You see her.
She has her hair half-up, half-down with a mini-bun on top, and she's clutching her Pumpkin Spice Latte as she runs to her Art History class. Draped around her shoulders is a Northface jacket, and her Lululemon leggings are tucked into her brown Ugg boots. She's the girl with an infinity sign tattooed on her wrist and a sign with "Live, Laugh, Love" written in pretty cursive hanging on her wall. You listen to her talk about how she was so busy jamming out to Beyoncé that she almost forgot to unplug her straightener. She was up so late the night before watching "The Bachelor" and sipping rosé that she almost forgot to clean her nostril piercing. Before class, she sends a picture of herself in the Snapchat dog filter to all her streaks and posts a picture of her trip to the pumpkin patch on Instagram.
You see her. What do you do? Do you watch her like she's an animal in a zoo? Do you shake your head at how far humanity has fallen? Do you make fun of her actions and interests?
You leave her alone.
Mind your own business. What she's doing isn't affecting you in any way, so lay off her. What makes you think you have the right to dictate what someone can or cannot love?
She is just as entitled to her interests as you are. So maybe you two don't mesh. Maybe you love combat boots and would rather eat a rat instead of watching "Keeping Up with the Kardashians." That's okay. You are welcome to enjoy what you enjoy. However, that does not give you the right to make fun of girls who are interested in mainstream things.
So-called "Basic Girls" can't enjoy anything without being made fun of for it. Love Starbucks? "You don't know what real coffee tastes like." An infinity scarf is your staple accessory in fall and winter? "You dress just like every other girl." Saved up for that tattoo of an anchor inscribed with a meaningful quote? "You're following a trend." Think the dog or butterfly crown Snapchat filter is cute? "You think you're pretty? How arrogant."
Stop making people feel bad for what they like. Maybe she decided to treat herself to a caramel frappuccino today because she doesn't like coffee. Scarves are cute and good for warmth. Her tattoo can be meaningful and beautiful and still be popular. The Snapchat filters are super fun and are meant to evoke laughs. Stop taking everything so seriously.
People who criticize these girls are awful. We are just trying to live our lives, but they feel the need to tell us how unoriginal we are. We're told to abandon our interests so we can be "unique." Newsflash: I am unique. I am my own person. You do not get to decide what type of person I am based on your very limited knowledge of what I like to do or how to dress or what to wear.
I do not make fun of you for having a farmer's tan and wearing your camp shirts with your hair in a messy bun. I do not laugh at you for downing a Monster energy drink and playing video games. Do not ridicule me because I love things that are popular.
I love pumpkins.
I love scarves.
I love Starbucks.
I love Snapchat filters.
Life is all about enjoying the little things while you still can. Do not make me feel bad about doing what I love.