Pet Peev #101
Don't ask me what prompted this particular post. I don't know for sure - I think it's just something that's been bubbling inside me and the fuse has run out.
I cannot stand it when people speak in real life in text/IM speak. For anyone living under a rock who doesn't know, this is things like "omg", "lol", "wtf", etc. Now, this is not an irrational luddite at technology rant, because I'm certainly no luddite and I was using emotes like "lol", "afk", "brb", etc, when most of the kids using them these days were still in their nappies.
With the exception of "lol" I don't have a problem with them within their correct context (i.e. in an SMS or IM), but when you're speaking in real life don't use them. Let's have a look why:
lol - this means "laugh out loud". This has become my least favourite even online these days because it gets overused. It's not a punctuation, it's a text-based indicator of just how much you're appreciating, say, a joke. Not an appropriate way to end every single statement you make! Anyway, I digress... The point I'm making is that it's a text-based indicator of the fact that you're laughing. Instead of typing "hahaha" for instance you can say "lol". But if you actual say "lol" (in earnest), then it's the equivalent of saying "I found that joke quite humorous and I'm laughing muchly" when you're not actually laughing. After all, if you're not actually laughing then don't use a text-based indicator that you are, for crying out loud people, it's that fucking simple!
omg - this means "oh my god!" and I know people who actually say this and I'm sure a fair few of you reading this know people, too. Here is the key reason why I cannot stand it when people say "omg": it's the same number of fucking syllables! Saying "omg" does not save time, it's still three syllables and "oh my god" is three syllables! So why the fuck are you saying "omg"!?
wtf - this means "what the fuck?" and in fairness I don't know that many people who actually say this, but I have heard it said. Now, this bugs me more than "omg" for the simple reason that it takes longer to say "wtf" (4 syllables) than it does "what the fuck" (3 syllables). So it's not shorter, it's just stupid. Seriously, people - wtf!?
Don't worry, I'm not going to do every single one out there because I think you get the point. Anyway, those are really the main three that have entered the mainstream.
I cannot stand it when people speak in real life in text/IM speak. For anyone living under a rock who doesn't know, this is things like "omg", "lol", "wtf", etc. Now, this is not an irrational luddite at technology rant, because I'm certainly no luddite and I was using emotes like "lol", "afk", "brb", etc, when most of the kids using them these days were still in their nappies.
With the exception of "lol" I don't have a problem with them within their correct context (i.e. in an SMS or IM), but when you're speaking in real life don't use them. Let's have a look why:
lol - this means "laugh out loud". This has become my least favourite even online these days because it gets overused. It's not a punctuation, it's a text-based indicator of just how much you're appreciating, say, a joke. Not an appropriate way to end every single statement you make! Anyway, I digress... The point I'm making is that it's a text-based indicator of the fact that you're laughing. Instead of typing "hahaha" for instance you can say "lol". But if you actual say "lol" (in earnest), then it's the equivalent of saying "I found that joke quite humorous and I'm laughing muchly" when you're not actually laughing. After all, if you're not actually laughing then don't use a text-based indicator that you are, for crying out loud people, it's that fucking simple!
omg - this means "oh my god!" and I know people who actually say this and I'm sure a fair few of you reading this know people, too. Here is the key reason why I cannot stand it when people say "omg": it's the same number of fucking syllables! Saying "omg" does not save time, it's still three syllables and "oh my god" is three syllables! So why the fuck are you saying "omg"!?
wtf - this means "what the fuck?" and in fairness I don't know that many people who actually say this, but I have heard it said. Now, this bugs me more than "omg" for the simple reason that it takes longer to say "wtf" (4 syllables) than it does "what the fuck" (3 syllables). So it's not shorter, it's just stupid. Seriously, people - wtf!?
Don't worry, I'm not going to do every single one out there because I think you get the point. Anyway, those are really the main three that have entered the mainstream.