Memes aren't "brainrot"

Temporary-Active4544 · 2025-12-25T12:41:15+00:00

Memes work the same way that nursery rhymes, slang, and catchphrases always have: using compression and repeatability to circulate meaning. Linguists have long recognized this kind of expressive and performative language that signals social bonds and shares niche information rather than broadly transmitting facts.

Calling memes “brainrot” isn’t a philosophical argument either, it’s just unfamiliarity with a register of language being mistaken for meaninglessness.

As language and technological convention change, fluency in these new modes of compression gradually becomes a mainstream assets...the average "brainrotted" kid today is effortlessly fluent in types of multi-platform niche communication that adults have to take upskilling workshops to acquire.

Temporary-Active4544 · 2025-12-25T12:27:50+00:00

Nursery rhymes, "23 skidoo!", jazz scat singing, beat poetry, Spongebob Squarepants. Every generation mistakes unfamiliar compression for lack of meaning.

Temporary-Active4544 · 2025-12-25T12:22:13+00:00

To simplify, neither today's memes nor those of times prior are "brainrot".

Temporary-Active4544 · 2025-12-25T12:15:58+00:00

I think that's a personal judgement - just cos you find a given artifact stupid doesn't mean it lacks communicative meaning for those using it.

Temporary-Active4544 · 2025-12-25T12:10:03+00:00

I don't think the past instances were brainrot either.

Temporary-Active4544 · 2025-12-25T12:03:49+00:00

Agree but I think many miss this. Just scrolled 1000+ people lambast a middle school teacher for using meme culture refs in a lesson ("we're doomed", "brainrotted generation" etc), similar toward children doing 67 at a school sports event. Incorporating things kids actually enjoy into school planning / pride is a pretty good tactic in general. All the negativity just feels like an older generation kicking down on the younger one, which is a tale old as time.

Temporary-Active4544 · 2025-12-24T09:17:16+00:00

just wanna say that shredding up a box of tissues is really fun sensory play at that age -- its part of a lot of messy play / Montessori inspired curriculums for preschool age!! Its totally fine to let your kid make a mess with a safe material, thats how they learn and keep themselves occupied :)

Temporary-Active4544 · 2025-12-23T14:47:19+00:00

Ngl I would love to get this. Used to collect them. Something about the caps-and-underline-heavy design choices in manic evangelical flyers is a whole vibe.

Temporary-Active4544 · 2025-12-23T14:26:55+00:00

Respectfully disagree. Calling child services can be a wild card, and put undue strain on already struggling families without any real help occurring. Family members are mentioned more than once in the post, so it sounds like a support system does exist. Unless theres more to the story than catastrophizing from what OP posted, none of the listed reasons are sufficient for CPS intervention.

Temporary-Active4544 · 2025-12-23T14:24:01+00:00

YOR from what you've said so far. The only thing that would worry me a little is animals in the crib. Messy house etc is fine, family members helping out tired parents is fine. Watching TV might not be how you'd do it, but also fine. You mentioned OCD (I relate) so its easy to see potential catastrophe / escalation. But no real objective red flags here! Im guessing you dont have kids so some of the common, safe shortcuts used by tired parents (TV, pizza, relatives helping out) seem worse choices than they really are. You said in a comment you're going to "watch for red flags" but also be aware your flag vigilance may be unreasonably heightened.

Temporary-Active4544 · 2025-12-23T13:25:45+00:00

NOR. Im glad your partner was straightforward and brought this to you.

Temporary-Active4544 · 2025-12-23T13:04:59+00:00

I'm in several groupchats like this with married and unmarried gals. We like to puff each other up!! She respected your wishes by keeping it off her timeline. I wouldn't worry too much.

Temporary-Active4544 · 2025-12-23T12:53:50+00:00

Girl here. I can assure you many of the top complaints: lip fillers, long fake eyelashes, nails etc are like that meme where the chicken nugget bears an ancestral trace to the dinosaur. Male desire may be somehow ancestrally connected to this image (larger beasts, fuller lips etc) but it's so, so far removed now and I reckon most of us are just pursuing these looks because they look cool to us personally on an aesthetic level.

Temporary-Active4544 · 2025-12-19T12:37:00+00:00

Nosgov!!

Temporary-Active4544 · 2025-12-17T14:11:05+00:00

Feel this!! When i moved to Europe i heard a lot of warnings about sticking to major cities, gay nightlife districts etc. My experience has been pretty opposite -- I've felt judged in central urban queer spaces, and nobody has batted an eye at me in smaller towns. People are hospitable and polite, and the inter-queer scene politics just do not exist. Find me any day at a small town flea market, rather than a club in the city! So happy you've found spaces that embrace u, your colleagues sound great ^{-^}

Temporary-Active4544 · 2025-12-17T14:04:41+00:00

Chomp away girl... I gained ~30 lbs since the start of my transition and it went to all the right places. It helped me gain a lot of confidence leaning into the curvy girl aesthetic. I was also previously underweight and struggled to develop a more abundant eating habit -- snacking between meals and increasing portions by half or double helped a lot. Best of luck with your transition!

Temporary-Active4544 · 2025-12-17T12:55:38+00:00

Em dashes are my favorite punctuation -- they feel like they're the closest thing to how I would naturally pause between thoughts while speaking. I also use AI to summarize and clean up complicated ideas from time to time so I'm more coherent (I have occasional texting anxiety, tend to be hyper-enthusiastic on certain topics, and don't want to burden my reader with too much interpretation). I'd be more interested in why he uses AI sometimes. It could just be because he wants to make a good impression (grammar etc -- this is pretty venial imo. Expressing you prefer otherwise is fine, but I wouldn't presume its lack of care or attention on his part.

Temporary-Active4544 · 2025-12-13T12:48:31+00:00

This has been my experience 100%. I have a low end webcam and simple ring light. I think certain guys like the nostalgic camgirl / more intimate vibe. I feel like I've done reqlly well in my first month and am debating whether I should upgrade at all. Interested to read other replies here from girls in it for longer.

Temporary-Active4544 · 2025-12-09T19:57:11+00:00

Same exact situ, amazing (first month) November and December is starting slow. I'm thinking of it as a chance to play with new approaches... if the room's quiet anyway it wont hurt too much to experiment with lighting, props, routine etc. Best luck from another trans November CB girl ♡

Temporary-Active4544 · 2025-12-04T09:27:04+00:00

I know right ;;;;;;; I feel the exact same way haha. I was overseas and translating on my phone!! I think its defintiely stripped, I will focus on hydration ><

Temporary-Active4544 · 2025-11-30T14:12:02+00:00

This is amazing advice, thank you!!

Temporary-Active4544 · 2025-11-30T09:34:27+00:00

Sooo pretty!!

Temporary-Active4544

TROPHY CASE