I am not basic, neither are you.

0423_005

 

“Basic bitch” has become the insult du jour, which under the common usage of “basic” makes the insult and those who use it basic. Would that make it basic squared?  Lots of insults come and go, but this one strikes me as particularly malignant and shallow.

If you are lucky enough to have no idea what “basic” means as an insult, here is a little introduction:

0423_003

 

Here’s the thing. Men and women are constantly pressured to conform to social norms. Those who do not conform are not lauded as iconoclasts, they are shunned and bullied as weirdos and nutters. How many teens commit suicide each year because they are not “basic” enough for their classmates to treat them well? I could probably google it, but it would be too sad and I don’t want to know the answer.

So all of a sudden we are going to insult people for conforming? That is so malignant, punishing people for what our culture demands of them.

If someone puts in the effort to know what brands are “basic” they are as captive to branding and consumerism as those they criticize. And those who think going to Starbucks is basic are probably all going to Stumptown. They are conforming, too. It’s not that they are rejecting brand names and consumerism. They are just buying different brands.

It takes a lack of self-awareness to think we don’t conform. We all do, we just conform to different standards from different groups.

0423_004

 

This makes me think of John Lennon’s song, Working Class Hero.

They hurt you at home and they hit you at school
They hate you if you’re clever and despise a fool
Till you’re so fucking crazy you can’t follow their rules
Working Class Hero is something to be

So in one sense, we are all basic.

OK, maybe Stephen Hawking and Lady Gaga are not basic, but  it’s a rarefied few who can legitimately claim not to be basic in the sense that folks are using the term to insult each other.

0423_006

 

Except that we are not basic. We all have depths that we do not share with the entire world. What people see as basic is the top coat that camouflages how very extraordinary we are. That’s why the insult is so shallow. It accepts people at face value as though they are only what we perceive. That is stupid. Each and every one of us knows we are more complex than what people see, so how silly are we to think everyone else is only what we see.

0423_008

 

So stop calling people basic – and definitely stop calling people basic bitches. It just makes you look…basic.

Photography by Cajsa Lilliehook
for It’s Only Fashion
Store info at Blogging Second Life
****SHOPPING LIST******
Poses: Ma Vie
Skin: *League* Skin Erin Pale Feline Brunette Chest C
Eyes: [UMEBOSHI] Eon eyes Duo Green (med)
Lashes: Lelutka
Mani/Pedi: SLink Mesh Hands & Feet with FLAIR mani applier
Hair: Argrace Haruka
Clothing: Baistice Orly combination shirt and skirt
Coco Cropped Biker Jacket White
Shoes: ieQED chacha sandal red hots (21 SHOE)
Jewelry: Krystal Fleur Gold

This post doesn't have any plurk response,click here to plurk page

Leave a Reply