A random thought came into my mind earlier today about “LOL”s… (short for “Laugh Out Loud”, a phrase people often use in varies mediums of communication)…
Do people really Laugh Out Loud when they use LOL?
To be honest, they have been occasions where I have not technically LOLed…Forgive me. I often use it figuratively for things that I find funny. In light of this observation, I decided to twitter a suggestion…
Let’s use rLOL for “really Laugh Out Loud” and fLOL for “figuratively Laugh Out Loud”.
I was quite surprised by the number of responses people sent via twitter and facebook about this… It appears it’s more complex than once thought… People took it took a whole new level. Here are sample comments I got:
- “I generally hate to say “laugh out loud” and have now switched to specifying that I’m “laughing audibly” for clarification.
” Samantha Corbin - “fLOL ?? hmm, I think that may just be a #FAIL …rLOL” Marc Payan
- “Nice…What about us silent laughers out there? I usually do more of a shoulder-shake and an exhale that produces a silent or barely audible grunt/wheeze when I read something funny. I could write “my body is sensing humor in your last comment and responding reflexively to it” or I could just put “LOL”. I think I’ll go with the latter and assume that the people who know me will know that I’m not technically laughing.” Aaron Friesen
- In response to Aaron, Samantha Corbin wrote, “I like it Aaron. MBISHIYLCRRTI is the new LOL.”
- “hahahaha … or as we say in Spanish jajajajaja” Joshua Roberts
- In response to Josh, Chris Connors wrote, “in Thai “ha” is how you say the number five. Hense Thai people just put “555″”
Another friend (@vhtnguyen) said that we should identify the degree of LOL (whether figurative or real). In response, my friend Daniel So (@headsparks) suggested “1=smirk, 10=tears”. For example, rLOL10 would be on the floor, uncontrollable, tearful laughing.
Are we onto something here? Hmmmm…
Let me leave you with a philosophical question (asked by @headsparks): What is the sound of LOL if no one hears it?
By the way, there’s a website that seeks more online honesty by using LOi’s (Laugh On the Inside)… www.nomorelol.com
Your thoughts?
This post is tagged fLOL, Laugh Out Loud, LOL, rLOL
6 Comments
Charles – Oh my goodness, this whole series of tweets and now this post have been cracking me up all morning (ranging from rLOL3 through about rLOL8)! Here’s to more honesty (and descriptiveness) on the internet machine! fLOL555
Thanks for the link love!
Too funny Daniel! The 555 is way over the top!
Wow… this has really opened my eyes to a lot of new things.
I will bring this “good news” to the community around me
Chris, be free to share my child
Share your enlightenment.
Quote: “For example, rLOL10 would be on the floor, uncontrollable, tearful laughing.” If you are indeed rLOL10ing, how would you be able to type r-L-O-L-1-0??? I guess you could after the rLOL10ing wears off.
All I have to say is … LOL.
BTW – No, I’m not really laughing out loud. It’s very figurative, but I’m considering using “555″.
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