Internet Slang and Internet Memes

The Linguistic Sense of People Who Don't Chase Trends

About this topic

On the internet, chasing trending slang and memes is often positively framed as 'updating linguistic sense.' However, people who don't chase trends maintain their own stable linguistic sense. This question asks what that linguistic sense is like and what meaning it holds in contemporary net culture. Not chasing trends may not be 'being old' but an attitude that values the 'essence' and 'sustainability' of words. On the other hand, not encountering new expressions may mean missing communication opportunities. Exploring the value and limits of non-trending linguistic sense helps understand the diversity of 'ways of engaging with words' in the net era.

Conceptual positions

01 Update Supremacy View

Linguistic sense should always be updated; not chasing trends means 'being outdated' or 'communication failure.' Incorporating new words is the premise of rich expression.

02 Sustainability Priority View

Non-trending linguistic sense is a mature attitude that values the 'essence' and 'sustainability' of words. It possesses stable self-expression and strength not swayed by the times.

03 Diversity Coexistence View

Both trend-chasers and non-chasers have value in their linguistic senses. Their coexistence and mutual stimulation enrich net language as a whole.

04 Context-Dependence View

Whether to chase trends should be chosen according to the other person or situation. The true linguistic ability is being able to flexibly adjust linguistic sense according to context.

Talk entry points

Do you have reasons for deliberately not using trending slang or memes? What values or attitudes do you think that represents?
Have you ever felt from a non-trend-chaser's word choice that 'This person really cares about words'?
Have you ever felt a difference in the temperature or depth of conversation between trend-chasers and non-chasers?
Are you the type who chases trends or the type who doesn't? What do you think is the reason?
Have you ever felt you missed communication opportunities by not chasing trends?
What learnings or insights do you think you can gain from the linguistic sense of people who don't chase trends?

Conceptual tensions

Update vsSustainability

Should linguistic sense always be updated, or should it be sustained? How to balance these two values.

Temporality vsUniversality

Chasing trends means aligning with the times; not chasing means choosing universal words. Which to prioritize — temporality or universality?

Flexibility vsStrength of Axis

Flexibility to chase trends and strength of axis not swayed by trends. Both are important, but how to achieve both?

Isolation vsUniqueness

The risk of losing communication opportunities by not chasing trends, and the strength of individuality gained by protecting one's own linguistic sense. How to view the boundary between isolation and uniqueness.

Value of Newness vsValue of Oldness

New words are fresh and stimulating; old words are stable and have depth. How to utilize the value of each.

Talk note

This topic is not about judging chasing trends as 'right' and not chasing as 'wrong.' It is a quiet dialogue to affirm the diversity of linguistic senses in the net era and value both the strength not to be swayed by trends and the flexibility to update when needed.

Glossary

Linguistic Sense: An individual's sense regarding how to choose, use, and feel words. Has a stable part less influenced by trends and a part that changes with the times.
Trend-Chasing: The attitude of actively incorporating new slang and memes and continuously updating one's language. One of the mainstream values in net culture.
Linguistic Sustainability: The attitude of choosing words and expressions that can be used for a long time without being swayed by trends. Values the 'essence' and 'universality' of words.
Linguistic Update: The act of aligning linguistic sense with the times by incorporating new expressions. Contributes to activating communication but also risks losing stability.
Linguistic Conservatism: The attitude of not chasing trends and protecting traditional or personal ways of using words. Has both stable self-expression and the aspect of diverging from the times.
Linguistic Diversity: The richness of net language arising from the coexistence of trend-chasers and non-chasers. The possibility that different linguistic senses stimulate each other.

Talk prompts

Ice breaker

Do you have reasons for deliberately not using trending slang or memes? Or how does it make you feel not to use them?

Deep dive

If you were to live your entire life without using any trending words at all, how do you think your communication and relationships would change?

Bridge

When the other person frequently uses trending slang, try asking 'What kind of feeling are you using that word with?' — inquiring into the sensibility behind the words.

Further questions

How do non-trend-chasers perceive the 'essence' of words?
What is lost by chasing trends? What is gained by not chasing them?
What meaning does non-trending linguistic sense hold in the AI era?
What kind of dialogue can arise between non-trend-chasers and trend-chasers?
What habits are effective for making one's linguistic sense 'not swayed by trends'?
Why is not chasing trends seen as 'resistance' or 'criticism'?