# Abbreviations used in Internet chatting and message boards **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 15, 2001, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-used-in-internet-chatting-and-message-boards/93480 "2001-11-15T06:17:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BillyGnos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71c47a/32.png) [@BillyGnos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BillyGnos)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-used-in-internet-chatting-and-message-boards/93480/1 "2001-11-15T06:17:34Z")
I’ve seen many of these, but I haven’t kept any sort of record so I don’t have many examples. Just a few… FWIW = for what it’s worth the ever popular LOL (which I hate) = laughing out loud ``` oh come on, are you REALLY laughing out loud? ``` Lets get a good collection of these abbreviations going here. A helpful resource for those of us who aren’t on top of things! ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Meister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Der\_Meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Meister)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-used-in-internet-chatting-and-message-boards/93480/2 "2001-11-15T06:24:57Z")
rofl dftt wtf omg lmao asl??? I feel dirty. ---
**Author:** ![BillyGnos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71c47a/32.png) [@BillyGnos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BillyGnos)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-used-in-internet-chatting-and-message-boards/93480/3 "2001-11-15T06:34:22Z")
Thanks, but how about including what the abbreviations stand for?? I know all of those except for DFTT. ASL = age/sex/location - a shorthand way learn about a stranger in a chat room ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Meister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Der\_Meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Meister)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-used-in-internet-chatting-and-message-boards/93480/4 "2001-11-15T06:42:21Z")
DFTT is don’t feed the trolls. ---
**Author:** ![whatmove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecc23a/32.png) [@whatmove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatmove)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-used-in-internet-chatting-and-message-boards/93480/5 "2001-11-15T06:44:23Z")
rlol ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-used-in-internet-chatting-and-message-boards/93480/6 "2001-11-15T06:55:01Z")
Actually, it’s DNFTT, but the idea is the same. One that’s used a lot on the SDMB is IANAL - I am not a lawyer (but…). ---
**Author:** ![BillyGnos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71c47a/32.png) [@BillyGnos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BillyGnos)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-used-in-internet-chatting-and-message-boards/93480/7 "2001-11-15T07:00:13Z")
RLOL? ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-used-in-internet-chatting-and-message-boards/93480/8 "2001-11-15T07:03:48Z")
A couple big ones used on the boards: AFAIK IIRC And then there’s, TTYL (which I hate more than any other) BTW ---
**Author:** ![BillyGnos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71c47a/32.png) [@BillyGnos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BillyGnos)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-used-in-internet-chatting-and-message-boards/93480/9 "2001-11-15T07:06:08Z")
All these contributions won’t help if the words they stand for are not revealed! Damn, I am way behind the times. AFAIK?? IIRC?? ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-used-in-internet-chatting-and-message-boards/93480/10 "2001-11-15T07:07:21Z")
BBIAB: Be Back in a Bit BRB: Be Right Back BBS: Be Back Soon (or Bulletin Board Systen) BBL: Be Back Later FTR: For The Fecord YMMV: Your Mileage May Varry IANAX: I Am Not An IDGARA: I Don’t Give A Rat’s Ass DIIK: Damned If I Know (J)SYK: (Just) So You Know ---
**Author:** ![Daowajan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Daowajan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daowajan)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-used-in-internet-chatting-and-message-boards/93480/11 "2001-11-15T07:09:52Z")
OTOH? ---
**Author:** ![Rye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e56c9b/32.png) [@Rye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rye)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-used-in-internet-chatting-and-message-boards/93480/12 "2001-11-15T07:14:33Z")
WTF (what the fuck) does AFAIK and IIRC mean??? ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-used-in-internet-chatting-and-message-boards/93480/13 "2001-11-15T07:21:09Z")
As Far As I Know, If I Recall Correctly. On The Other Hand, . . . ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-used-in-internet-chatting-and-message-boards/93480/14 "2001-11-15T10:16:52Z")
AAAKKK!!! This thread is like sticking searing hot pokers into my eyeballs!!! I generally only use these lazy-man’s acronyms if I’m in a rush. LOL only so often. I’ve seen my friends type it to someone on instant messenger while keeping a completely streight face, so it makes me uncomfortable. I hate how people become so detached to emotion when dealing with computers. Except for me … usually I’m screaming and cursing and being held down by my wife so I don’t throw the damn thing out the window. ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Shadow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@Dragon\_Shadow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Shadow)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-used-in-internet-chatting-and-message-boards/93480/15 "2001-11-15T10:32:34Z")
ohh! i use this stuff all the time 😉 2U2 - To You, Too ASAP - As Soon As Possible BAK - Back At Keyboard BBL - Be Back Later BRB - Be Right Back BTW - By the way C4N - Ciao For Now CU - See You CUL(8R) - See You Later CYA - See Ya EOD - End Of Discussion EZ - Easy F2F - Face To Face FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions GAL - Get A Life GTG (or G2G)- Got To Go HAND - Have A Nice Day IC - I See IMO - In My Opinion IOW - In Other Words JIC - Just In Case J/K - Just kidding KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid L8R - Later LOL - Laugh Out Loud OIC - Oh I See PLS (or PLZ) - Please RE: HI - Hello Again (re-Hi!) ROFL - Rolling On Floor Laughing THX - Thanks TLK 2 UL8R - Talk to you later TTFN - Ta-Ta For Now TTYL(8R) - Talk To You Later w/b - Welcome Back w/o - Without WTG - Way To Go WU? - What’s Up? ---
**Author:** ![Cougarfang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@Cougarfang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cougarfang)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abbreviations-used-in-internet-chatting-and-message-boards/93480/16 "2001-11-15T10:43:43Z")
yeah, and she uses 'em all in the same AIM message, too… YOWP! JUST KIDDING!!! _dodges_ [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=2528) is a helpful place to go…