Facebook Jargon: A Reluctant Examination

This summer when I was facing six weeks worth of recovery from surgery, I joined Facebook. Because I do not like to talk on the phone I found it a great way to visit with friends. It was amazing to be able to reconnect wth my nieces in college as well as folks I’d not talked to in 25+ years. I think the most satisfying part was in realizing that a true friendship lasts despite time and distance. 

 There was a factor that I’d not counted on, though, and that was Facebook jargon. It seems that over the years words have been replaced with acronyms. To date there are 72 pages of acronyms listed under internet abbreviations. These abbreviations cover most topics. There are literary references. 14AA41- one for all, all for one, 2BN2B-to be or not to be. 

 You can send caring messages. XOXO-hugs and kisses. 2G2BT-too good to be true. UOK-are you ok? BW-best wishes. AML-all my love. 

 Teen-alert language includes AITR-adult in the room and POMS-parent over my shoulder. You can also be BTD-bored to death, say WE-whatever, CM-call me, BON-believe it or not, WCA-who cares anyway? or B4N-bye for now. 

 When you return you are BAK-back at keyboard. A lot of people on Facebook are usually LOL-laughing out loud. This can be confusing because LOL can also mean-lots of love. Type that your dog threw up and someone may LOL. You might be sharing about a recent embarrassing episode and they LOL. Have a hard time though and someone is sure to LOL. Confusing to say the least. I usually read it both ways and try to figure out the sense of it all. It also gives me insight into the psyche of the writer. 

 Yet you not only LOL, but you can do this while on the floor (LOLF), you can be rolling on the floor (LOLROF), falling out of a chair (LOLFOC), or laughing until your belly hurts (LOLUBH)> `In extreme cases socks can fall off (LOLSFO), pants become wet (LOLWMP), or various body parts fall off. I’ll let you fill in the acronym on that.

 For myself, though, except for an occasional OK, I’m valiantly attempting to write without jargon, swearing, or acronyms. It’s my personal attempt to stay true to the English language. Recently while on line I was chatting with a friend across town. For some reason I could not hit the right keys and the conversation looked like this... It’s preety cold out. Sorry,k pretty. Can’t seem to tyep tody. Type today. The response was simple. Do you have mittens on? What could I say? LOLMFO (Laughing out loud, mittens fell off).