Cynicism: probably the most defining characteristic of social interaction in the '90s was the popular trend towards maintaining a savage reluctance to take anything at face value. The challenge was to never take anyone or anything too seriously - or at least, to appear that way in front of peers who might later be able to laugh at you and say, "Pfft, well you fell for that. We knew it was all hype. Loser." In fact, the end result was that 'Coolness' (the other C-word of the '90s jetset) was defined not by what one liked, but by what one not-liked. The Cool was defined by what it wasn't. You weren't allowed to like anything, not even yourself, in order to attain the 'Coolness' which you apparently never even wanted anyway. Soundbyte: "Dude, are you being sarcastic?" "I don't even know anymore." (The Simpsons).