On the other hand, it’s also possible to view the phrase not literally but as a metaphor for catharsis and empowerment. But is resorting to violence, if only in memes, the best solution? Will the proliferation of ironic “vibe check” images ultimately generate more bad vibes, trapping us in a hellish feedback loop of vibe checks? It’s no wonder people are all too eager to get rid of them by embracing a tool unique to our generation: social media. Given society’s current political and social polarization, negative feelings are hard to escape. A term born out of genuine care for loved ones’ emotional well-being has evolved to represent an unsettling endorsement of physical aggression as a way to eliminate bad vibes. This recent interpretation of “vibe check” marks an undeniable shift from selflessness to self-interest. The post garnered over 30,000 notes and inspired a bevy of spinoffs linking “vibe check” to scenes of violence from (simulated) medieval warfare, Greek mythology, and famous assassinations, to name a few. Over eight years later, a viral Tumblr comic redefined the process in question, depicting one stick figure yelling “vibe check!” to another before whacking its companion over the head with a baseball bat. Grounded in a belief in pachouli, sage, or karma and sometimes veggie burgers.” Not anchored in or limited to science, psychology or sociology. Urban Dictionary’s original 2011 definition of “vibe check,” though gently critical of bohemian pseudoscience, is innocuous enough: “A process by which a group or individual obtains a subjective assessment of the mental and emotional state of another person, place or thing.
Put simply, “vibe check” needs its vibes checked. From compassionate to violent to purely bizarre, the phrase’s dizzying array of connotations merits analysis. Such is the Schrödinger-esque reality of life in a world where “vibe check,” the Lernaean Hydra of 21st century vernacular, has developed more shades of meaning than there are hues of healing crystals, essential oils, and other purported recipes for good vibes. Your heart skips a beat as you freeze, bracing for what’s to come: either a friendly emotional check-in or a vicious blow to the head. Imagine you’re alone in one of those liminal, reality-meets-reverie spaces after a certain hour of the night - think IHOP, Denny’s, or any other 24/7 fast-food establishment with eerie fluorescent lighting - when a voice behind you utters two fateful words:
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