I have been using computers and the Internet for both work and play since around the early 1990’s. I remember using a clunky AT&T 8088 computer for some of my first computing adventures. These dinosaurs came complete with a large keyboard and a green monochrome monitor. At the time, we didn’t do very much with this machine except play a few games. I can still remember the inconveniences of flipping the five and a quarter inch floppy disks over when the program reached a point of needing more data. I did not really start getting involved with the Internet until a few years later. It’s mind boggling to think of the advances that have been made over the past years in computing.

The Internet has been developing for years, and as such, so has our use of language on the net. I’ve been involved in a couple of chat rooms over the course of my life, and use an instant messaging program daily as part of my work and play. I happen to believe that a new society or cultural change has emerged from the various different chat communities around the world. The use of acronyms (a word formed from the initial letters of a series of words) has certainly become popular. Do you know what “ROFL” means? How about “AAAAA”? These types of acronyms are largely used each day among old and young chatters alike. Worried about carpal tunnel syndrome from hitting so many keys on your keyboard? Just learn how to use the vast amount of acronyms out there. You never know – maybe someone will be able to understand what you’re trying to say.

A list of common acronyms used include the following:

• LOL (Laughing out loud)
• ROFL (Rolling on floor laughing)
• LMSO (Laughing my socks off)
• BRB (Be right back)
• TTYL (Talk to you later)
• J/K (Just kidding)
• AFK (Away from keyboard)