Poop Shute

Language

I am a realist and a pragmatist. I have a full grasp on the fact that languages change and evolve with time. The version of english we are speaking today is leaps and bounds different from that of Shakespeare, and even a small jump different from the english of our grandparents' youth.

I am trying really hard to stay open-minded to these and other changes as I get older. I'm trying to resist the temptation to call newer music noise and new fashion trends silly, etc etc.

But does it strike anyone else as profoundly stupid that people are beginning to speak internet abbreviations out loud?!

For example, "LOL" when typed is a time saver. It's convenient shorthand, saves keystrokes, and we all know what it stands for. Cool.

But people are saying it out loud in face-to-face conversation now. I've seen it. It's bizarre to me. And they aren't saying it spelled out like "L - O - L." No, no, they are saying it as if it is a three letter word pronounced like "roll", but with an L instead of an R.

I mean, first of all, isn't it just plain easier to ACTUALLY LAUGH OUT LOUD? The person you are talking to can, afterall, SEE and HEAR you. You are right in front of them, and not separated by miles of cyberspace and two PC's. Mirth can be pretty clearly registered by your facial expression and body language. The abbreviation was created to save time online, but in person it has no real point or any value whatsoever. Actual laughing communicates your amusement pretty clearly in my mind.

I've also heard "OMG" as a word a few times, but not nearly so often as "LOL."

And since LOL means "I am Laughing Out Loud" it seems that by saying you are actually lying. Most people I've seen say it really do say it in place of actual laughter. So if you to someone "LOL" instead of laughing, then the statement doesn't apply anymore. I don't know. Maybe I'm reaching with that one.

Maybe since I am resisting the temptation aging brings to hate new music and fashion, this growing curmudgeon in me is finding an outlet in hating new slang. Am I alone in this, or does anyone else think this is frightfully stupid? Anyone?

COMMENTS

Who have you been hanging out with? Yes, it is frightfully stupid. I could see, perhaps, saying it sarcastically. Using it to mock someone for telling a stupid joke or something, but just saying it instead of actually laughing? Yeah, that's really stupid. And I don't suffer from Old Person's Disease as you do. I'm all for new words and slang, if they serve to express something real. Truth be told, I hate it when people use the "lol" excessively online. I tend to write "hee hee" or "ha ha" or use a smiley emoticon when expressing mirth online. I occasionally use "lol" just to mix things up a bit. If I ever hear "lol" out loud, I'm going to respond by drawing a smiley emoticon on my hand and holding it up. BECAUSE IT'S EQUALLY RIDICULOUS. Is anyone else reminded of the Scrubs episode when J.D. is dating Mandy Moore and she always says, "That's sooo funny" instead of laughing? Vega | 02.23.08 - 2:51 am | #

That's ridiculous. My sister said that some of the chicks at her school talk in mostly letters. Like: brb, btw, ttyl, lol and what-not. But, that's high school. It just goes to show how much our society is changing due to technological influences. You know that the high school graduationg class of 2008 doesn't know a time without computers in the home or the classroom. They don't remember not having the internet or cell phones. They barely know about VHS tapes and cassette tapes. I was talking to my sister about it, and she thinks it's crazy how my brother and I do remember not having those things, but she doesn't. She's just 7 years younger than me, but it's true. Crazy how we keep advancing, and in return, society is starting to talk like computers instead of having natural human reactions. Bess | 02.24.08 - 4:26 am | #

It's irony, foo'. lawl Josh | 02.24.08 - 12:37 pm | #

Well, it's actual irony, yes. That is obvious enough. But it's not INTENDED irony. You know what I mean? It's not a self-aware ironic joke, it's habitual with the people who use it. At least it is with my roomy. Joey | Homepage | 02.25.08 - 4:18 pm | #

Ah, that changes things. Irony can be kind of like a narcotic. You start off as a casual user, with the occasional ironic barb here and there. You know, to show off how cool your social commentary is, and to share that little knowing smile with your fellow casual ironifiers. But as time passes, a solitary comment loses its edge. You have to add a few others. A pointed LOL or OMG slowly morphs into a WTF, ROFL, BRB. It seeps into your pores. You start to lose track of where the irony stops and you begin. But by then it's too late. You like the way it feels. The tingle in your skin. The hot rush of blood through your body as the sounds roll off your tongue. LOL. It's less a word than a tangible sound of existence. LOL. ROFL. ROFL. LOLLERSKATES. ROFLCOPTER. ROFLBROTHEL. ROFLMAO. LOLLERCOPTER. ROFLSKATES. Each building on the next until you explode in a OMG WTF BBQ!!!!!111eleventy. You've hit bottom. Friends don't call. Family doesn't visit. Your conversations are only through text messaging where you can hide your habit. Or with Halo gamers on XBoxLive where you get your fix. There's no way out. No methadone strong enough to get this junk out of your veins. It's ironic that irony itself is ironic. The Midgard Serpent eats itself. We all end here. Becoming the thing we berate. Josh | 02.25.08 - 6:00 pm | #

...ye gods, Josh. Why don't you take writing more seriously? You're a talented word-smith, my friend. As much as I know most of what you just wrote wasn't intended to be taken seriously, it was a breath-taking ride to read it. Joey | Homepage | 02.26.08 - 6:02 pm | #

The parts that disturb me are the parts that you can take seriously. I've out-ironied myself too many times. Josh | 02.26.08 - 6:29 pm | #

Just for the record, not every acronym is a product of the technological age. I've been saying WTF out loud for years because I thought it was less crass than what the fuck. And in high school I used to say TMFI out loud because I was, well, in high school. On that note, I have to ask, is your roommate an emancipated minor? It would explain a lot. Vega | 02.27.08 - 10:33 am | #

No, she has some severe physical disabilities, so she doesn't like to go out much. The majority of her social interaction takes place on the internet. Second Life and all that stuff. So, there is a reasonable explanation for her, but she's not the only one I've heard say LOL specifically. Also, Vega: funny enough, I met this girl Lyndsie the other night who totally does the Mandy Moore thing. "That's so funny!" She does laugh too, but most of the time she also does the Mandy Moore line. Unlike JD on Scrubs, I think it's cute. Joey | Homepage | 02.27.08 - 7:40 pm | #

I like to say OMG and WTF but I do it making fun of the idea that people actually do this. I've never actually heard someone say LOL, but I did once read a freshman comp essay using online speak (n-e-wayz, etc). I also once made up my own like DPPOCJOAS. Which stands for "dropping pants, pulling out cock, jacking off at screen." It never caught on though.... Oh and yes, hang out with smarter people, that'll help. Ambam | 02.27.08 - 7:41 pm | #

I've been hearing brb a decent amount. LOL less frequently. It makes me a little crazy. However, I also correctly punctuate my text messages, so I might already be a little crazy. To give you back a little faith in kids these days, I'm teaching 4th and 5h graders these days. One of them is currently reading Dune, another has read the first 3 of the series. For fun. And, these are the "cool kids" in the class. Anonymous | 02.28.08 - 1:44 am | #

Who is that? Joey | Homepage | 02.28.08 - 3:27 pm | #

sorry. it was me. it usually automatically links with my blog dealy, but i was on a different computer. Mollie | 03.01.08 - 2:26 am | #