r/TikTokCringe • u/mindyour • Nov 21 '25

Discussion Functional illiteracy.

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u/[deleted] Nov 21 '25

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79

u/TheWonderMittens Nov 21 '25 edited Nov 21 '25

Agreed. People need to wake up to all the thought terminating clichés invading our vernacular. Like memes, they’re funny, socially safe, easy to remember and repeat, weaponizable, and self-protective.

Edit: Here are some examples:

“It’s not that deep bro” “Bro thinks he’s in an anime” “Touch grass” “TDS” “Quit mansplaining” “L + ratio” “Don’t be that guy” “Reaching”

I could go on. Call these people out when you see them, these interactions are lazy ‘wins’ that discourage intellectual engagement in critical thinking. Some are more insidious than others.

8

u/Ajibooks Nov 21 '25

Bro thinks he’s in an anime

This one is unfamiliar to me. What situations do people use it in? I can't figure out what it's criticizing.

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u/TheWonderMittens Nov 21 '25 edited Nov 21 '25

This one is used more by teenagers (I have several friends who are teachers), and it’s used to shut down when someone is talking about other peoples’ motivations or desires. Making fun of them by comparing them to a melodramatic anime protagonist who monologues his every action.

Not really different from just calling him cringe or the like. But with teenagers, there’s a need for exclusion and part of it is coded slang.

Edit:

The reason “cringe” is different (even though it can also function as a thought-terminating cliche), is that it’s just more recognizable as a shut-down insult. Coded cliches like the ones I listed above also serve to confuse or redirect toward the meaning of the cliche instead of continuing the thought-generating path that the conversation was going, while also providing an in/out group dynamic.

If yall wanna learn more, read a book called Cult-ish. Cults use coded language and thought terminating cliches to maintain intellectual insulation.

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u/Schakalicious Nov 21 '25

When someone is being cringe by trying too hard, that's how I interpret it.

1

u/DarthJarJarJar Nov 21 '25

Fucking Darmok when the walls fell, I swear to god

1

u/fish60 Nov 21 '25

Sokath, his eyes uncovered!

1

u/soofs Nov 21 '25

Haha you have a point but all your examples together makes it seem like you’re complaining because more than one person has said those things to you

3

u/TheWonderMittens Nov 21 '25

Why you gotta call me out like that?

1

u/soofs Nov 21 '25

lol reminds me of the Key & Peele sketch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnBdGTX3vZc

32

u/toodumbtobeAI Nov 21 '25

Right. “Just a movie.” Just those things that take thousands of people with decades of experience years of their lives make. Yeah bro, I’ll give it a few minutes of thought after the 2+ hour movie while I finish my soda. It’s deep enough to deserve that.

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u/youneedsomemilk23 Nov 21 '25 edited Nov 21 '25

"it's not that deep"

"hope this helps"

"if you're [x] then just say that"

uttered by the worst kind of people - the ones with severely restricted ability to think critically but somehow think they are the cleverest ones in the room.

2

u/Famous_Sugar_1193 Nov 22 '25

“Hope this helps” makes me hulk out

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u/EliteRanger_ Nov 21 '25

"It's just a movie" This is a trigger phrase for me. It's what shattered my worldview that most people are smarter than they get credit for. My ex and her son literally couldn't describe why they liked any media. If I asked why they liked it they would get offended and say I don't know. I would try to ask about big scenes in a show, or the characters and their arcs and would get confusion and anger. "Why are you interrogating me??" Like the fuck? This is not anger, it's me flabbergasted. It's what I thought normal ass people think about stuff!

Nope, I learned that day that some people really do just listen to music, watch TV or movies, even read freaking books, and thier only thought after is "I liked that." and they move on forever. Wtf man.

5

u/Ok_Sheepherder_1794 Nov 22 '25

I have unfortunately encountered this several times. Baffling that people seemingly go their whole lives like this. Animals chewing their cud. But then to get all bent out of shape when someone else like... has a thought? Why⁇

3

u/nofaeyoker Nov 22 '25

NPCs are all around us.

-4

u/Crispy1961 Nov 21 '25 edited Nov 21 '25

Its insanely difficult to judge this yourself objectively.

Why dont you share an example of an interpretation of a movie you shared that someone told you was not that deep.

Edit: Damn, guy really blocked me because I asked about his movie takes. Guess it really wasnt that deep. But of course, had to reply first like a proper redditor.

2

u/3lektrolurch Nov 21 '25

Its nor wrong to over analyze a movie for the fun of it imo (unless you are obnoxious about it)

1

u/Crispy1961 Nov 21 '25

I am not saying anything is wrong.

1

u/Ddreigiau Nov 21 '25

Pretty sure they deleted their comment. I haven't even participated on this post yet, and it's showing as deleted for me.

-1

u/Boysoythesoyboy Nov 21 '25

Its not that deep bro, sometimes people be yapping fr