posted on October 7, 2006 05:46:16 AM new
Honestly, how many times do you literally laugh out loud while you are sitting by yourself communicating with another person online?
For me it's maybe once or twice a month when someone has written something explosively witty. I can't ever remember laughing out loud at something I was writing in response.
So what's with all the "LOL" in Internet chit-chat?
The abbreviation stands for "laughing out loud," and what provokes me here is the incessant use of it in the transcripts of the instant-message exchanges between former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley and the young Congressional pages he was flirting with:
Maf54 (Foley): then we can have a few drinks. lol
Xxxxxxxxx: yes yes
Maf54: your not old enough to drink
Xxxxxxxxx: shhh….
Maf54: ok
Xxxxxxxxx: thats not what my ID says. lol
In these and other contexts, "LOL" seems not to indicate laughter or even mirth so much as a certain breeziness; "I mean this in a lighthearted way."
To register actual laughter, one has to type ROTFL -- "rolling on the floor laughing," something most of us have done, literally, maybe once or twice in our whole lives.
My question for those who do a lot of chatting and (over)use LOL is, why hasn't this yet become the lamest of lame abbreviations ever? The signature cliche of the newbie geek? The "groovy" or "well excuuuuuuse me!" of the Internet?
Is it really still more useful than it is tired? Isn't it time to say TTFN (ta-ta for now) to LOL?
Duuuuuude.
UPDATE: I literally did laugh out loud at this from the comments:
Then of course, you have the people who still believe that LOL means "Lots of Love", and therefore use it at even more inappropriate times (e.g., "I'm sorry your Grandmother passed away. LOL" Posted by: Diane
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- The duty of a patriot in this time and place is to ask questions, to demand answers, to understand where our nation is headed and why. If the answers you get do not suit you, or if they frighten you, or if they anger you, it is your duty as a patriot to dissent. Freedom does not begin with blind acceptance and with a flag. Freedom begins when you say 'No.'
posted on October 7, 2006 05:47:55 AM new
To take the place of LOL, the LOL queen should start using: "LOLWMWFRC"
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- The duty of a patriot in this time and place is to ask questions, to demand answers, to understand where our nation is headed and why. If the answers you get do not suit you, or if they frighten you, or if they anger you, it is your duty as a patriot to dissent. Freedom does not begin with blind acceptance and with a flag. Freedom begins when you say 'No.'
posted on October 7, 2006 07:51:32 AM new
How funny. LOL LOL LOL
Nothing better to talk about than the fact that YOU don't like laughing. That's your problem yo yo....no one elses.
You liberals/progressives/socialists/communists give us LOTS of reason to LOL at your posts/statements/positions.
They're FUNNY...and they make people laugh at you.
Nothing bigger than this stupid topic to worry about???? Good for you.
While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation:
What would a Democrat president have done at that point? Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack.
Ann Coulter
posted on October 7, 2006 08:53:49 AM new
It's a worn out abbreviation that doesn't seem to be even remotely related to acutal humor or mirth. I don't use it, never have.Doesn't mean I don't laugh, just don't like tired expresssions. The way it's used around here, I'd say a better abbreviation would be SAY, "Sneering At You".
____________________________________________
Grow your own Dope. Plant a Republican.
posted on October 8, 2006 10:55:35 AM newThe way it's used around here, I'd say a better abbreviation would be SAY, "Sneering At You".
I like BOB - Big Old Baby
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- The duty of a patriot in this time and place is to ask questions, to demand answers, to understand where our nation is headed and why. If the answers you get do not suit you, or if they frighten you, or if they anger you, it is your duty as a patriot to dissent. Freedom does not begin with blind acceptance and with a flag. Freedom begins when you say 'No.'
