I am an internet person. I spend a lot of time online. I know some of the slang by osmosis (and some of the memes, though I usually seem to be a few years behind). There are several memes and slang that I really like. I want to talk about them just because I can.
I was reading an Ask A Manager post about the diet police in the office (which, ugh, just no), and someone used my one of my favorite internet memes. Someone was explaining how someone in their office would get really into abasing herself for being fat and agonizing over eating a cooke or whatever (which is sadly common for women in a society that is horrid to fat women), and someone else commeted, “You don’t have to participate, Cathy.”
This is one of my favorite internet memes. The snarky side comment with a random name attached to it at the end. I don’t know why, but this absolutely sends me. Especially as the name is usually such a bland and boring one. The blander, the better. I think because it makes it universal.
Another one is saying “I love that for you” after someone makes any kind of comment. I like this one because it covers a wide array of situations. It’s very much like the Southern ‘bless your heart’ in that it can be both sincere and scathing. If someone is celebrating something like a new job or pregnant, then it’s said in sincerity. “Oh, what a great opportunity/news, and I love that for you!” This is used for friends, mostly.
I will admit, I like the other version better because it suits my personality. It’s when someone shows their entire ass, and you say it to express your disapproval. So, let’s say someone goes off on, say queer people and rant about how they (the queers) are all going to hell. And they didn’t know I was queer as they were going on and on about it. At the end, if I wanted to use this phrase, it would be in the context of, “It looks like you’re finally showing your true self. And I love that for you.” In a tone that says I want nothing more to do with them.
Another is when someone makes a decision that is clearly a self-destructive one. Then, you can say, “Well, you flame-bombed that bridge to hell. And I love that for you.” It’s hard to describe in words, exactly, but it’s a way of saying, “That was a shitty decision, but you do you.”
Which, by the way, is another of my favorite internet slangs. “You do you.” I’m not sure why, but it just conveys such a paradox of judgment and nonjudgment. On the one hand, you’re telling someone to do whatever you want. But the tone for this one is, “I wouldn’t advise it, but I won’t try to stop you from doing it, either.” It’s so pass-ag!