Geekfoolery

Commentary on emerging trends, especially cool or absurd innovations across a broad range of geekiness. ...with your Host, Mr. Alex.

not LOL, just BNS

Posted Jan 8th, 2007

Check this out: According to recent survey of instant message traffic, 38% of all messages sent via instant message consist entirely of the abbreviation “LOL.”

Of course, we all know that LOL stands for “laughing out loud.” Instant messengers can indicate more boisterous responses with ROFL and ROFLMAO. And given how often these acronyms are used, it would seem that instant messaging with friends is a non-stop laugh riot. I imagine people sitting at their computers, convulsed in hilarity, cheeks sore, tears streaming down their faces, waiting for the next “ur such a t001″ to escalate the level of amusement to the point where the unchecked howls of glee actually hinder motor coordination to the point where one actually falls out of one’s chair.

I imagine this, of course, but never see it. A walk around the office, glancing over peoples’ shoulders and I see multiple chat windows on every screen, but no laughter, no squeals, no giggles. I can only conclude that the widespread use of LOL in instant message dialogue is nothing more than an elaborate sham.

In order to restore confidence and credibility to instant message communication, and to the Internet in general, I am proposing a new acronym to use in place of LOL to indicate both amusement and a plausible level of physical response. This new acronym is “BNS” or “brief nasal snort.” Please use BNS instead of LOL, unless you actually laugh out loud. Call out your instant message buddies when they give you an LOL and find out if they are in fact laughing out loud or not; if they are not, please educate them on the new nomenclature.

Thank you.


Permalink | Trackback | del.icio.us Digg Reddit

 

 

 



Comments:

  1. Pingback by stevengharms.com » Please, let us retire LOL on January 16, 2007 6:37 pm

    […] At Geekfoolery.com the authors have noted that “LOL” as an acronym has undermined effective IM communication of amusement. […]

  2. Comment by colin on February 2, 2007 10:54 am

    ‘nasal snort’ is a tautology, unless you snort with some other orifice on other occasions. Unfortunately, that leaves BS, which might be misinterpreted.

  3. Comment by Mr. Alex on February 2, 2007 1:35 pm

    I am penitently apologetic for the needless, redundant inclusion of the rhinoid term “nasal” in my shortened abbreviation.

  4. Comment by Antibush on February 15, 2007 8:55 am

    Watch subject. Bush and the Republicans were not protecting us on 9-11, and we aren’t a lot safer now. We may be more afraid due to george bush, but are we safer? Being fearful does not necessarily make one safer. Fear can cause people to hide and cower. What do you think? What is he doing to us, and what is he doing to the world?
    Are we safer today than we were before?
    The more people that the government puts in jails, the safer we are told to think we are. The real terrorists are wherever they are, but they aren’t living in a country with bars on the windows. We are.

  5. Comment by Storm on February 17, 2007 12:46 pm

    Read this with a BNS…quite funny. *BNS*

  6. Comment by Elaine Champion on February 18, 2007 7:33 pm

    I always put at the end of my emails LOL but I mean it as Lots of Love, and that is what i thought LOL meant
    Regards Elaine

  7. Pingback by BNS the new LOL at CruftBucket on February 20, 2007 8:28 pm

    […] BNS the new LOL Posted by Mick Rating   Loading … In order to restore confidence and credibility to instant message communication, and to the Internet in general, I am proposing a new acronym to use in place of LOL to indicate both amusement and a plausible level of physical response. This new acronym is “BNS” or “brief nasal snort.” Please use BNS instead of LOL, unless you actually laugh out loud. Call out your instant message buddies when they give you an LOL and find out if they are in fact laughing out loud or not; if they are not, please educate them on the new nomenclature.Read more at Geekfoolery » Bookmark to: Published February 21st, 2007 in Posts […]

  8. Comment by um on February 22, 2007 12:44 am

    are you implying drug insufflation….

    neat

  9. Trackback by the powerpuff girl episode on March 25, 2007 7:22 am

    the powerpuff girl episode…

    Relevant information about the powerpuff girl episode….

  10. Trackback by ash kay mary on May 31, 2007 2:53 pm

    ash kay mary…

    ka-ka-sh-ka 3757645 ash kay mary moves…

  11. Comment by Zaid Bethanie on September 19, 2007 4:07 pm

    your way to beautiful gir. Zaid Bethanie.

  12. Comment by Mica Kingsley on October 21, 2007 4:23 pm

    they’ll have you suicidal suicida. Mica Kingsley.

  13. Comment by DoocoryBync on January 25, 2008 7:56 pm

    I am sorry may be the wrong place for a post! But have you heard that Heath Ledger recently died in NY!
    So young and Such a great Actor! Rest in Peace!!!
    Angel2008
    it’s too sad :(

Comments RSS

Leave a comment




Comments: