Since when did "LOL" become 'offensive?

Ack I do this, lol. I can't help it, lol. But I AM laughing, I'm a happy sort of person, and I suppose I use lol as...punctuation, eek....

I have tried to break myself of the habit. I find it perfectly possible to write long and sensible sentences out of SL without the use of LOL, but once I get in world and start to talk to anyone, the lols just keep on coming. I suppose the real life equivalent for me is that even if I am very depressed, worried about money etc, I just can't maintain a morose demeanour for very long. It was a huge handicap many moons ago when at school. I could be feeling terrible, really ill, be coming down with birdflu or similar, and yet I found it absolutely impossible not to be cheerful. Please can I go home, I feel awful (giggles). No really, I do (giggles). It's a disease in itself...lol.

The other habit which I find infuriating in myself as a trained writer, is the use of ellipses all the bloody time.... I can't help it...I can't...I really can't. The fact that I am aware of these linguistic tics in-world doesn't make it any easier to break them, strangely.

On the other hand, I use sentences, punctuation and spelling appropriately - I must get some brownie points for that!

I have to say that I hate it when people say *smile*. It's really creepy. If done repeatedly it has a Hannibal Lectorish quality that makes me want to flee in the opposite direction. Maybe the world is divided into lolers and *smilers* and they can't understand each other's way of interacting?

while in confession mode...I overuse ack, , ha ha, !!!. On the other hand, I can maintain an interesting conversation without the use of any of these, and will make an effort if someone indicates that lol every two minutes makes them think I am hysterical or crazy.
Cali

I gotta confess, sometimes I type LOL cos I'm not really that interested in a conversation... it's kind of a convenient non-statement because it's so overused. In RL I often find myself almost saying LOL when I'm in a club for the same reason, sometimes I don't know how else to reply to the inane.
However when I ROFL, then usually I really am.

For me it's *grins* that give me cold chills. It makes me think of lips drawn back before teeth bite. I LOL too, and I think the amount of lolardisation varies depending upon how happy I feel. I laugh a lot; it isn't usually used without SOME meaning, but I would reckon I punctuate with it, too.

There are more important things to worry about.

*LOL*


/Tina

going back to the OP point, there are many words inSL which ppl just casually throw out there without thinking.

For example 'WTF, Sick, Wrong' can be construed in one way as "hey that's cool!" or the complete opposite (you get the idea) but the point is not exactly that one should already assume a definition and go by that. (not everyone sit hours on end reading urbandicitonary.com terms).

So besides usage of words or tems sparlingly, some serious thought should be put forward before putting ones foot in front of mouth...errr, um hand

Well, some of us aim for that Hannibal Lector quality.

I have been known to give a *long hard stare*.

"LOL" has a double meaning where I come from. One is the standard for "laughing out loud" another meaning as a slang, a short cut of the word: "Ulol" which translates more or less as "stupid retard" or more than the average stupid (sometimes translated as stupid crazy). Sometimes so that we don't get ARed in pRO or any of the MMOGs in my country we often resort to saying "LOL" to actually make fun of other players or as a taunt. For the most part, we often say "lolz" instead of "LOL" to not offend others. (Plus it makes it unique to us)

Also certain western slangs may have a different connotation from other countries. The word 'sick' or 'wicked' will just probably draw confusion from most of us. But if a westerner calls a girl "Lola" you can bet that girl is going to be insulted. ^^;

If they found laughter offensive - I would laugh at them.

At that point it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

There are bigger fish to fry that that - I wouldn't lose sleep over it.. Hell I don't care that when people are offended when I call inanimate objects 'cunts' in real life - if they are 'offended' by the odd lolocaust I'll give them something to be offended by.

When it's not LOL-worthy, I use 'heh'.
When I'm too busy to actually type something meaningful, I use 'Hmmm'.
I also, in boring conversations that I'm not really a part of, I bash out some shell commands like I'm busy at some unix hacking and forgot to refocus, then say 'whoops' and go back to surfing/whatever.

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hmm, my "lol" triggers a gesture sound of me actually laughing. Usually I am actually laughing, but often I use it when the conversation has reached an awkward moment, so it's nervous/uncomfortable laughter, which happens in real life too. I also use "haha" "heh" "/me smiles" "lmao" "rofl" and "roflmao" for different degrees of amusement.

Ah HA!!! I FOUND IT!

Log Off Loser!!

Like Yumi said, MadamG, context is key. I think we're going to need a transcript of your conversation to judge whether your acquaintance's concerns were warranted. I offer some examples:

"It's okay hun, I'm sure even Colin Farrell and Orlando Bloom stuggle with impotence at times. LOL."

"You've done some great work in the past year, and we've decided to give you a promotion, a raise, and a company car. LOL."

"Ma'am, things were getting pretty dire in the operating room, but it looks like your husband's going to be okay. LOL."

"Welcome to Second Life, where you can finally indulge your dearest fantasies and interests, without fear of derision, in the company of other open-minded adults. LOL."

What DID you say to this guy, MadamG?

Or their name is Ben Sparks <<not anyone from SL but person in RL on a radio show

*saw the fnord, gets eaten*

Now "long, hard stare" is not creepy, just sexeh.

hmm... the context might have something to do with someone's usual behavior. There is a person who uses LOL in each sentence. The habit of her was not anxious while talking with her. On the contrary, it made me nervous unless she said LOL in several sentences. I really like to hear her saying LOL. Don't ask me who she is. I can't pronounce her name.

<WTFOMGROFLMFAOLOL>

But seriusly i do go "hehe" a lot. and i have this gesture i made that makes me do a EverQuest Skeleton laugh.

When i first got the internet i saw someone use that LOL and i didnt know what it meant. There is a town near me in florida called Land O' Lakes. And thats what i thought it meant. My old high school LOLHS! >.>

LOL put him on "mute" you then get the last laugh

Just keep up your endless consumerism and you'll be fine.

It's "Roflcopter" and "Lollerskates". LOL

A couple of my friends have gotten to the habit of using LAWLZ instead. Does that help? Maybe we should officially adopt LAWLZ in replacement of LOL.