An IRL LOL.

[Mittopotahis]

Surely, this is a sign of internet addiction.

Online I've never been one to use internet acronyms. I sort of avoid using them like the plague. Okay not the plague. But some other highly contagious and deadly disease. Perhaps SARS.

However, I seem to have developed a problem: I use internet acronyms in real life. It started out pretty safely, I told others I would 'brb' when I went to the bathroom, or I'd 'wtf' so I wouldn't have to say the actual words.

But it's gotten to the stage where I will sometimes say 'lol' INSTEAD OF LAUGHING. I know, I'm a freak right?

So I guess I'm looking for some reassurance. Do you use internet acronyms in real life? Which ones? I think in this scenario I'd much rather be a sheep than a loner. =P

[Rye]

Depends on the group I'm with, but I definitely have before!

Funny story: When I was 15, my french class corresponded by letters to an english class in France. We met each other over a big video conference. Two french boys came onto camera and yelled "WE LIKE EHM.... EHMINEHM! LAWL!"

No lie.

[Zeldy]

Saying "lol" can be pretty funny, I think anyway. If someone says a joke and no one laughs, a "lol" to fill the silence works perfectly.

[Madame Adequate]

Welcome to the evolution of language. It's how it works, it's not a problem.

[Momiji]

Welcome to the de-evolution of language. It's how it works, it's not a problem.

Fixed.

[Madame Adequate]

Welcome to the de-evolution of language. It's how it works, it's not a problem.

Fixed.

No. L2linguistics.

[Momiji]

Really? Replacing proper language with acronyms in regular speech isn't a step backward? Do tell.

[Rantz]

It is indeed evolution and not devolution. If it was devolution we'd start saying things like Flivver and Flapper, go on with calling people barmy and in time proceed to start grunting and groaning.

A step backwards is when you start doing things like they were done before. Linguistics police has always complained about the evolution of language because everything new is inherently inferior.

[Tavrobel]

No. L2linguistics.

no u l2meme properly

I don't use internet acronyms, but I do use shortenings of names and such when talking about a specific subject to an equally learned person about the original subject. But, if you're using internet acronyms in real life, and out loud, you're not helping yourself at all.

[Ouch!]

Really? Replacing proper language with acronyms in regular speech isn't a step backward? Do tell.

Efficiency in language, among other things. Most people get far too attached to the language as they know it; this is a foolish mistake as language is always changing. Just remember, at one point another stick in the mud got very upset about the extraneous (oh yes, I went there) u's which were removed from American spelling practices.

MILF is right. L2linguistics.

[Madame Adequate]

Really? Replacing proper language with acronyms in regular speech isn't a step backward? Do tell.

There's no such thing as "proper language". Language exists to communicate. There is no right and wrong beyond how effectively one communicates with it.

And unless you say "light amplification through the stimulated emission of radiation" every time you're talking about lasers, you're using acronyms instead of 'proper' language in your regular speech too

[Momiji]

Oh fine then.

OMGLAT,TEOML! CYUAOT?

[Oh my god look at this, the evolution of modern language! Can you understand any of this?]

I feel so evolved now.

[Rye]

The way to look at is that language is used to communicate as FAST and as efficiently as possible. If an acronym, like LOL, conveys the same message in half the time as "Wow, that was really funny!", then it's a progress in the language. :]

[Rantz]

Oh fine then.

OMGLAT,TEOML! CYUAOT?

[Oh my god look at this, the evolution of modern language! Can you understand any of this?]

I feel so evolved now.

They said the same thing when people started saying "okay" to each other.

[Madame Adequate]

Oh fine then.

OMGLAT,TEOML! CYUAOT?

[Oh my god look at this, the evolution of modern language! Can you understand any of this?]

I feel so evolved now.

No, but if you used it for awhile and other people started picking up on it, yes I would.

Just like every other word ever!