Pre-internet
LOL was used for "Lots of Love". Today its an internet slang
for "Laughing out Loud" or "Laugh out Loud". LOL is
the most commonly used in instant messaging or as a chat expression to
illustrate you are laughing during a text conversation or that you found
something funny. With just a few keystrokes, you can quickly convey laughter,
disbelief, and other complex emotions on the Net. Other similiar known
expressions are:
LOL = Laugh Online, Lots of laughs
LAL = Laughing a lot
LAWL = Laughing a whole lot
LOLZ = A plural for LOL
LMAO = Laugh my ass off
PMSL = Pissing myself laughing
ROFL = Rolling on the floor laughing
ROFLMAOASTC = Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off and scaring the
cat
LOLZING = Laughing out loud a number of times
The good
thing is that you can add an "F" anywhere in the above acronyms
if you like the F word. That would show the extreme mirth.
There are other variations, pseudo-pluralisations and puns like lols,
lollers, lolol, looool, lo0o0o0ol, lollerskates, lolercopter, lolercakes,
lolgasm, lollercoaster, lollerfest, lollerpops, lollercaust, lolattack,
lolzattack etc.
Even though its an English acronym, it is widely used in other languages
as-is, except by the French, who would of course never use anything English.
The French write MDR in their chats, which stands for "Mort De Rire"
(Dying of laughter).
The word is also used in everyday speech among chatters, often sarcastically,
saying "lol" to a joke instead of actually laughing at it. Some
may just slip the word in randomly, much like an instant message conversation,
during casual conversation, or when there is nothing else to say. Two
people having coffee are quiet for a while and one of them says, LOL,
out of the blue, imagine...
So one day I was chatting with a new found friend and I was told to stop
LOLZING unnecessarily. That made me rethink my LOLZING strategy and find
a reason behind my so called unnecessary LOLZING. This is what I came
up with...
1. Sometimes I say LOL, when I am not sure of other persons sense of humor.
2. I will laugh again and again and let it be known...
3. Yes I agree I am a bloke and therefore I dont have 'macho' fight club
iconography plastered all over my avatar and signatures to back it up.
4. That is just the next generations version of saying "That's funny"
instead of laughing. I am from the older generation, trying to keep up.
I still laugh and type LOL, both.
5. While technology emerges and some of us are passionate about meeting
new people, I wonder if interpersonal communication is devolving to the
tools of technology regardless of physical presence? Will eye contact,
body language and tactile or sensual experiences such as handshakes, hugs,
tongue pushing the cheek, and/or jabs on shoulders disappear?
6. I actually overheard a teenager in a mall saying frantically LOL, LOL,
LOL during a phone conversation....
7. Here's an education in 'lol'. The word can go both ways... BUT THERE
ARE DIFFERENCES! LOL and LOL seem alike, but writing it backwards changes
the whole meaning. Loud out laughing.
8. Saying "I so friggin lolzed at that" = legitamate lolzage,
whereas a simple standalone "lolz" = so not lolzing.
9. I dont know how Canadian are you, but most Canadians are used to saying
"just joking", "just kidding" after they crack a joke.
Very careful way of being cheeky....
10. Indians just laugh a lot...LOL..
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