Online vocabulary and slang

[Yooper]

The use of 'typed' emoticons like T_T and stuff.

Completely meaningless. Utterly.

Especially when there are smileys available.

 

[bounder]

I actually prefer to speak in a straightforward and simple way. The slang just comes out depending on who I'm talking to. But to be quite honest, I'm really not into those showy displays of using flashy words. It just seems unnecessary to me.

Although, what I just said probably has more to do with everyday conversation than online vernacular (enticed yet??? lol). Depending on the topic, I don't have any issue with the use of slang. It's different when it's supposed to be an intelligent discussion.

 

[Seasoned]

Sup bros? Just chillin here.

 

[alley]

Kewl...


God, how hate that expression...especially when I see it in a e-mail or profile of a guy who is in his thirties or forties. Instant turn-off.

 

[SonOfSlobone]

Slang doesn't bother me, except when it doesn't add anything to the conversation. Using the same words over and over is really boring.

It just doesn't say much when you say somebody's hot. Why is he hot? Is it his abs, his face, his dick, what? I want details...

 

[dpnice]

It took me months to work out what OP ment but that is just my generation.

I don't even like typing str8 as it seems so strange, but again that is just my generation and my education. I would like everyone to type correctly and use a wide vocabulary but I think we must accept that this is never going to happen.

The younger generation has new ideas about writing and just as I cannot change my old habits I don't think they are going to change their's either.

 

[martin6]

I actually prefer to speak in a straightforward and simple way. The slang just comes out depending on who I'm talking to. But to be quite honest, I'm really not into those showy displays of using flashy words. It just seems unnecessary to me.

Although, what I just said probably has more to do with everyday conversation than online vernacular (enticed yet??? lol). Depending on the topic, I don't have any issue with the use of slang. It's different when it's supposed to be an intelligent discussion.

I'm pretty sure anyone using "sup", "down to earth", and all the other phrases you listed is not publishing a report, writing a newspaper column, or giving a speech to a crowd of professors. Using big, sexy words in instant messaging or on JUB just makes you look like a tool (don't get me wrong, interesting words are sexy indeed).

 

[martin6]

Perhaps, I should cut these guys some slack but doesn't anyone use a thesaurus anymore?

I was gonna comment you but I screwed it up.

I was gonna say that "perhaps" is one of my favorite words.

 

[Adrock-JD]

In the days before the Internet it was called shorthand.

I don't have a problem with it since I started the new meds.

AAR (at any rate) this is a message board---
not a freaking term paper.

CUOL (see you online)





KEWL! (typed by a man in his forties who took college keyboarding for accounting- a 4 credit per semester/ two semester course- and made an 'A' in both semesters, get over it)

 

[scains]

I don't tend to use slang at all, I don't mind reading it from other people, it's just not who I am to use it myself.

Yeah, it might take me a little longer to type a reply out, but I would rather make sure that everybody knew what I was saying, even if it isn't that important...

I'm not going to hound anybody who types short-hand though. It doesn't irritate me like it seems to do you, but I guess, at the end of the day (another term you hate hearing no doubt) you're not going to be able to stop people from using slang.

 

[martin6]

"Tool", another overused word. Thanks for proving my point.

I'm sorry.

What I should have said is that using big-boy vocab online like that makes you look like a "pretentious, cocky, ostentatious individual who has nothing better to do than attempt to impress people.

 

[martin6]

For the record, I wasn't referring to JUB in particular. Some of you all seem so defensive.



I really hope you're not directing this to me. People have tried to change how I type online since I started using chat rooms several years ago. When I used an MSN chat room for the first time, I was actually encouraged to defy a lifetime of education by using lower-case letters and to disregard punctuation but I refused to compromise then and I refuse to now. If that makes people think I'm pretentious, then, so be it. I've been misunderstood my entire life but would rather people think I'm pretentious than illiterate.

Oh I was just being silly. I don't care if people use slang or big words. Whatever. But there's no reason to think there's a problem with anyone who uses simpler words. If we seem defensive, it's cuz you seem to be on the offensive.

 

[tonyboy]

I've noticed a problem, particularly with my generation. Many gay guys of my generation use a lot of slang and seem to have a limited vocabulary, especially online. The difference in communication of my generation and of baby boomers is significant, almost like two separate languages!

Alright, so not everyone can type 70 wpm and not everyone can type with both hands. Some prefer not to. Perhaps, I should cut these guys some slack but doesn't anyone use a thesaurus anymore? Don't they realize that being articulate and using big words can be sexy? It can be enticing. In my experience, the excessive use of the following trite words, expressions and phrases are especially noticeable:

laid-back
down to earth
cute
hot
what's up(a.k.a. "wassup", whassup", "whatsup" and my personal favourite: "sup")
ok
yeah
cool

Do you have anything to contribute to the list?

Well Travis....
btw - nice to see you posting... I like to read what you write, and do love to peruse your gallery.

Regarding your thread ^... I think it depends who you write to as to how your write.

I have a friend that I met on jub well over a year ago... he used to write me PMs that were so long it drove me nuts... I wrote back to him asking that he write more less in the style of Sir Walter Scott and more in the style of Hemingway.

He did so and we've been writing back and forth ever since.

I write to many people on Yahoo IM... usually you write to people there that you know pretty well, a bit different than on jub.

About your list..
I think the word cute does have a place in our vocabulary... it's different than handsome... some guys are cute but not handsome... so I use that word often to some people.
What would you use in place of it?

I'd agree that cool is over used. Holy cow that word dates from the beatnik generation of the 50's.
I guess certain words do move from generation to generation.

One thing that I never have gotten used to is the constant 'LOL' that people use to close a sentence or inject in to a convo. I hate it, makes no sense to me.

Lots of love, laughing out loud, there are many ways that it is used.
Makes no sense to me at all.
I'd add that to your list.

I've gotten sloppy in writing so I do often use 'yeah'... the best would be to type yes.

I do use a thesauras sometimes... depends on who I write to.
I'm not too great a writer (seems you are though)... I have a though enough time making my point without adding big words.

Well that's all I have to say on this topic. Like to see if you respond.
Don't be too harsh on those of us that do not have the same writing ablility as you do Travis.
I always like to read what you write though, so keep it up..

 

[martin6]

It's unfortunate that you're not taking this seriously and that you don't care. Frankly, your indifference is part of the problem. Actually, there are many reasons to think there are problems but if you don't think that the internet(and other forms of technology)... blah blah blah blah.

Oh noes! I am contributing to society's downfall!!

If you want I could point out every grammatical error you make in your posts so that you don't appear to be buffoonish on a gay porn site. I did copy edit for my university's newspaper, after all. I have experience.

 

[tonyboy]

Probably "adorable" or "attractive", "good looking". I haven't given it much thought.



Well, that certainly wasn't my purpose for this thread but thanks for the compliment.

You are welcome for the compliment.. I realize you were not looking for one

Cute may be used too often, I agree with that... but it does have a different meaning than adorable or attractive. Cute means something different than those other words.
I think I will stick with cute when I figure it applies... but I promise you that I won't abuse it. ;
I'm not sure but I think adorable is to be used to describe someone that is extremely charming, cute has a different meaning..
Anyway, I don't mean to quibble about the meaning of words.

I get your main point. I'm not too great at writing. Our language is being degraded by people that don't know how to use it. I'm guilty of that.

 

[dpnice]

........................Using big, sexy words .....................on JUB just makes you look like a tool ....................

Agreed.

I don't see the point in using 'Big Words' either, it comes off pretentious. .......................

.............................using big-boy vocab online like that makes you look like a "pretentious, cocky, ostentatious individual who has nothing better to do than attempt to impress people.

Well that has well and truly put me in my place. I never thought that members of JUB considered that my ultimate aim was just to impress them.

I suppose that instead of applying the writing skills that I was taught at school I should start throwing in a few slang expressions in order that I don't come over as such an enormous prick.

 

[kallipolis]

When a rational thought is being communicated, by whatever language is being expressed, then I am sufficiently satisfied that I have understood, the meaning behind the thoughtful prose.

 

[kallipolis]

...why does it seem like you said so much, and yet, said nothing?

Perception has its way of reminding, us that we perceive, all we wish to understand. When realistically, communication should reward the reader, with the benefit of understanding. Always assuming that the reader is open to understanding.

 

[SonOfSlobone]

Hmph! I use large words, small words, slang AND expletives as I see fit, I even make spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.

I use large, small, slang AND expletives in real life too.

So...

Neener neener neeeeeener.

Same here. Never occurred to me to worry about what level of language I use on the Internet. Use the best word for the job, that's my motto*.

The purpose of language is communication. You can communicate really well, and creatively, with 2-letter words, or really poorly with 10-letter ones.

*... well, not actually. My motto, if I had one, would probably be more like "life is too short".

PS Although I will admit, one time somebody put up a really long post about his problems in CO&R. It was written entirely in text-speak. I got about 2 paragraphs in before I gave up.

 

[dpnice]

...........................The purpose of language is communication. You can communicate really well, and creatively, with 2-letter words, or really poorly with 10-letter ones..................................

In fact for me that is an assumption. You are assuming that we, the readers in general, will understand the meanings behind the atrocious English to which we are submitted on Internet. In my case that is not always true.

I am not asking for there to be laws about how people write, they do what they want and if they fail in communicating to me their thoughts well then it is not that serious.

I do wonder sometimes if people are actually trying to communicate or if their only concern is writing what they want to say in the heat of the moment and not caring less if it is understood.