In the item descriptions some people include the word “l@@K” (spelt in that way.) I was wondering if this is like the “wARez RuLEz” phrase that everyone selling copied games over the internet seemed to use a while ago, just a phrase someone started and everyone uses. If so where did it come from? Any significance to the “@@”?
I think it’s just because the @@'s look like a pair of eyes. I’ve seen plenty of LOOK! signs in stores with eyes painted in the Os. I don’t think it’s anything more mysterious than that.
I’ve seen that “L@@K” in item titles. It’s used because it stands out among other titles. If L@@K was the norm, then I’m sure people would be using LOOK.
I’ve always interpreted @@ as “whatever you do -don’t!”
I spares me from clicking on particularly annoying auctions.
I agree with the previous “eyes” suggestion in this case, but for other words there can be another reason. A lot of people selling promotional CDs (which are not strictly speaking supposed to be sold!) will use “PR0M0” (with zeros) or “PR@M@”, to try to avoid the searches used by record companies to stop the auctions.
I hadn’t realised that eBay do this - they have “partnership agreements” with record companies that cancel auctions for things like this. I had a nasty email from them when I tried to sell a pre-release copy of a concert DVD…