The official definition.
Basic (adj.): forming an essential foundation or starting point.
The more common, unofficial definition according to Urban Dictionary.
Basic (adj.): used to describe any person, place, activity involving obscenely obvious behavior, dress, action. Unsophisticated.
In layman's terms the new-age definition of “basic” really is used -- when you hear the phrase “basic white girl” -- because a girl is drinking a Starbucks coffee. Even though, I am pretty positive I see guys in Starbucks just as much as I do girls, but maybe that’s just me. It also means when you hear the term “basic frat boy” that it's probably an insult. They are probably referring to how much of an a** he is. But I know more genuinely nice guys who are part of a fraternity than frat boys who just fall into the douchebag image. No, "basic" doesn’t really mean something “obvious” it means something that follows known stereotypes.
Meaning number two for the new-age use of the word, "basic," is liking something that is -- God forbid -- liked by other people. Let me clarify how it can mean both of these things. If you’re a girl who rocked a man bun this summer, it was cute. If you dare wear a man bun now you are so totally basic. If you like Starbucks coffee you are basic. Oh, you like Dunkin' Donuts coffee? Whelp, that makes you “basic,” too. If you post a pretty picture on Instagram of a scenery, you’re basic because what are you doing? Trying to be artsy or something? If you post a selfie you’re basic because you are just like all of the other guys and girls who are just way too into themselves.
Your likes and interests have become something that people judge you on just because they may be common likes and interests. So what's happening? Everyone is trying to out do each other. No one wants to be basic so everyone tries to find the coolest newest things to wear, do, post. Everyone is trying to be so different that no one is good with being themselves.
Which brings me to this. If someone wants to post a picture at a pumpkin patch or Snapchat their Starbucks, good for them. Maybe they’re having a bad day and this drink or the pumpkin has made their day just a little bit less sucky. Even if this is not the case, no one needs an excuse to do something that they like.
So let me repeat this one more time for the people in the back: you have the right to like whatever the hell you want to like. Ignore the people that try to basic-shame you. You drink that pumpkin spice latte. You rock that half-up-man-bun. And you listen to Taylor Swift’s album on repeat. Because whoever calls you basic for liking what you like is the type of negativity you do not need in your life.
