The Evolution of Lol

[Askthedude]

 

 

It is an internet ice breaker. So easy to type, with no thought process required. Yet it can keep conversation going. For a short period of time before more Lol must be used again. If something is unfunny, or a situation is awkward, a Lol will be used.

 

It is an internet ice breaker. So easy to type, with no thought process required. Yet it can keep conversation going. For a short period of time before more Lol must be used again. If something is unfunny, or a situation is awkward, a Lol will be used.

 

 

Am I the only person who noticed the same thing written twice over? :unsure:

 

I'll only type Lol when something I read causes me to smirk a little.

[anonymous1234]

Why abstain from Lol? Sure, it doesn't really mean, "Laughing out loud" anymore, but it's still got a meaning. Kinda like how "gay" doesn't always mean homosexual anymore. Except, you know, lol isn't needlessly offensive to people, I hope.

 

Telling someone not to use a word because its meaning has evolved is stupid, in all honesty.

The point is that "lol" has become absolutely meaningless, and it's just used as filler. It's the same as people who feel the need to put swear swords in every sentence they say or type.

[Giordano]

LOL u try 2 wtf the interw3bs? Ur a tard kthxbai roflcopter

[Albel]

Lol

 

I admit I might use it a little bit too much, but I have learned not to use it as much in years pass.

[Hobgoblinpie]

I think that 'lol' shows an accelerated version of language degradation. I find it stupid when someone says: 'lol' near me or to me. It sounds stupid, and is stupid. The whole point of 'lol' is to show (or mislead to the same effect) that it made you laugh. Therefore, 'lol' is not a necessary word in spoken language, since body language is able to communicate what 'lol' is intended for.

 

I don't mind it online or through texts, because it gives some kind of feedback (whether sardonic, sarcasm or true) about the message that I previously sent, whilst 'lol' when spoken is pointless, as I can see if you actually found it funny or not.

[anonymous1234]

It's gotten abused so much, along with it's siblings (rofl, lmao), that people can't even tell if you think something is actually laugh worthy unless you type it in capital letters or something.

[Lenin64]

This is essentially how it is.

 

 

 

[Saru Inc]

This is essentially how it is.

 

 

 

 

 

Not true at all. If I say lol it means I giggled, if I say lmao I laughed out loud honestly. Rofl is a giggle aswell. and lmaoooooooooooo, lollllllllllllll,looooooooooooooool, and lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! all classify me as nearly falling off my chair. I know rofl should stand for me nearly falling off my chair, but it doesn't, lol.

[Sam]

[stevepole]

I have like a ranking system for my abbreviations :lol:

 

Lol = If accompanied with an emoticon

 

Like lol :-)?

 

 

I personally don't use abbreviations a whole lot. If I do find something funny, I generally type "haha" or something express that I read or saw was funny like "Thats hilarious!"

[Nenga]

I lol'd at the first two replys, no really I did.

 

I usually only say lol when I actually do find something funny.

[RpgGamer]

here's a flow chart for you

 

meaningless filler

|

V

 

lol

lmfao

ha

haha

hahaha

rofl

lmao

LOL

OH GOD, LOL

HAHAHA

LMAO

ROFL

LMFAO

I seriously just laughed out loud

 

|

V

actual meaning

[Rainy_Day]

This is essentially how it is.

 

 

 

Lol. I may slightly smirk, or actually laugh. But if I say lol and actually laugh, I will reiterate the fact that I laughed. Lol.

 

Lol for the luls though. Lol.

 

Lol.

[EmEss]

When I say "lol" I actually... sort of... chuckle or smirk...

I don't just say lol for the fact I have nothing else to say... I abuse the Full Stop for that :lol:

[D. V. Devnull]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_vNhLYW_e4

Hehe. I chuckled at that. lol

Same here. :P ... Even more hilarious is that this video shows an unusual and hidden usage of Windows' text-to-speech features. I didn't know it could do that! :blink:

 

Let's see... how shall I finish this post? Ah, I know...

 

LOL! :lol:

 

~D. V. "ROFLMAO!" Devnull

[Zierro]

I used to be militant about the usage of LOL. Now I just see it as a convenient little icebreaker, when used in moderation of course. I do hate FTW though.

[Giordano]

I used to be militant about the usage of LOL. Now I just see it as a convenient little icebreaker, when used in moderation of course. I do hate FTW though.

WTF. FTW are pretty cool guy he kills losers and doesn't afraid of anything.

 

I kid. For the longest time I thought FTW was some "opposite" of WTF, them being backwards and all.

[noble_aloof]

haha, i don't think im going to stop using lol haha.

 

in my circle of friends everyone strictly uses "haha"s

[Retech]

I'm a recovering "lol" addict. I have used it on countless occasions in the uses that mentioned on the OP, and I am ashamed [sarcasm]. After you start getting into the habit of it, it's too hard to stop!

 

Maybe the solution is to censor the word on the forums! Not just our forum, but all over the internet!

[Guest Mrmegakirby]

Slightly off-topic:

 

Does anybody else use the "xD" smile quite often? (Or, any other one)

[mughinn]

i actually just use when i'm typing english(normally i type english on runescape alone, as it's not my mother language), and i use because people there use it, it feels awkward to say "haha".

[TTanT]

Slightly off-topic:

 

Does anybody else use the "xD" smile quite often? (Or, any other one)

I spam the following smilies in chat: XD, =p, =[), <-only works in some chats and 8D.

 

OT: I originally was an 'lol' spammer of the worst kind. But I consider myself pretty much reformed now. I only use it rarely, and generally because I meant it, or for sarcasm.

[nine naked men]

Slightly off-topic:

 

Does anybody else use the "xD" smile quite often? (Or, any other one)

I spam the following smilies in chat: XD, =p, =[), <-only works in some chats and 8D.

 

OT: I originally was an 'lol' spammer of the worst kind. But I consider myself pretty much reformed now. I only use it rarely, and generally because I meant it, or for sarcasm.

 

I only use it with the lowercase 'x'. Seeing it like XD just kinda irks me. D:

 

Though I pretty much use all smilies at one time or another. Except for ^_^. That one makes me want to hurt something. ._<

[Nenga]

Slightly off-topic:

 

Does anybody else use the "xD" smile quite often? (Or, any other one)

I spam the following smilies in chat: XD, =p, =[), <-only works in some chats and 8D.

 

OT: I originally was an 'lol' spammer of the worst kind. But I consider myself pretty much reformed now. I only use it rarely, and generally because I meant it, or for sarcasm.

 

I only use it with the lowercase 'x'. Seeing it like XD just kinda irks me. D:

 

Though I pretty much use all smilies at one time or another. Except for ^_^. That one makes me want to hurt something. ._<

Really the xD just looks really odd to me, like the person only has one eye. I never use it like that, always XD. The only ones I really use are XD, =p, =Þ. =(, =), and O_o.

[Will H]

Perhaps the English language has needed a word to mean a small laugh or an expression of happiness? There's going to be a reason why words become popular in everyday use, and I hope the OP is aware that asking people not to use a certain word is not going to get anywhere. The evolution of language is impossible to stop.