Stop Shaming “Basic” People for their Rational Reasoning
http://college.usatoday.com/2017/04/15/voices-why-you-should-stop-basic-shaming/
Recently, our topics of discussion have focused a lot on information cascades, models for popularity, and the benefits of joining a crowd. However, these discussions have mainly involved hypothetical scenarios and situations. In real life, although these theoretical benefits of being a part of a crowd are still applicable, people often are judged for making these “bandwagon” decisions. The linked article discusses one such case: basic-shaming.
If you are unfamiliar with this term, here are some helpful examples:
“I can’t believe she bought a Canada goose jacket to go along with her L.L. Bean boots. That’s so basic!”
“Why are you waiting in line for a flatbread at Mac’s? They’re so basic.”
Essentially, people, usually women, who make “mainstream” choices or enjoy “trendy” items are criticized. Usually, the basis for these insults is that by making “mainstream” choices, they are losing their individuality. Further, the insulters usually see themselves as individuals who purposely don’t follow the bandwagon. However, what these insulters fail to realize is the direct benefits and information-based reasonings for why one should follow a crowd (as discussed in class). For direct benefits, being part of a crowd (in this case enjoying the same things as other people) has benefits in itself: specifically, you can connect more easily with more people who also enjoy the same “trendy” thing. So, when a fellow “basic” person (who you do not know well) asks you what your favorite meal is, you can talk about the flatbreads at Mac’s and then you can mutually fawn over their warm deliciousness and debate on which flavor is the best. This will lead to an easier formation of a strong relationship since you have shared interests. For information-based reasoning, it is believable to think that people in a crowd might know something about a trend that you do not, and thus this trend could be more beneficial to you than you originally thought. For instance, let’s suppose that it is your first year at Cornell, and you are originally from Southern California. You are a little concerned about your first Ithaca winter, and you hear a lot of people talking about Canada Goose jackets and L.L. Bean boots, so you think “Okay, these people probably know that they are good products, so I am going to “follow the crowd” and buy these products.” Now, thanks to information-based rational reasoning, you will be warm when winter comes!
So let’s all be nicer to each other, and stop judging others for making popular choices.