# Chat Talk Rules...lingo...ettiquete **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 15, 2000, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chat-talk-rules-lingo-ettiquete/584 "2000-01-15T07:19:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2000, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chat-talk-rules-lingo-ettiquete/584/1 "2000-01-15T07:19:00Z")
I still don’t know what _sheesh_ means exactly altho it is used by many members. Why does screaming bother so many people when the words are just typed as capitals? Where can I and others like me learn all about the rules for discussing in forums etc? Only serious answers are welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Sealemon88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Sealemon88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sealemon88)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2000, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chat-talk-rules-lingo-ettiquete/584/2 "2000-01-15T13:30:00Z")
The general agreement is that since this is a message board, and not a chat room, then a poster should at least _make the effort_ to use correct grammer and spelling. Most of the regulars are pretty leniant with this, as long as the effort has been made. God knows my spelling sucks! The diffent forums have little discriptions under their names in the message board home page. These descriptions give a pretty good summary of what kind of tone and topics are expected in each particular forum. Check out the FAQ. This answers many basic questions for you. Some general pet peeves that will probably get you flamed or ignored: 1. Don’t type in all caps. This is seen as “cybershouting”. Sorry, that’s the way it is. 2. Don’t use ellipses(sp) in place of periods. (I’m talkng about “…” every three words.) 3. Don’t just type a big block of text. Nothing will get your post ignored faster than a half page of writing with no breaks to deliniate paragraphs. Even if you don’t really know where you should place a paragraph break, just put a space every six lines or so. ChefScott has a great tag line he uses: “Read twice, submit once”. Until this board gets a spell checker and an edit button, this is the best thing you can do. * * * You say “cheesy” like that’s a **BAD** thing. ---
**Author:** ![brooklyn44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/51bf81/32.png) [@brooklyn44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brooklyn44)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2000, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chat-talk-rules-lingo-ettiquete/584/3 "2000-01-15T19:08:00Z")
I’ve been lurking for while, trying to get acquainted with this new culture. What does IIRC mean? Renee ---
**Author:** ![Jois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea666f/32.png) [@Jois](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jois)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2000, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chat-talk-rules-lingo-ettiquete/584/4 "2000-01-15T19:16:00Z")
All caps is hard to read, too. I usually skip it, not only because it is shouting but it takes that extra effort to read and who wants to do that if you’re shouting? * * * Oh, I’m gonna keep using these #%@&\* codes 'til I get 'em right. ---
**Author:** ![brooklyn44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/51bf81/32.png) [@brooklyn44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brooklyn44)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2000, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chat-talk-rules-lingo-ettiquete/584/5 "2000-01-15T20:27:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by brooklyn44: > **I’ve been lurking for while, trying to get acquainted with this new culture. What does IIRC mean? > Renee** thanks for responding to me. i was beginning to feel invisible. renee ---
**Author:** ![Thirsty4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Thirsty4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thirsty4)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2000, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chat-talk-rules-lingo-ettiquete/584/6 "2000-01-15T20:40:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by **brooklyn44** : > I’ve been lurking for while, trying to get acquainted with this new culture. What does IIRC mean? > Renee IIRC stands for If I recall correctly. Another shorthand you’ll say regulary is WAG for wild ass guess. * * * “You CAN’T be evil. 'Cos no matter how many ‘bad’ things you do on purpose, you MUST be doing it because you think it’s the right thing to do.” ---
**Author:** ![Jois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea666f/32.png) [@Jois](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jois)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2000, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chat-talk-rules-lingo-ettiquete/584/7 "2000-01-16T03:07:00Z")
\I\ did not ignore you, Renee, I couldn’t remember what it meant and couldn’t find the page with all the abreviations on it. 8)But I never get these @:@ codes right 😛 either :// if you are patient and good, Louie will come along and give you the address for the abreviations. * * * Oh, I’m gonna keep using these #%@&\* codes 'til I get 'em right. ---
**Author:** ![Jois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea666f/32.png) [@Jois](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jois)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2000, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chat-talk-rules-lingo-ettiquete/584/8 "2000-01-16T03:09:00Z")
See 8) 😕 @: :@ 😃😛 * * * Oh, I’m gonna keep using these #%@&\* codes 'til I get 'em right. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2000, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chat-talk-rules-lingo-ettiquete/584/9 "2000-01-16T03:41:00Z")
“sheeesh” basically means “I can’t believe you posted that.” (It can also mean “I can’t believe I/he/she/it posted that” in context.) It gets a lot of play on this board because of an historical incident (from the AOL/SDMB) in which a several week flame war broke out when a newbie took umbrage at a single, good-natured sheeesh. * * * Tom~ ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2000, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chat-talk-rules-lingo-ettiquete/584/10 "2000-01-16T04:04:00Z")
Acronyms in general use can be found at [urlhttp://www.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000096.html **Acronyms (Abbreviations)** smilies and other horrid critters can be found in the **faq** , which has a link up near the right hand corner of each Forum page. * * * Tom~ ---
**Author:** ![coosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@coosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coosa)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2000, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chat-talk-rules-lingo-ettiquete/584/11 "2000-01-16T05:25:00Z")
Newbies might be interested in reading Louie’s “Fun with HTML: A Tutorial” in the Archives section. It also has the UBB code posted there. Also, when making a reply, scroll down to the bottom of the reply page, where there is a sentence (in red on my computer) that says “\*If HTML and/or UBB Code are enable, this means you can use HTML and/or UBB Code in your message.” Click on the underlined phrase ‘UBB Code’ to go to the site that explains the UBB Code. And, as Tom pointed out, the Acronyms thread in this forum is most helpful. I’m sure there are websites that provide info on proper e-mail/message board etiquette. Being a dummy, I bought a book called ‘Internet for Dummies’ that explains proper net etiquette. Going back several months to the older threads and reading a lot of them helps with learning what is expected in particular on this message board. Helps with understanding some of the obscure references you’ll come across, too! And Opalcat’s Teeming Millions homepage has a link to ‘inside jokes’. * * * It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. - Aristotle ---
**Author:** ![Louie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@Louie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Louie)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2000, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chat-talk-rules-lingo-ettiquete/584/12 "2000-01-16T08:42:00Z")
[QUOTE] Originally posted by Jois: 8)But I never get these @:@ codes right 😛 either :// if you are patient and good, Louie will come along and give you the address for the abreviations. [QUOTE] Christmas was last month and I’m not Santa. 😉 Okay, here’s all the basic abbreviations… 2U2 = To You, Too AAMOF = As A Matter Of Fact AFAIK = As Far As I Know AFAIC = As Far As I’m Concerned AFAICT = As Far As I Can Tell AFK = Away From Keyboard ASAP = As Soon As Possible BAK = Back At Keyboard BBL = Be Back Later BITMT = But In The Meantime BOT = Back On Topic BRB = Be Right Back BTW = By the way C4N = Ciao For Now CRS = Can’t Remember “Stuff” CU = See You CUL(8R) = See You Later CWOT = Complete Waste Of Time CYA = See Ya DITYID = Did I Tell You I’m Distressed? DIY = Do It Yourself EOD = End Of Discussion EZ = Easy F2F = Face To Face FAQ = Frequently Asked Questions FBOW = For Better Or Worse FOAF = Friend Of A Friend FOCL = Falling Off Chair Laughing FWIW = For What It’s Worth FYA = For Your Amusement FYI = For Your Information /ga = Go Ahead GAL = Get A Life GBTW = Get Back To Work GFC = Going For Coffee GFETE = Grinning From Ear To Ear GMTA = Great minds think alike GR&D = Grinning, Running & Ducking GTG = Got To Go GTGTTBR = Got To Go To The Bathroom GTRM = Going To Read Mail HAND = Have A Nice Day HHOK = Ha Ha Only Kidding HTH = Hope This Helps IAC = In Any Case IAE = In Any Event IC = I See IDGI = I Don’t Get It IMCO = In My Considered Opinion IMHO = In my humble opinion IMNSHO = in My Not So Humble Opinion IMO = In My Opinion IMPE = In My Previous/Personal Experience IMVHO = In My Very Humble Opinion IOTTMCO = Intuitively Obvious To The Most Casual Observer IOW = In Other Words IRL = In Real Life ISP = Internet Service Provider IYKWIM = If You Know What I Mean JIC = Just In Case J/K = Just kidding KISS = Keep It Simple Stupid L8TR = Later LD = Later dude LOL = Laughing Out Loud LTNS = Long Time No See MorF = Male or Female, or person who asks that question MTCW = My Two Cents Worth NRN = No Reply Necessary ONNA = Oh No, Not Again! OTOH = On The Other Hand OTTOMH = Off the top of my head OIC = Oh I See OTF = On The Floor OLL = Online Love PCMCIA = People Can’t Memorize Computer Industry Acronyms PLS = Please PU = That Stinks! REHI = Hello Again (re-Hi!) ROFL = Rolling On Floor Laughing ROTF = Rolling On The Floor ROTFL = Rolling On The Floor Laughing RSN = Real Soon Now RTDox = Read The Documentation/Directions RTFM = Read The Frickin’ Manual RUOK = Are You OK? SNAFU = Situation Normal; All Fouled Up SO = Significant Other SOL = Smiling Out Loud (or You’re Out of Luck) TANSTAAFL = There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch TAFN = That’s All For Now TEOTWAWKI - The End Of The World As We Know It THX = Thanks TIA = Thanks In Advance TLK2UL8R = Talk to you later TMK = To My Knowledge TOS = Terms Of Service TPTB = The Powers That Be TSWC = Tell Someone Who Cares TTBOMK = To The Best Of My Knowledge TTFN = Ta-Ta For Now TTYL(8R) = Talk To You Later TWIMC = To Whom It May Concern Txs = Thanks URL = Web Page Address w/b = Welcome Back w/o = Without WRT = With Regard To WTG = Way To Go WU? = What’s Up? WWW = World Wide Web WYSIWYG = What You See Is What You Get Y2K = Year 2000 YGIAGAM = Your Guess Is As Good As Mine YGWYPF = You Get What You Pay For YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary ZZZ = Sleeping ---
**Author:** ![Jois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea666f/32.png) [@Jois](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jois)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2000, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chat-talk-rules-lingo-ettiquete/584/13 "2000-01-16T08:45:00Z")
He’s Santa! He’s Santa! 🆒 * * * Oh, I’m gonna keep using these #%@&\* codes 'til I get 'em right.