basically

[Peter Richardson]

> > I have also noticed an explosion of the use of the word "basically" as a
> filler  I have always used it to mean that I am stripping a concept of
> its nuances. Now it seems to be inserted in almost every proposition. Is
> this an increased usage, or am I just getting ypersensitive to it?

"Conversate" seemed to attract all the attention here, but no one has
taken aim at "basically." I agree that it strips an idea of its nuances;
more pernicious, though, is the notion that the speaker cares not a whit
for the listener's ability to deal with complexity, and that the
speaker--well, you know, like, basically--has no time to waste explaining
an issue to an obtuse or presumably disinterested listener. There is the
implication that the "basically"-monger has already sorted out all the
side issues that might confuse the listener, thank you. "What happened
last night?" "Well...basically, we had an earthquake." (One could muster
sympathy for "Basically, e=mc2," though.) For my taste, the offensiveness
of "basically" is directly proportional to the simplicity of the
statement. Note the parallel to the popularity, in a time-obsessed age, of
"cut to the chase" and "bottom line."

Peter R.