OPINIONS
please don’t keep it Whether posted in a meme or simply included as a
written by JEN SCHWARTZ illustrations by VANIA HO
I
t’s becoming more and more common for people to boast that they “keep it 100,” as in 100 percent real, meaning that they are authentic and honest at all times, no matter what. While it’s difficult to trace the exact origins of the phrase, it’s undeniable that the expression has earned a prominent place in pop culture over the past year with songs from various artists referencing the saying in both song titles and lyrics (such as 2 Chainz’ “Keep It 100” and Drake in “Too Much”). “Keep it 100” has become so ubiquitous that even a popular news show, if you can consider anything airing on Comedy Central “news,” “The Nightly Show with Larry Willmore” has its own segment named after the phrase.
SCAN MAGAZINE // SPRING 2016
let’s say you’re out at a bar with a friend when they spot
side-note or hashtag in a post via emoji,
their recent ex out of the corner of their eye. Not
claiming that one keeps it 100 is extremely
having seen their ex since the breakup, they ask
commonplace nowadays for the Internet-
you how they look. After hours of tequila shots
savvy. The biggest irony in this trendy social
and drunken dancing, their face is flushed all
media brag is that social media in itself is
over, their hair in a state of disarray, and their
inauthentic. There’s a reason the term “online
eyes are bloodshot. The honest thing to do
presence” exists and that’s because an online persona is an inaccurate portrayal of that person and their lifestyle as a whole. Online profiles consist
ONLINE PROFILES CONSIST OF CAREFULLY CHOSEN PICTURES, STATUSES, AND ACHIEVEMENTS ACCUMULATING INTO A PERSON’S IDEAL VERSION OF THEMSELVES THAT THEY WANT THE WORLD TO SEE.
would be to tell them they look like a hot mess, but at this point, there’s nothing they can do to rectify that. They’re not going to go home and redo their hair or pop by the nearest CVS for
of carefully chosen pictures, statuses, and achievements
some eyedrops and return to the bar afterwards. In this
accumulating into a person’s ideal version of themselves
particular case, the kind thing to do would be to reassure
that they want the world to see. Proclaiming your
your friend that they look fine, and while that may be
genuineness on a platform that relies on purposefully
far from the truth I doubt anyone
leaving out information in order to make a good
would look down on you for it or
impression is flat-out hypocritical.
shame you for being a liar.
Even disregarding how it’s impossible to remain
A common excuse people use
completely authentic via social media, the idea of 100%
to bluntly speak their mind is
honesty at all times doesn’t make sense when applied to
to place blame on someone for asking for feedback in
everyday life either. While it may sound good in theory to
the first place — the old “if you didn’t want to know
never lie or misrepresent something, honesty simply isn’t
then you shouldn’t have asked” deal, not bothering
the best policy for every situation. In many instances,
whatsoever to think about others’ feelings. Maybe some
telling the unfiltered truth is immature and unnecessarily
are uncomfortable with the idea of lying at all, regardless
cruel. This is the exact reason people tell “white lies”;
of whether or not it might avoid upsetting someone. This
sometimes hearing the truth serves no real purpose but
is understandable considering honesty is an important
does wind up with someone getting hurt. For instance,
part of any type of relationship, but it still doesn’t justify