# Internet Slang Terms in Real Life **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 20, 2001, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-slang-terms-in-real-life/65982 "2001-05-20T06:54:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-slang-terms-in-real-life/65982/1 "2001-05-20T06:54:52Z")
Have you ever been around a bunch of people and found yourself inadvertently uttering net terms? The other night I was at the neighborhood bar, and a lady told a funny joke. Everybody cracked up, and of course like an idiot, I actually said LOL. They looked at me like I was nuts. “What the hell does “ell oh ell” mean?” Tilt. Another time, my buddy mentioned a friend he talks to on the phone a lot, but has never met. I said, “Well, you need to meet her IRL (I are ell) dude.” Blank stare… I actually didn’t even snap until I said these things. Time to turn this box off for a while… ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-slang-terms-in-real-life/65982/2 "2001-05-20T06:58:12Z")
I have actually **said** the word “sigh” instead of just sighing. Honest. jayjay ---
**Author:** ![Mercutio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Mercutio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mercutio)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-slang-terms-in-real-life/65982/3 "2001-05-20T06:58:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Klaatu \* > **Time to turn this box off for a while…** Yes… you do that. (We really need a “blank stare” smilie) ---
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-slang-terms-in-real-life/65982/4 "2001-05-20T07:15:45Z")
I have found myself saying the letters BTW instead of “by the way” quite often. I even find myself using them in writings I do. It’s sad. ---
**Author:** ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-slang-terms-in-real-life/65982/5 "2001-05-20T07:22:20Z")
I’ve found myself saying “lol,” but as a word. Also, “LART her” for a particularly nasty coworker. And I _plonk_ idiot drivers instead of using my horn, mentally sending them to my killfile. Yes, I’ve spent a bit of time in Usenet. ---
**Author:** ![Nicklz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8baadc/32.png) [@Nicklz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nicklz)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-slang-terms-in-real-life/65982/6 "2001-05-20T07:29:38Z")
Honestly, I mean no offense to any of you but you guys might want to go and sit in front of the TV for awile instead of the computer. Now I have one high school chick I hang out with who will say LOL, but it’s on purpose. Apparently it along with other internet slang words are now common hip dialogue, I guess I’m not cool then. ---
**Author:** ![Jus\_lookin\_Round](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@Jus\_lookin\_Round](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jus_lookin_Round)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-slang-terms-in-real-life/65982/7 "2001-05-20T07:39:07Z")
I have heard and used other 'puter slang, but never chat slang. Heard one gentleman refer to another as having a rom drive running at half speed, and have refered to some co-workers as having about three lines of code short of a full OS! LOL 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47774/32.png) [@Ell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ell)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-slang-terms-in-real-life/65982/8 "2001-05-20T07:52:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Klaatu \* > **(I are ell)** I are Ell too. Continue ---
**Author:** ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-slang-terms-in-real-life/65982/9 "2001-05-20T07:55:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nicklz \* > …you guys might want to go and sit in front of the TV for awile instead of the computer… But, but, but…the TV **is** on. And the magazine **is** open. I’m just a multimedia, multitasking babe. Now shsssh. Another Juiceman commercial is coming on. \<\<_brachy turns another page of her Mad magazine_\>\> ---
**Author:** ![Nimue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d26b3c/32.png) [@Nimue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nimue)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-slang-terms-in-real-life/65982/10 "2001-05-20T10:40:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jayjay \* > **I have actually said the word “sigh” instead of just sighing. Honest.** Oh my gosh, I do that sometimes. It somehow seems more effective to actually say “sigh” rather than sighing. ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-slang-terms-in-real-life/65982/11 "2001-05-20T14:06:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nimue \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by jayjay \* > > **I have actually said the word “sigh” instead of just sighing. Honest.** > > Oh my gosh, I do that sometimes. It somehow seems more effective to actually say “sigh” rather than sighing. \*\* I do this all the time. 🙂 It works very well if you say “sigh” _while_ sighing. The mind boggles. ---
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-slang-terms-in-real-life/65982/12 "2001-05-20T16:27:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kayeby \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by jayjay \* > > **I have actually said the word “sigh” instead of just sighing. Honest.** > > I do this all the time. 🙂 It works very well if you say “sigh” _while_ sighing. The mind boggles. \*\* Count another one who does this. It does work better if you really sigh while saying it. In fact if it’s a big sigh, I’ll change it to “deep sigh”. Though in my defense, I’ve been doing this for longer than I’ve had my computer. On second thought, I’m not sure that’s a good defense. 😉 My mother did it, so I picked it up from her. We used to have a running joke: when she did the “deep sigh”, I’d do a little sigh and say “shallow sigh”. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2001, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-slang-terms-in-real-life/65982/13 "2001-05-21T08:21:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ell \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Klaatu \* > > **(I are ell)** > > I are Ell too. > > Continue \*\* I’m not entirely sure why, but Ell’s above post just made me burst out laughing hysterically. As to the OP, I sometimes say “sigh” when sighing and I’ve had to catch myself a couple of times before saying “laughing out loud” while laughing out loud. ---
**Author:** ![Tazma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tazma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tazma)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2001, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-slang-terms-in-real-life/65982/14 "2001-05-21T08:27:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ell \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Klaatu \* > > **(I are ell)** > > I are Ell too. > > Continue \*\* **Ell** your too are belong to I? [sub]definitely time to walk away from the box…_sigh_…[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2001, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-slang-terms-in-real-life/65982/15 "2001-05-21T13:40:01Z")
I find that whenever I want to indicate that I find something very funny, I say that I’m ROFLing, and also I usually say BRB when I intend to return shortly. ---
**Author:** ![Simetra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Simetra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simetra)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2001, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-slang-terms-in-real-life/65982/16 "2001-05-21T13:49:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ell \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Klaatu \* > > **(I are ell)** > > I are Ell too. > > Continue \*\* I are so much better than Weasel!! Okay… I’m sorry. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Simetra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Simetra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simetra)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2001, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-slang-terms-in-real-life/65982/17 "2001-05-21T13:56:29Z")
Well, I wasn’t exactly finished… oh well. My friend Randy is deaf. I’m not very good at signing, but I can get by. About a year ago we were sitting around “talking” and he signed something to me that I found completely unintelligible. I actually signed to him, “W, T, F?”… He looked at me like I’d lost my mind. Then I had to explain it… jeez, that was hard. ---
**Author:** ![TheNerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@TheNerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheNerd)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2001, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-slang-terms-in-real-life/65982/18 "2001-05-21T14:17:25Z")
No, I must be odd. When I read the abbreviations online like BRB, WTF, LOL, I read them as what they’re supposed to stand for. So “BRB” isn’t “bee-are-bee”, but “be right back”. Even if the phrases slip into real life, it wouldn’t be obvious. I’ve been doing the “sigh” thing since high school. I think I picked it up from some of my brother’s drama friends. I thought **ell** was funny. What I have found myself doing is trying to use computer idioms in real life. Like trying to grep through a book, or wishing I could embed a hyperlink into whatever witty obscure reference I’m trying to make. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2001, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-slang-terms-in-real-life/65982/19 "2001-05-21T19:54:01Z")
I actually say “shrug” quite often, and, occasionally, when with people that “know”, I find myself saying…_double yoo tee eff_.