How do people use "based," "cringe," "ratio," and "touch grass" in context?

These four terms represent distinct layers of internet slang that have migrated heavily through Reddit, each carrying specific social functions. "Based" originally emerged from hip-hop culture but was repurposed online to mean something like "admirably self-assured" or "confidently holding an unpopular opinion without apology." On Reddit, telling someone their take is "based" is a compliment meaning they said something others were afraid to say, often with a slightly edgy or contrarian flavor. The word has enough political associations — particularly with right-leaning internet culture — that its use can itself signal community membership. "Cringe" means secondhand embarrassment — something that makes you recoil because it is socially awkward, try-hard, or painfully sincere in the wrong context. Calling a post "cringe" dismisses it as embarrassing, often targeting things perceived as over-earnest, performative, or socially unaware. In meme communities, the word frequently appears as both a noun and an adjective, and entire subreddits are dedicated to curating content deemed cringe-worthy. "Ratio" comes directly from Twitter/X culture, where a reply getting more likes than the original tweet signals community disagreement with the original. On Reddit, "ratio" is used more loosely and humorously — someone might say "this comment is getting ratioed" if it is accruing downvotes, or post the single word "ratio" under something they want to see punished. The term has become somewhat ironic in Reddit usage, often deployed as a joke rather than a genuine power move. "Touch grass" means "get off the internet and engage with the physical world." It is said to someone who appears chronically online — someone whose reaction to a fictional show, a gaming controversy, or a meme debate is disproportionate to its real-world significance. The phrase implies a need to reconnect with reality. Importantly, it is almost always said by people who are themselves deeply online, which gives it a self-aware ironic quality that is part of its charm.