PCWorld.com - Just for Fun.LOL :) -- A Guide to Internet Lingo and Emoticons

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Just for fun. Barb in Arlington

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--

" I've learned, that it's those small daily happenings that make life so

spectacular. " Anon.

LOL -- A Guide to Internet Lingo and Emoticons With just a few keystrokes, you can quickly convey laughter, disbelief, and other complex emotions on the Net. Here's the lingo you need to know. A. Friday, March 29, 2002When someone tells you a hilarious joke, you're likely to respond by

slapping your thigh, throwing your head back, and chortling with abandon.

Should you discover that same joke in your e-mail in-box, however, you're

likely to respond with LOL, LMAO, ROTFL, or in the event of extreme mirth, by

ROTFLMAO. If you're new to chat rooms, instant messaging, or e-mail, the above

acronyms may seem vaguely official or even intimidating. Relax. Those

particular alphabet-soup concoctions simply mean laughing out loud (LOL),

rolling on the floor laughing (ROTFL), and laughing my, er, ankles off (LMAO).

They're just a few examples of the everyday cyberspace shorthand used to convey

laughter and anger, approval and disapproval, love and hate--and everything in

between--with a few quick keystrokes. In addition to acronyms, cyberspace slang also consists of an almost

endless assortment of emoticons. An emoticon is a combination of letters,

symbols, or numbers that paint a picture (often when viewed sideways). For

instance, is one of the most popular emoticons, used to represent a smiley

face. If still doesn't make sense, tilt your head to the left. Acronyms and emoticons have become the hieroglyphics of a hurried

generation. They're informal, often clever, and they save time. But they aren't

always appropriate. For instance, sprinkling emoticons throughout a message to

a potential employer isn't a good idea--unless the employer is an 18-year-old

chat-room habitué. And like any slang, the use of acronyms and emoticons

can make those who don't know them feel excluded. So always be considerate

about where you use Internet shorthand--and how often. The following glossary will help you decipher the most commonly used

acronyms and emoticons. Plus, we've thrown in a few favorite, exotic examples

of each. And because we just couldn't stop ourselves, we've come up with a few

pop-culture-inspired acronyms we'd like to see. The possibilities are endless,

but if you use your own home-grown acronyms or emoticons, don't forget to

explain them to your readers. Everyday Acronyms: Coming and Goingafk Away from keyboardAnd

about to do goodness knows what.bak Back at keyboard Having done goodness knows what.bfn Bye for nowTells

others you're stepping away for an indeterminate amount of

time.Variations: b4n, bbl (be back later).brb Be

right backAnnounces a brief absence, as if you're pausing to read a

Shakespeare sonnet. cu See youThe more

formal version of cya (See ya). ltns Long time,

no seeA polite way of saying "I forgot you even existed," which

could be abbreviated as ifuee. ttfn Ta ta for

nowWhat Zsa Zsa Gabor might say when exiting a chat room. Variation: l8tr (later).Flaming and Feudinggal Get a lifeThe exact

opposite of hand (have a nice day).kiss Keep it simple, stupidAn impolite way of saying ot (off topic).pu That

stinkstswc Tell someone who caresHooting and Holleringgfete Grinning from ear to earIndicates mild amusement in which minimal dental work is displayed.lmao Laughing my ankles offThe third word can

also refer to another body part.lol Laughing out loudAn

appropriate response to a humorous statement. Alas, it doesn't necessarily mean

lots of love. rotfl Rolling on the floor

laughingUse when you couldn't possibly be more amused. Unless

you're rotflmao, of course. Opining and Informingaamof As a matter of factThough in cyberspace, the fact could just as well be fiction.afaik As far as I knowUse when you really don't

know, but want to appear as if you do. Variations: afaic (as far as I'm concerned), afaict (as far as I can tell). btw By the wayA kissin' cousin to fyi (for your information) and fwiw (for what it's worth). damhikt Don't ask me how I know thisFor those obscure factoids your

friends tease you for remembering.eod End of

discussionUse EOD after the 163,456th chat-room message about the

new Star Wars trailer.hth Hope this (or that) helpsimho In my humble (or

honest) opinionCommonly used to preface unsolicited advice, such as

"If I were you, I would dump your no-account girlfriend immediately."Variations: imnsho (in my not so humble opinion), imco (in my considered

opinion). ianalb I am not a lawyer, but... As in, "IANALB I play one on TV."j/k Just

kiddingBest used when combined with the emoticon. For more on

the world of emoticons, see Everyday

Emoticons.ot Off topicA

polite way of saying kiss (keep it simple, stupid).otoh On the other handIndicates you were once a member of the high

school debate team. Exotic Acronymsaiamu And I'm a monkey's

uncleSimian slurs are popular everywhere, and cyberspace is no

exception. bbfbbm Body by Fisher, brains by

MattelPut another way: You have the physique of a Tonka truck and

the intellect of Barbie.cmf Count my

fingersSimilar to, though different from, rml (read my lips) or tmt (tally my toes).dgt Don't

go thereBest emphasized by raising your eyebrows, placing one hand

on a hip and with the other hand, wagging your index finger warningly--though,

of course, your readers will have to imagine that part.dqydj Don't quit your day jobOr as they say on The Sopranos, 'fagiddaboudit.' tmi Too much informationAn appropriate response

to someone who claims their dog likes to eat the furballs their cat coughs up. Acronyms We Wish Existed (and Possibly

Do)bmus Beam me up,

yFrom Star Trek.fmdidgad ly my dear, I don't give a damn Gable, Gone with the Wind.fysbigtbabn Fasten your seat belts,

it's going to be a bumpy nightBette , All About Eve.gmdts Give my daughter the shot! Shirley MacLaine, Terms of Endearment.hlvb Hasta la vista, baby! Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terminator 2.mmd Make my dayClint Eastwood as Dirty Harry, Sudden Impact.rutus Round up the usual suspectsClaude Rains, Casablanca.yt2m You talking to me? De Niro, Taxi Driver.Everyday Emoticons:) Smile:( Frown;) Wink:o Shocked?-( Black eye(((Insert name here))) A cyberhug for

the person whose name is surrounded by parentheses:P Disgusted The P indicates a protruding tongue.5:) Elvis@>--;-- A

roseFavorite Exotic Emoticons:-E Bucktoothed vampire:-F Bucktoothed vampire with one tooth missing:-.) Cindy Crawford*<) ) ClownO-) Cyclops:-! Foot in mouth@:-} Just back from the hairdresser{:- Wears a toupee@@@@:-) Marge Simpson:8) Pig:-8 Talking out of both

sides of your mouthMore Shorthand Slang OnlineHungry for more? The Internet is full of sites that catalog emoticons

and acronyms. Here are a few: AOL subscribers can visit AOL's Computer Center as a starting point.

Within the Computer Center channel, click the Fun Stuff tab, then select the Online Fun button, and click the Learn to and LOL Online link. You'll find

a list of the basic acronyms and emoticons.NetLingo offers one

of the most comprehensive lists of acronyms.The Correspondence

Area of the Primitive Baptist Web Station gives a simple,

bare-bones guide to the most common emoticons and acronyms.The Ultimate

Chatlist provides a no-frills but exhaustive list of emoticons. UselessKnowledge.com combines a brief acronym usage history and glossary with a list of the more

commonly used emoticons.