# "I am not a..."=intelligent. IANA = stupid. So stop using it, all of you.... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 5, 2006, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-not-a-intelligent-iana-stupid-so-stop-using-it-all-of-you/343121 "2006-02-05T18:35:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-not-a-intelligent-iana-stupid-so-stop-using-it-all-of-you/343121/21 "2006-02-05T21:50:33Z")
My wife brought home a coupla neato visors with her employer’s logo embroidered on them. A week later, they fired her unjustly. So, while watching TV, she pulled out the logo, thread by thread. She got distracted at the last minute, so now, where it used to say Indianapolis, it says “IANAP.” She hasn’t decided what that might mean; Podiatrist, maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-not-a-intelligent-iana-stupid-so-stop-using-it-all-of-you/343121/22 "2006-02-05T22:41:18Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > UR Not a Spelling Expert Either. > > Unless you wanted to tell us that you are no authority on actors who play psychiatrists in sitcoms. LOL! Kelsey has been the subject of many a university course, of course. (BTW: PTB = “Powers that be”) AFK, BRB PDQ (TTFN) ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-not-a-intelligent-iana-stupid-so-stop-using-it-all-of-you/343121/23 "2006-02-05T22:56:42Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > “What he was doing in my pajamas, I have no idea.” > “Laugh out loud!” > > Uh, okay. It will, in that case, horrify you to hear that I know more than one person who actually enunciates the word “lol” in spoken conversation, instead of actually laughing out loud. “And these actually were talking goldfish!” “Lol!” ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-not-a-intelligent-iana-stupid-so-stop-using-it-all-of-you/343121/24 "2006-02-05T23:20:51Z")
> [@Dead Badger](#): > > It will, in that case, horrify you to hear that I know more than one person who actually enunciates the word “lol” in spoken conversation, instead of actually laughing out loud. Do these people say “el-oh-el” or “loll”? (and do I really want to know?) ---
**Author:** ![zagloba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/977dab/32.png) [@zagloba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zagloba)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-not-a-intelligent-iana-stupid-so-stop-using-it-all-of-you/343121/25 "2006-02-06T02:44:05Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > You can actually read and understand other peoples’ comments that way. Looks to me like you understand “IANA” just fine. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-not-a-intelligent-iana-stupid-so-stop-using-it-all-of-you/343121/26 "2006-02-06T03:11:22Z")
The one that gets me is ISO. I just never remember what it stands for. ---
**Author:** ![Taran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Taran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taran)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-not-a-intelligent-iana-stupid-so-stop-using-it-all-of-you/343121/27 "2006-02-06T03:18:21Z")
International Standards Organization **twickster** : The (mercifully few) times I’ve heard it spoken aloud, “LOL” is always spelled out: “ell oh ell”, perhaps because “loll” is a real word. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-not-a-intelligent-iana-stupid-so-stop-using-it-all-of-you/343121/28 "2006-02-06T03:24:23Z")
> [@Taran](#): > > International Standards Organization No, I could actually remember that. I’m talking about when it’s used for “in search of”. Like “ISO a ball of yarn”. I think it’s old-school internet style. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-not-a-intelligent-iana-stupid-so-stop-using-it-all-of-you/343121/29 "2006-02-06T04:41:57Z")
I’ve used LOL (loll), ROFL (roffle), IANA (eye-ana), pwn (pone) j00 (jew) in real life conversations before. Mostly ironically… mostly… ---
**Author:** ![cabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@cabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cabdude)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-not-a-intelligent-iana-stupid-so-stop-using-it-all-of-you/343121/30 "2006-02-06T04:44:39Z")
Lighten up, Francis. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-not-a-intelligent-iana-stupid-so-stop-using-it-all-of-you/343121/31 "2006-02-06T05:34:48Z")
> [@Good Morning Vietnam](#): > > Excuse me, sir. Seeing as how > the VP is such a VIP, shouldn’t we keep the PC on the QT, 'cause if it leaks to the VC, he could end up an MIA, and then we’d all be put on KP. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Whifton\_Polekitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/97f17d/32.png) [@Whifton\_Polekitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whifton_Polekitty)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-not-a-intelligent-iana-stupid-so-stop-using-it-all-of-you/343121/32 "2006-02-06T10:21:37Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > I’ve used LOL (loll), ROFL (roffle), IANA (eye-ana), pwn (pone) j00 (jew) in real life conversations before. Mostly ironically… mostly… Similar, I frequently use “LOL”, “PWN/PWNED”, and “J00”, as well as “W00T”, “BRB”, “teh”, as well as occasionally throwing the “…xx0r” suffix in for good measure… Always ironically, really. Going out to the store? “kk, I brb, gotta get teh w00t beerage at teh storexxor” Good news? “W00t! I is teh leet!” Perfectly seared the steaks? Point at the steaks and “LOL! j00 are teh suxxors! PWNED!!!” Dear god, I’ve just revealed myself as having absolutely no life, haven’t I? What’s even worse is I play exactly one game online (Freelancer) and have in fact had sex more times than I’ve used IRC. Language is obviously viral in nature. ---
**Author:** ![manx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@manx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manx)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-not-a-intelligent-iana-stupid-so-stop-using-it-all-of-you/343121/33 "2006-02-06T11:02:15Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > Usually, though, I parse it as the sort of vocalization made by someone that, while of a cheerful disposition, is profoundly retarded. > > LOL! > _drools_ Heh, me too! Some Boo Radley/Sloth figure. Initially frightening, but basically harmless. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-not-a-intelligent-iana-stupid-so-stop-using-it-all-of-you/343121/34 "2006-02-06T11:32:47Z")
I’m confused; you clearly know exactly what it means when someone types IANA~, so your objection can’t be something about comprehension. So what _is_ the problem, exactly? Do you just dislike abbreviations generally, or only recent ones? Is ‘BTW’ an acceptable way of adding a ‘PS’? Is ‘PS’ even acceptable? Those damned 17th-century leet-speakers! ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-not-a-intelligent-iana-stupid-so-stop-using-it-all-of-you/343121/35 "2006-02-06T12:57:17Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > I’ve used LOL (loll), ROFL (roffle), IANA (eye-ana), pwn (pone) j00 (jew) in real life conversations before. Mostly ironically… mostly… I know a couple of folks who work tech support jobs on campus, and one of their running gags is to jump up, both fists exultantly up in the air, exclaiming “I AM LEET HAXOR!” whenever they fix a very easy to fix problem. That said, I, and at least one of my friends has at least once spurted out “LOL!” (lawl!) in a conversation, though I want to say we were being goofy at the time. And when I was the Information Systems Officer in my JROTC cadet group in high school, I liked to use “TPTB” to refer collectively to the Cadet Staff whenever I was tasked with issuing a memo with whatever decision they wanted to announce to the cadet group. I only ever had one person, the Cadet XO, ask me what “TPTB” meant, and after that nobody had a problem with me using it in memos. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-not-a-intelligent-iana-stupid-so-stop-using-it-all-of-you/343121/36 "2006-02-06T12:59:14Z")
> [@SmackFu](#): > > No, I could actually remember that. I’m talking about when it’s used for “in search of”. Like “ISO a ball of yarn”. I think it’s old-school internet style. Predates the internet, actually – it’s from print personal ads of yore. SWF ISO SWM, etc. ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-not-a-intelligent-iana-stupid-so-stop-using-it-all-of-you/343121/37 "2006-02-06T13:00:03Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Some abbreviations are necessary on the internet. You can’t always tell sarcasm from serious comments, so a smiley or LOL helps fight ignorance. I hear this a lot, but I don’t buy it. If you’re not getting your point across, either you have communicated poorly or your recipient has got you wrong. Possibly both. Get better at writing, don’t resort to phony slang. I dislike all Internet acronyms. IANA and its relatives only mislead me, I don’t find them to be fluent in the way I read. Actually, new variations seem to pop up by the hour and I find it annoying to decypher them. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-not-a-intelligent-iana-stupid-so-stop-using-it-all-of-you/343121/38 "2006-02-06T13:01:35Z")
Oh, and to the OP, = means “Equals”, == means “Is the same as”. Thus, you MEANT to type: “IANA == stupid” IANA Grammar Nazi though, so YMMV. AFK, BBL, Cell me. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-not-a-intelligent-iana-stupid-so-stop-using-it-all-of-you/343121/39 "2006-02-06T14:38:31Z")
The [nternet Assigned Numbers Authority](http://www.iana.org/) might have something to say about that. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-not-a-intelligent-iana-stupid-so-stop-using-it-all-of-you/343121/40 "2006-02-06T14:40:36Z")
Or _ **I** _nternet, even. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-not-a-intelligent-iana-stupid-so-stop-using-it-all-of-you/343121.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-not-a-intelligent-iana-stupid-so-stop-using-it-all-of-you/343121.md?page=3)