Today I Learned (TIL)

Usually people say brain rot nowadays when referring to either themselves (in a self-deprecating way) or another, specifically to make light of or make reference to how detached from reality (or down a rabbit hole) their actions or words have been.

First example that comes to me is, when explaining a post-ironic meme with years of subtle context to someone who is another demographic or not part of that audience, and they clearly cannot comprehend it due to lack of shared understanding. In that case, presuming the stakes are low, I would be likely to say 'ahh that's just brain rot, don't worry' to relieve the other party and indicate that I know they won't understand.

When using it against others you are showing in few words that something is inappropriate or only important to people with brain rot.

As to some general examples;

• people who think that realistic looking people in video games are 'woke'. These people are brain rotted by failing to 'touch grass' for far too long. What they advocate for is seen as obviously out of touch with reality to those who do touch grass.

• people who think they only need to participate in voting every four years, and that is the pinnacle of political action, usually have liberal brain rot (which they have absorbed through popular culture even before the internet) that pacifies them to this lesser participation

I can think of many more, but generally it's supposed to imply that notions left to fester unchecked, or often those reinforced by an echo chamber, will present as 'brain rot' - a fundamental disconnection from reality in certain areas, that is the obvious result of 'unchecked rot' in terms of information diet rather than underlying conditions.