My guess would be people use "L" ,or any variety of it, that much because they don't find that particular comment funny, yet they still want to respond in some way.

If I say LLLLLLL, it means I thought it quite funny. LOL is just kinda, meh. Overused. LLLLL conveys that something is actually funny.

I use it in a few circumstances

1. With a particular friend more or less to take the P' out of others who say it "Just got a whip drop" "GG L"

2. A bit like saying Hah instead of Haha, almost less funny

3. To say something faster (especially if i'm only using 1 hand) - I once heard it originated in PKing, although this is hardly verifiable so perhaps the need to communicate quickly was vital?

Ah, very interesting on the aspect of timing. PKers do need every second and half second on their side. Thanks for that thought.

 

And AlxeMen, I understand where you are coming from. :) I feel like it has been a generational shift in how internet lingo goes, but I mean, as I said by looking at my previous posts, I used to type like that. I never used the phrase "L" but for example I used "hawt". I'm starting to understand though and that helps appreciate the culture in which I participate in (which in this case is Tip.it and Runescape in general.)

 

Thanks guys, I appreciate the thoughts and ideas.