"Ew, That's So Cringe": A Case Study of 'Cringe'

Cringe. A term we’re all so familiar with, and probably even use multiple times a day. I believe that the cringe culture that is so prominent today is doing more harm than good to us, and here's why. I've also shared what I think we should do, and I'm sure a lot of you would agree with me. The format of this article is different from what I usually write, but I hope you enjoy it! :)

The word 'cringe' originally meant ‘to feel embarrassed’ and was used as a verb. However, over time, its meaning has evolved and is now used more as an adjective, to describe anything that makes someone feel uncomfortable or embarrassed on behalf of the person or thing involved.

A lot of things, often unnecessarily, are labelled ‘cringe’. The culture of so easily calling anything and everything cringe inhibits a lot of people from presenting themselves as they are. There is a fear of being judged, for simply just being yourself. This fear, of course, is amplified by social media.

‘Cringe’, in a lot of ways, is subjective. What one person may not like, another might enjoy. And that’s perfectly okay.

I think it’s time we stop calling others cringe. We cannot and do not need to agree with all the choices the people around us make. There are different perspectives, different outlooks and ideas. What we need in this world today is empathy. If we cannot say something positive about someone, let’s not say anything at all. After all, if we’re not perfect ourselves, who are we to judge?

The desire to avoid ‘cringe’ should not hold us back from doing what we want. Life is too short to be afraid of a little cringe. Why not do that dance, wear that outfit, sing that song- even if it is off-key? The universe is large, it is infinite, who cares about a little cringe? What does it matter in the grand scheme of things?

So, this is my message to everyone out there, especially my fellow teens. Live and let live should be our mantra. A little kindness and empathy can go a long way in making people feel more comfortable in their own skin.

At the end, I would like to quote one of the greatest singer-songwriters of our times, Taylor Swift, who said, “Learn to live alongside cringe. No matter how hard you try to avoid being cringe, you will look back on your life and cringe retrospectively. Cringe is unavoidable over a lifetime. Even the term cringe might someday be deemed cringe. I promise you, you’re probably doing or wearing something right now that you will look back on later and find revolting and hilarious. You can’t avoid it, so don’t try to. For example, I had a phase where, for the entirety of 2012, I dressed like a 1950s housewife. But you know what? I was having fun. Trends and phases are fun. Looking back and laughing is fun.”

Maybe it’s time for us to embrace ‘cringe’!

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Lots of Love

Goohika ✨