# What is the deal with this "basement-dweller" meme?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-deal-with-this-basement-dweller-meme/511730>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [September 27, 2009, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-deal-with-this-basement-dweller-meme/511730 "2009-09-27T04:43:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-deal-with-this-basement-dweller-meme/511730/21 "2009-09-29T01:05:47Z")

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It may have to do with both the parents’ inabilities to let the kid go and the kid’s inability to let go. The parents may compromise with the kid “don’t go… we’ll make you your own space!”

Also, “living in the basement” could be more of a metaphor. They may have their room where they sleep, but they hang out, watch TV, have friends over, etc. in the basement, as if its their own place.

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**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-deal-with-this-basement-dweller-meme/511730/22 "2009-09-29T02:11:43Z")

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What’s interesting is that there’s less stigma to parasitic adult children being subsidized in separate housing. Parasites @ Home = Loser. Parasites getting “help” from 'rents, that’s different.

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