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Comment by sterlind | Hacker News Reader

Didn't "based" come from Lil B initially? I've heard the phrase "based and redpilled," but I've heard it separately. I interpret "based" as a compliment given to radical viewpoints that are completely impractical, without signaling assent. See Political Compass Memes for numerous examples.

For example: anarcho-monarchism is based. It's a ridiculous ideology, and I wouldn't support it, but it'd be cool to meet someone who actually believes in it.

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Both of these viewpoints are true. While I wholeheartedly support the use of the word "based" in the sense that you put it, it is also slang in a certain online subculture and a nod to that subculture. OP was dead on about that in this case: the author's other works include "Why I don't use Cuck Licenses" and "Science vs. Soyence."

I regret looking those up. The titles aren't satirical.

The titles are cringe, but "why I don't use cuck licenses" makes some good points.

why would they be?

Yup. Defined here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lil_B#Artistry

Lil B tha Based God was definitely where I heard it first.

I think it was something with Lil Wayne a long time ago.

Most slang I can suss out but I don’t think I ever had any idea what it meant to be based then or now.

Grounded?

It’s a reference to freebasing cocaine. Lil B’s detractors (apocryphally) used to call him based as an insult (analogous to crackhead) and he then started calling himself the Based God.

That makes sense, thanks. I kind of like the idea of based meaning grounded... too bad I didn’t get there first.

“Should we split this out into microservices?” “Only when we’ve identified an acute need for the increased complexity in our architecture.” “Based thinking”

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