn’t something a search engine tells you… 😅
It’s gone mainstream. I hear it in high schools all the time from many different students. I think it’s pretty unobjectionable.
To a zoomer, based is the opposite of cringe (I’m told). This is the first time I’ve seen it mentioned in regards to alt-right, that sounds like they happened to be alt-right zoomers.
No, it’s not the “opposite of cringe” and it’s not an alt-right dog whistle. It just means the person or group is willing to do the right thing, above politics or greed. It’s more comparable to Giga Chad, but it’s more accurate to say that Giga Chad when used in memes is the representation of a based individual.
Also, “alt-right” is a dog whistle for “white supremacist”, invented by a white supremacist to soften the language. Stop using it. Just call them white supremacists or fascists.
My understanding of “based” from years and years ago was that it was used as an exclamation when people essentially weren’t afraid to speak their minds even if they’re likely to get shit for said opinion.
That’s why it’s gotten associated with the alt-right because it was usually bigoted douchebags saying bigoted shit that other bigots would then respond “based” to. I feel like the terminology was associated with 4chan in its early usage and spread to reddit.
I believe your definition that is popular with Gen Z is a newer development.
Removed by mod
https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/based
From 2014? So yes years and years. Maybe use Google before you decide to be a douche.
And then do it anyway right?
Removed by mod
Please remember, this is Beehaw. Our primary rule is Be(e) Nice.
Removed by mod
I’ve long regarded it as a red flag, since the first people I encountered using it were alt-right dipshits. Subsequently it seems to have been adopted wholesale, and I get the impression that most people don’t see it as politically charged.
Removed by mod
My man, that’s so not funky of you! If you skedaddle into this far out place called internet, you have to expect to come across new terms that are slammin and radical to some people. Instead of giving them hairy eyeballs and going “No can do”, how about you say “Word, brother”? Every generation invents its own gnarly slang and that’s pretty fly, actually. Like, what makes your slang groovy and theirs bogus?
Groovy is definitely a word we should all use more.
Go to bed already grandpa. Stop hating on new words so much.
Removed by mod
wait till you hear about all the other nonsense words.
(hint: all words are nonsense)
Words have meaning, and that meaning is defined by common understanding. If a significant percentage of the population does not know what a word means, (and I mean a significant percentage not just some people) then it’s fair to say the word is essentially nonsense.
The problem is sometimes people pick a word and then decide on its meaning but then neglect to inform the rest of the human population - see Woke. That’s not how language works, it’s about mutual acceptance the particular sound or set of sounds means a particular idea or concept or thing. If that mutual acceptance is not there, then it is not a word.
it’s been coined by the Black community, essentially meaning being aware of, and alert to, the systematic injustice against them. there you go.
There are many people who would disagree that that is its meaning, and that’s the problem. There is no completely defined meaning for these words, they mean different things to different people so when you say the word I don’t know what meaning is supposed to be interpreted.
That’s how literally all language change happens? People just start using words differently or use new words, it slowly spreads, until a majority is using it. You can either embrace it and be happy you get new tools to express yourself with, or reenact the “old man yells at clouds” meme and be grumpy. I know which one I’ll choose.
Humanity is not a hive mind. We can’t just inform everyone instantly.
People have been using it for years no one knows what it means.
What you’re missing is that language is often used differently in subculture groups and other niches. Language frequently changes meaning depending on context, and that’s how it’s supposed to work.
Language never has been and never will be static. Shared slang is a very important part of signaling that you are part of an “in group”, and it will always change rapidly, compared to language in more common usage.
Related: trans-phobic signaling that “they/them” should be used exclusively
singularlyas a plural, despite its common use as a gender neutral pronoun for centuries.I think you mean… plurally?
Long before I had any knowledge of transgender or even transexuality, I knew to use they/them when gender was unknown. I agree that the “singular they” is long accepted, correct, common English.
I figure people need to pick up on new slang or risk becoming the old man or woman that yells at kids to get off their lawn one day.
Y’all called people daddio.
Lol… it definitely reminds you of how old you’re getting. But I’m sure the generations preceding ours felt the same.