Did You Really Laugh Out Loud?
I’m going to get a lot of slack for this post I’m sure, but I just can’t take it anymore.
I want lol banned from use! I can’t take it anymore. The acronym for “laugh out loud” is soooooooo over used; even more than all those extra o’s in so. Every email, post, text, instant message, cartoon and even in real mouth conversations these three letters are popping up. Some are even using the double version lolol. Laugh out loud out loud. Really? You don’t need to prompt me when to laugh. I get it. Yes, what you just wrote was funny. Honest, I get it. It’s like you’re holding up an “applause” or “laugh” card on a tv set. I don’t need the prompting people!
I found the following definitions of lol on Urbandictionary.com and they made me…wait for it…laugh. No, not “out loud” but laugh never the less.
1. It’s original definition was “Laughing out loud” (also written occasionally as “Lots of Laughs”), used as a brief acronym to denote great amusement in chat conversations. Now, it is overused to the point where nobody laughs out loud when they say it. In fact, they probably don’t even give a shit about what you just wrote. More accurately, the acronym “lol” should be redefined as “Lack of laughter.” Depending on the chatter, its definition may vary. The list of its meanings includes, but is not limited to: 1) “I have nothing worthwhile to contribute to this conversation.” 2) “I’m too lazy to read what you just wrote so I’m typing something useless in hopes that you’ll think I’m still paying attention.
3) “Your statement lacks even the vaguest trace of humor but I’ll pretend I’m amused.” 4) “This is a pointless acronym I’m sticking in my sentence just because it’s become so engraved into my mind that when chatting, I MUST use the meaningless sentence-filler ‘lol.'”
2. It stands for “laughing out loud.” A slight irony to this definition is that generally people don’t literally laugh out loud. That’s reserved for other acronyms such as, but not limited to, LMMFAO, LMAO, ROTFLMAO, etc. Lol is most commonly used as a slience breaker, a reply to a joke that is SUPPOSED to be funny but really isn’t, or an answer to an uncomfortable or random statement that one couldn’t think of a better response to.
Example 1:
Person 1: Hi
Person 2: Hey
Person 1: umm..
Person 2: uh…..
Person 1: lol
3. Originally meant “laughing out loud” but is now so overused that it now means “I find that vaguely amusing” also a filler word now when there is a puse in the conversation or the person is lost for a response, or they are too stupid or lazy to think of one.
A: I’m probably gonna kill myself tonight…
B: lol
4. A term commonly used on the internet when you’re not really paying attention, or have nothing to say.
Person: Man, my grandma died today. I’m totally bummed.
Me: lol
Apparently I’m not the only one who thinks like this. There is actually a Facebook page dedicated to stopping the overuse of “lol”.
As a side story, the first time someone instant messaged me “lol”, way back in the late nineties, I thought it stood for “lots of love”. This turned out to be very awkward because it came from a young techie who was helping me with some computer issues I was having. I eventually figured out what he really meant and then told him my mistake. We both had a good laugh out loud over that one!
13 Comments
Tracy Westerholm
LOLOLOL, LMGAO, LMAO, ROFLMFAO!! HAHAHAHAH GAFFA GAFFA GAFFA! I YELLED all of that by the way! I love to lol, it’s soooooo much fun!
I get your point but what bothers me more is the whole texting form of communication. I constantly have people question what I said because there is no inflection in any of my words, or they take what I said as me being mad when in fact I was quite neutral or even sarcastic, but if I am going to be mad, you will hear my voice, it won’t be misunderstood through a text!
So, I use it to add that I am not being serious but I now follow lol with “I didn’t actually laugh out loud” 🙂 Okay seriously if lol has to go so do the little smiley faces, I hate all the cutie smilie faces after everything. I try to just write (smile) so the person knows I am smiling without being so darn cute all the time 🙂 Nuff said…
Jacquie
I hate ’nuff said’ but I have no problem with smiley faces : )
And if I use lol in a text just consider yourself lucky you’re hearing from me as I’ve only just started getting the hang of it.
Mwah!
Lori
Tracy posted the link to this blog on her Facebook, and I commented there – and thought I’d repeat it here:
“I think LOL is genuine as a response – if Tracy wrote something hilarious, I might respond with a LOL because I think its funny.
To create a post and then add a “LOL” for extra punch is most irritating – as if the writer is trying to get the… reader to laugh along?
…but I sincerely chuckle and laugh out loud at things. Maybe its time for some new acronyms? or just simply take the time; type what you want the reader to know.
or maybe just keep the laughing out loud a secret? and not everyone has to know that the reader is laughing?
I’ve seen other ones too like, *chuckle* or *wink*. I don’t want cyber-winks – its weird.”
*WINK*
Lawrence
It is a sad state of affairs. This is a status from my Facebook page. A conversation that I (sadly) envision having with my children in the not so distant future:
“Dad, OMG. IMHO, ur FB ltr was TLDR. lol. Rotfl. Jk”
Twitter is their Word program. This is their dictionary: http://digiphile.wordpress.com/2009/06/11/top-50-twitter-acronyms-abbreviations-and-initialisms/
I hope not, or I’ll kill them. (fake big smile that is usually depicted by typing ; then capital D) … I did giggle out loud a litle typing the last part.
Tracy Westerholm
Okay Lawrence what’s TLDR? I looked it up but couldn’t find it. I hope it’s a good one after all this! ha ha. 🙂
Lawrence
Somone commented after me on a forum: “Lawrence, TLDR.” I was like what??? It means “Too long. Didn’t Read.”
Tracy Westerholm
That’s my favourite! I hate really long emails unless they are a personal message from someone. I just delete them because more often than not it really wasn’t worth it or ends up being a chain letter or sorts! Why do people send those? WTF? haha giggle smile!
jacquie
You know, that might have sounded snotty when I said I didn’t like “nuff said”. Wasn’t meant to be. I guess I just didn’t have my filter on and was speaking my mind (smiley face with a squiggly mouth)
I think I like LOL, when it comes right down to it. The world needs more laughter.
I really enjoyed this post, Bon… BIG SMILES!
Tracy Westerholm
I like it too Jacquie, I don’t do it thinking that I am actually laughing out loud, I do it to show that I am smiling/giggling combination. Yes it’s over used but Bon I think you have to just know no one is ‘really’ laughing out loud, but at least they are showing that they are happy. ::::::)))))))
Janet
Too funny! Loved the article and comments, and am refraining from all (acronyms, winks, smiles) boy it’s hard…
Jeannie Foort
I am really bad for LOL!
I luv it!!!
Jane
Me too Jeannie..lol
lozz
My family call me Lol so I always have to read the entire email before I realize they were either starting with lol (me) or lol (laugh out loud).
Give me a ha ha or he he anyday!