the freeway slowdance

Basically, Stupid as Fuck.

About 30 seconds ago, I used the word "essentially."

...

I hate that word. Two words: "basically" and "essentially" are the most simultaneously pretentious and moronic words out there. What possible use do they have in making your statement more clear? None whatsoever. So why say it? The two words have become the "Ums" of those who want to appear smarter than they actually are. It's a filler word.

Why does it bother me? Um doesn't bother me nearly so much. And I think it's because when you say "um" there's an acknowledgement on all parts that what you're doing is pausing to think things out and saying "don't fucking interrupt, i'm just thinking for a second." But using "basically" doesn't have that connotation of understanding. It carries the same purpose, but subversively, as if to say "I'm going to pause for a second because I didn't think my thought through beforehand, but you won't notice."

My dad uses "basically" all the fucking time.

Stop it. No one thinks you're smarter for using the word. In fact, just the opposite happens.