Slang is a predictor of trends. As technology develops, there is no greater trend than Internet chatting. It has become one of the most used means of communication. Traditional mail is now a thing of the past. Many cellular phones have AOL Instant Messaging or MSN Messenger. Internet messaging has become so popular that it has developed its own shorthand. Acronyms have been created to make using these tools quicker and easie. One of the most popular among these shorthand words has become an almost universal term used for Internet chatting. The term is “LOL.”
“LOL” has many meanings. Its most common meaning is “laugh out loud,” or “lots of laughs.” One uses this expression when he or she thinks that what is being said is funny. For example, “person A” could say, “Yesterday I accidentally ate two slugs during my grandmother's graduation party.” In which case “person B” might respond, “LOL.”
“LOL”'s original meaning has changed. And now the term is used in the way that the person who is saying it is not in reality commenting on the humor of the earlier statement. In fact, the person saying it rarely thinks that the statement is funny at all. Whatever he really means by “LOL” is often infused with sarcasm or irony and largely hidden behind his computer screen.
Depending on its context, the implied definition may vary. Sometimes “LOL” is used when the person speaking has nothing useful to contribute to the conversation. For instance, if “person A” were speaking to “person B” about his hamster's death, when “person B” had no interest in his hamster's death at all, he might almost haphazardly type in “LOL” to sound interested.
“LOL” has become used so much during instant message conversations, that an online discussion is not considered a true online discussion unless “LOL” can be found within it. That being said, some people just type in “LOL” randomly, as if to ensure the authenticity of the online conversation. They feel that without the use of this so-commonly-used slang term, their conversation is dull and pointless. “LOL” is also used so much because it has become engraved in people's minds and they are almost drawn to the idea of just typing “LOL.” This is somewhat similar to typing “Hm”, while thinking of a reply.
Sometimes I feel that “LOL” is taking over everything. Like most trends, it began as a novelty, a barely recognized slang word. Soon came the beginning of Internet chatting, and with it, the meteoric growth in the use of “LOL.” It began as a rarely used term, falling behind the peaking “bb (bye bye)” and “gtg (got to go)” From there it slowly rose, passing the plunging “jk (just kidding)” and “idk (I don't know).” Eventually it reached its apex, as one of the most-used words during Internet chatting.
Soon it will be in the English dictionary, right in between “Lok Sabha (the lower house of the parliament of India)” and “loliginid (of or belonging to a family of long-bodied cylindrical squids).” It will be translated into every language, from A-ch'ang to Zyrian. Eventually, “LOL” might have its own acronym, and will be shortened to just “L.” Then “LOL” will become so popular that it will aspire to its own button on the keyboard.
Slowly that button will grow to the size of the spacebar, to make it more convenient and easy to push. Soon enough “LOL” will have its own button on the mouse right in between the right and left clicker. Before long, there will be movies and television shows about “LOL.” There will be “LOL” fashion lines and action figures. There will be “LOL” mugs, shot glasses and alarm clocks (batteries not included). Parents will name their dogs, and eventually their children “LOL.” Congress will pass a law that only someone named “LOL” can become president, and ultimately, “LOL” will rule the world!
Until then, I can do nothing but stare at my computer screen and watch those “LOL”s fill the screen.
