txt msg style ritng wiv no cptlzation or pnctuation...grrr! - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

The X Phial · 05-15-2003, 12:37 PM

ROFL is an abbreviation of "[R]olling [O]n the [F]loor, [L]aughing." It is often used to denote a very high level of amusement, since laughing out loud is used so much that it has lost its real meaning.

"Lol" simply denotes amusement, even slight amusement, or indicates that something said was not meant to be taken seriously. I'm afraid I am quite guilty of this in the chatroom, but do not use "lol" or other chat terms on the forum if I can help it.

I would also like to add that it is not just the forum or other internet venues that are influenced by chatspeak. I am a teaching assistant at an Ivy League university, and I have seen chatspeak creep into formal academic papers more and more often in my three years here. Also rampant is the use of the smiley within an academic paper to indicate that something is an exaggeration or otherwise lighthearted. I see this as a much more significant problem than its use in the forum. Yes, language must be vital and reflect culture, but educated people should be able to use language appropriate to the education culture. I think it is far more excusable on an internet forum than it is in an end of term essay.

[ May 15, 2003: Message edited by: The X Phial ]

05-15-2003, 12:37 PM	#31
The X Phial Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Out there with the truth. Come find me. Posts: 317	ROFL is an abbreviation of "[R]olling [O]n the [F]loor, [L]aughing." It is often used to denote a very high level of amusement, since laughing out loud is used so much that it has lost its real meaning. "Lol" simply denotes amusement, even slight amusement, or indicates that something said was not meant to be taken seriously. I'm afraid I am quite guilty of this in the chatroom, but do not use "lol" or other chat terms on the forum if I can help it. I would also like to add that it is not just the forum or other internet venues that are influenced by chatspeak. I am a teaching assistant at an Ivy League university, and I have seen chatspeak creep into formal academic papers more and more often in my three years here. Also rampant is the use of the smiley within an academic paper to indicate that something is an exaggeration or otherwise lighthearted. I see this as a much more significant problem than its use in the forum. Yes, language must be vital and reflect culture, but educated people should be able to use language appropriate to the education culture. I think it is far more excusable on an internet forum than it is in an end of term essay. [ May 15, 2003: Message edited by: The X Phial ] __________________ But then there was a star danced, and under that was I born.