Tell this GenX/Old-lennial person, what does it mean when a young person says you are based?

Last summer I had my nephew and a bunch of his friends up to the lake for his 14th birthday. They're playing around in the yard, tossing Frisbees, footballs, generally having a good time.

I'm sitting by myself near the fireplace, having a beer and checking my phone. One of his buddies sits down beside and says "hey unc, just casually farming aura, huh?"

I know now what it means but at the time I didn't know if I was being negged or glazed.

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CatWhisperer9thLife@reddit

I think I had a stroke on that sentence.

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EnjoyingTheRide-0606@reddit

Probs means they just graduated from a college with a degree in social justice warriorism.

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NaDarach@reddit

Yeah, no. It's a broad-use term.

What a weird take.

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Puzzleheaded_Bad6461@reddit

also who the fuck still says social justice warrior

has bro been in a coma since gamergate?

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mybluecouch@reddit

Just another Boomer trying to stealth as GenX.

Wrong sub, grumpy gramps. 🤦‍♀️

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periodicsheep@reddit

this comment tells me pretty much anything i need to know about you.

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AdditionalTip865@reddit

Or, in some cases, the extreme opposite of that.

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Verried_vernacular32@reddit

Congratulations you are respected by the youth.

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prntmakr@reddit

I think it would be rather based to not care what based means.

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StoneGoldX@reddit

It's like the song says, it's hip to be square.

That song sucks.

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Smiling_Platypus@reddit

I upvoted you for mentioning the song, then downvoted you for dissing a Huey Lewis track. 😋

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StoneGoldX@reddit

I down voted you for not recognizing a Simpsons quote from 1996. Homerpalooza. Cypress Hill ordered the London Symphony Orchestra, possibly while high.

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prntmakr@reddit

It’s like the other song says: “What is hip?”

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Admittedly, there's a lot of entries on Urban Dictionary that are perhaps...indelicate or pungent to individuals of a certain sensibility. Me, I'm not put off by much, and Urban Dictionary has been helpful to me trying to make sense of the younger set.

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Smiling_Platypus@reddit

GenX grew up with our dictionaries in BOOK form. If it's not on my shelf next to a set of encyclopedias, it ain't real. /s

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loco_mixer@reddit

in the future if you have the same problem just go to "urban dictionary"

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Emz423@reddit

UD is my BFF.

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NostradaMart@reddit

i second this. helped me understand a lot.

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THC_Dude_Abides@reddit

Comfortable in your skin and true to yourself.

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SpokaneSmash@reddit

It means they agree with your take on things.

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Hylebos75@reddit

It's good to be based, but even better to be goated AND based!

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luluislulu2520@reddit

Wow have no idea! I would’ve thought I heard them wrong or they misspelled biased!

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Nicodemus888@reddit

Based = “keepin it real”

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MiltownKBs@reddit

Ok, that makes sense since people have said that to me in replies about a comment related to sports.

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AdditionalTip865@reddit

It means the same thing as "right on".

Of course, being based or right on is relative to the speaker's opinions. I first heard the word being used by people whose worldview I found deeply unpleasant and that biased me against it, but I later learned it didn't originate there.

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GladosPrime@reddit

Opposite of woke. Right politics.

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MiltownKBs@reddit

Yes I get that meaning. But I people have responded with “based” to a comment about sports. Several times. What’s that?

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SomebodysGotToSayIt@reddit

Thanks for making this about you. That’s what drew us to the comments.

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GNTKertRats@reddit

Anyone who complains about “wokeness,” is not to be taken seriously, and being a right winger is most definitely not “based.”

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writesgud@reddit

I want to say I’ve heard it but less frequently in a few left contexts, but could be wrong.

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maxny23@reddit

All your base are belong to us.

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catniphooligan@reddit

Move zig!

My GenZ never understands me when I say "are belong to us" after he says "based," but I make myself laugh so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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The_Arch_Heretic@reddit

Sounds like somebody set up us the bomb!

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Smiling_Platypus@reddit

As long as they aren't lighting off every zig, you're probably ok.

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scottyv99@reddit

Look at me. I am the basehead now

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badhoopty@reddit

it means youre legit and/or know your shit.

maybe similar to the 'solid' we used back in the day.

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Firm_Objective_2661@reddit

Word.

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CK_CoffeeCat@reddit

I think it’s like, you have done/spoken a thing that is both true and representative of a respectable (to the person saying ‘based’) personality of some kind? Or perhaps a true thing that not many are brave enough to say openly?

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Iko87iko@reddit

Ive freebased

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dontwannaparticpate@reddit

Me too out of a coke can

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EnjoyingTheRide-0606@reddit

I used an apple.

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ajramone@reddit

You're not acidic; congratulations!

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Existing-Leopard-212@reddit

Thats basic.

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vikrambedi@reddit

Ya basic.

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lefty1117@reddit

It’s what we would call “dope” back in the day. You’re dope bro!

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seven-cents@reddit

The opposite of "cringe"

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No-Captain2150@reddit

You know what? You're right. And when you're right, you're right. And you, you're always right!

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ShockedNChagrinned@reddit

Urban dictionary is pretty good here

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=based

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BuckyRainbowCat@reddit

That left me with no clearer understanding of what it means. The examples actually made it less clear. Guess I must be REALLY old.

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traumfisch@reddit

cool

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DeepRoot@reddit

I understood it to mean "biased".

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Sh0ckValu3@reddit

So, all your based do, or do not, belong to us?

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Ok_Entrepreneur_8509@reddit

Move zig for great justice!

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PaleEmpress414@reddit

OMG This. 🤣🤣🤣

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temerairevm@reddit

Basic? That means meh.

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Tricky_Hold230@reddit (OP)

No not basic, I been knowing that. In fact I been living that life lol. BASED. It’s okay my hearing is going too

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temerairevm@reddit

Ahh, apparently I’m even older than you because I haven’t heard that one.

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MeatierShowa@reddit

"Based" not basic.

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skeeterbmark@reddit

Yes. This. Average.

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Zombalepsy@reddit

Isn’t that also “mid”?

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Waesrdtfyg0987@reddit

Did they call you low key based?

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bradatlarge@reddit

I’m basedmaxxing over here

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vanderide@reddit

We’re all baseheads!

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Rivetingly@reddit

Or dead ass based?

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RustyDawg37@reddit

It means you refuse to be anything but yourself.

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PuffDiesel1138@reddit

As far as I know based essentially means you have strong honest opinions no matter how unpopular, controversial or non-PC.

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Frosty_Ad_5472@reddit

Yes, it’s usually a compliment. Like badass.

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Black_Pill_Oh@reddit

I only hear in reference to opinons that aren't politicaly correct. Usually hot take thoughts that are humorous but shitty.

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NoRestForTheWitty@reddit

Check out https://www.urbandictionary.com/

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Chadismydawg@reddit

It means your basic

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rundabrun@reddit

It started woth Lil B The Based God. It originally meant you were a basehead aka a crack head but Lil B changed it to mean being true to yourself and not caring what others think.

Then it was taken by the inrernet to mean a few things. It was popularized on 4chan for people who were anti woke, and in other spheres it be came a word to mean cool, unapologetically anti esrablishment, or saying what people think but dont dare to say.

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youve_got_moxie@reddit

u/rundabrun cooked here.

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Iittletart@reddit

It means accurate. Maybe the history of what you are saying is true, but how it is used popularly is to mean a "true" or accurate conclusion or statement.

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rundabrun@reddit

No maybes about it. It's true. Based today does not simply mean "true". That takes away from the vibe of it being an edgy statement. In slang, based means someone is confidently authentic, unapologetic, and unconcerned with what others think, often used as praise for boldness or honesty. It’s the opposite of being “cringe,” and it can describe both people and actions that challenge convention or show admirable conviction

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FamousOnceNowNobody@reddit

So it started from 'freebase' (drug taking).
Then took from 'base' (vulgar/socially unacceptable).
Then hijacked 'based' (foundation/standing on).
Have I got that right?

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deepsigh8@reddit

It’s when you’re speaking the truth and that truth also happens to be an anti conformist view/unpopular opinion.

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Redfour5@reddit

Prove it...INCLUDING sources and quotes then we can have a conversation. And no AI. I Don't care how anyone "FEELS."

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Romanmir@reddit

Based.

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Repulsive_Fact_4558@reddit

What about if you're saying things you think are true but it's really just a bunch of horse shit? This is a lot of the "based" people I've talked to.

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deepsigh8@reddit

This is what it means in my circles, at least.

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1043b@reddit

Love when my kids call me based

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Majik_Sheff@reddit

I usually take it as high praise.

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tookMYshovelwithme@reddit

Hey Gramps! See you over at /r/Xennials

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LimeSalty4092@reddit

Making a Non PC take. Making the point succinctly, implying no fear of the PC police.

Applying common sense and doing what’s right without filtering actions through the PC rulebook

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ugavini@reddit

This is the context in which I normally see it being used

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TheVioletEmpire@reddit

I'm so based.

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User013579@reddit

I had to ask someone. It means they’re grounded. Like, being reasonable and calm. I think. Age. Memory.

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Strawberry_Fields4ev@reddit

I’ve never heard that term “based” before. Thx for educating this 60 yo Gen Xer! 🤣👍🏼😊😉

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Htiaf26101@reddit

I couldn’t accept this being a positive, because my mind wanted to associate it with “basic”. But I’ve since learned to associate it with drug language and now I kinda get it. 🤷‍♀️Whatever.

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Early-Amount-9778@reddit

I read it as unintentionally or ironically validating an evolved (usually leftist) viewpoint (often when the intent was to emphasize the opposite or just something else entirely).

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sauerkraut916@reddit

based = fuckin cool

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KingPabloo@reddit

Why don’t you ask them what they mean when they say things like this to you. They will be happy to explain it to you, just to display their disgust at the question. 😎

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T_Kt@reddit

But that’s not based

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Acceptable_Mirror235@reddit

Based is good . It means they agree or you at least made a good point .

Basic is not complimentary but not really an insult either . It’s meh, mid, or just kind of generic . My pretty blond daughter is a “basic white girl” by her own admission .

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InWaves72@reddit

Sounds like a sort of backhanded compliment to me, but what do I know?

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CaptainBeefsteak@reddit

6 7 Bro...6 7.

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abbot_x@reddit

Based has a fraught history but has evolved into a pretty non-specific term of approval. If you say something a zoomer or alpha agrees with and is not embarrassing, they will often just say based. If you do it enough, then you are based in their eyes.

The fraught history has to do with Gamergate (don't worry learning about it if you don't already know) and early adoption of based by the alt right. But nowadays the term is very common and doesn't indicate political leanings.

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Criticism-Lazy@reddit

Grounded in facts.

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Winter-0f-Discontent@reddit

In Gen X parlance, we would have said “hardcore”

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Majik_Sheff@reddit

I would say it's more analogous to "legit".

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Tricky_Hold230@reddit (OP)

Just like my favorite kind of adult entertainment

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tabicat1874@reddit

It means good

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Iittletart@reddit

That there is some truth or realness to what is being said, even if it is hard to hear or accept sometimes.

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trullaDE@reddit

Depends who says it. It started as something bad, then was reclaimed, than turned bad again, and no people try to reclaim it again, or at least make it neutral.

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Redfour5@reddit

Oh Jesus...

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trullaDE@reddit

Yup.

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13mys13@reddit

Based? how low can you go

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CTDubs0001@reddit

Forget what the kids say. Stay true to our generation ! Public enemy number one!

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CityCabCat@reddit

Death row, what a brother know?

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onebeard1975@reddit

Yeah! I get this!

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Formal_Plum_2285@reddit

That you stand with what you say and if a few people are hurt by it - well perhaps they should grow tf up or shut tf up. I’m known to be quite based on my gamer servers lol.

gif

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vodeodeo55@reddit

Not sure what it means but I'm definitely more acidic.

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Oily_Bee@reddit

based = solid

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elpollodiablox@reddit

Speaking your mind without regard for what others will think.

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Starcat75@reddit

It means you’re authentic and “based” in reality.

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Hab_Anagharek@reddit

Tell me how that remotely makes sense.

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hyperdream@reddit

It's like, back to life? Back to reality? Back to the here and now. Yeah?

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fiddlenutz@reddit

I always thought it meant sturdy, like sturdy advice, like the base of a pyramid.

But I am an old fart, so who knows.

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Simply_Jeff@reddit

It means you've got the juice

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general-illness@reddit

Great, now I got Eric B and Rakim in my head all day.

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DrKittyKevorkian@reddit

🌽🌽🌽

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L_wanderlust@reddit

AI says: If someone says “you’re based,” it’s slang and generally a compliment.

“Based” means: You’re being authentically yourself You’re confident in your opinions, even if they’re unpopular You’re not just following trends or trying to please others

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Caliopebookworm@reddit

That they are who they are and make no apologies.

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dudeatwork77@reddit

It means the opposite of cringe. When someone who shares your identity does something, it’s based. When your opponent does something, it’s cringe. And you depict them as a soyjak and you depict yourself as Chad. That’s how you win an argument.

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Environmental-Egg893@reddit

Truthful accurate

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realenuff@reddit

High on drugs (circa 85)

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EmotionalVegetable48@reddit

My man JB is on free-base

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HansMoleman78@reddit

The boy JB was a friend of mine...

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AcanthocephalaDue715@reddit

But it ain’t free

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HighSeasArchivist@reddit

That you hate Feds. Well, that's what it means in my circles.

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Redfour5@reddit

GenX/Old-lennial... love it...

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BuDu1013@reddit

Xennial

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Consistent__Patience@reddit

When you hear someone say something is based, it's generally internet slang to say it's good.

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Starbreiz@reddit

I thought it was this, but ive had it used on me as an insult too, like what I said was overly obvious. I find it confusing.

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Tricky_Hold230@reddit (OP)

Hey cool a compliment from a younger generation I don’t know how to feel about that lol

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ImaSource@reddit

Always feel good about being based. No Cap. Skibidi. 6/7.

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VinceP312@reddit

Making what they consider to be a common sense statement or an obvious one.

In contradiction what they would consider a completely bonkers take or some statement being made that is politically/emotionally/manipulatively contrived and that no rational person would agree with.

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Juanfartez@reddit

When you agree with the person that's trolling someone else online, you comment based.

gif

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