lol...took me years to learn what it meant. I thought it meant lots of love. My sister-in-law saw "lmao" many times on friends Facebook posts and text messages. For a long time she thought it was kind of like aloha, a greeting or sign off, but when she started noticing it in the middle of messages she knew she was wrong. I now know "lol" is laugh out loud and through my sister-in-law learned "lmao" is laugh my ass off.
The other day I checked out one of my nephew's Facebook page. I couldn't understand anything he and his friends were writing. It's a whole new language and something I think parents, guardians...adults with kids around need to learn. Years ago it started with computers, instant messages and email, watching who kids and teens were chatting with, what they were saying, warning them of the predators who may be out there pretending to be someone else. Years ago one of my nieces, a very smart girl, was asked by her mom who she was chatting with on line. She didn't know was her answer. This person just popped up and started chatting with her. Her mom told her you don't know who that is, it could be a 40 year old pervert pretending to be a teenager. My super smart niece's answer with the "I know everything" attitude was, mom, do you really think a 40 year old guy is going to pretend to be a 15 or 16 year old. YES her mother told her. Yes. Yes. Yes. Too many times it happens, you don't want to know but you have to. There's lots of sick people out there and you have to careful. We all have to pay attention. And now besides watching and knowing who your kids are talking to on the computer or a cell phone, you have a whole new language to learn.
That could be a great new business! A school for those of us who don't know these acronyms and slang words. Or better yet, one of those "For Dummies" books. This one could be Learn the Lingo (ltl) For Dummies. Remember you heard it here first!
Again reading my nephew's Facebook chats were like reading a foreign language. I couldn't understand any of it. I tried looking on line, tried to find websites where I could get the definitions of this new text lingo. There are many, many websites, but the acronyms I was specifically looking for, I have still not found but I'll keep searching long before I ask my nephew what it means. I'd like him to think I'm a step ahead of him, which is not easy! There are so many websites with these acronyms and their meanings but I'm sure that certain areas, neighborhoods, friends, all have their own individualized slang, it's going to be difficult to learn what it all means. I think that's when you have to get a pen and paper, sit your kids and teens down and ask right out, what does this, that and that mean. I want to know. IW2K!!!
I found some definitions of this new lingo and will share with you a few that I think parents should know.
pal = Parents Are Listening
pos = Parent Over Shoulder
p911 = my parents are in the room (P=Parents) (911=emergency, in other words change the subject or watch your language
asl? or a/s/l = what's your age, sex and location ... that's one sends red flags up in my mind and chills down my spine...I'm not digging anyone who is asking a kid or a teen that question.
irl = in real life
&-( = crying
sup = What's up? or Wassup? ... This one I have heard in conversations between kids and teens, not a bad word, but do we really want kids saying "sup" when they talk to their teachers? To their bosses later in life? To grandma and grandpa? Yes it's cute now but I remember during the "valley girl" days saying "you know" and "like" became a thing, cute, funny. But it caught on, it's stayed with us. I even find myself using "like" and "you know" way more than I'd like to.
Remember "ain't"? We were always told how you shouldn't say "ain't" and now it's in the dictionary. Will "sup" also be in the dictionary? Is it already? And socializing? I've had dinners with my nieces and nephews with cell phones and that's all they do, text, text, text. It makes me wonder what conversations will be like 10 years from now!?
These are just a few of the way too many chat, e-mail and text slang and acronyms. The new lingo. I think I posted a few that we should know. And I'm still going to try and figure out my nephew's slang. I think we have to pay attention to this new lingo, make sure we understand, keep reminding kids of the danger of strangers asking you questions, even on the computer or their cell phones. I wouldn't want to see "asl?" on any kid's computer or as a text on a cell phone, again red flags, chills down my spine, "danger Will Robinson!".
I remember when "word" was big. Meant a lot of things. It meant Yes. Cool. I'm with you. I agree. Probably so much more that I don't know but I remember my father using the phrase to my younger brother when he was about 15 or so. My brother got a kick out of it but more than that, he knew our dad was paying attention to his life. Yes, our dad was trying to be cool and make my brother laugh, but I think there was a bigger meaning there for both of them.
I know, and now you know I know. I'm always going to make sure I understand you as best I can. I care.
The other day I checked out one of my nephew's Facebook page. I couldn't understand anything he and his friends were writing. It's a whole new language and something I think parents, guardians...adults with kids around need to learn. Years ago it started with computers, instant messages and email, watching who kids and teens were chatting with, what they were saying, warning them of the predators who may be out there pretending to be someone else. Years ago one of my nieces, a very smart girl, was asked by her mom who she was chatting with on line. She didn't know was her answer. This person just popped up and started chatting with her. Her mom told her you don't know who that is, it could be a 40 year old pervert pretending to be a teenager. My super smart niece's answer with the "I know everything" attitude was, mom, do you really think a 40 year old guy is going to pretend to be a 15 or 16 year old. YES her mother told her. Yes. Yes. Yes. Too many times it happens, you don't want to know but you have to. There's lots of sick people out there and you have to careful. We all have to pay attention. And now besides watching and knowing who your kids are talking to on the computer or a cell phone, you have a whole new language to learn.
That could be a great new business! A school for those of us who don't know these acronyms and slang words. Or better yet, one of those "For Dummies" books. This one could be Learn the Lingo (ltl) For Dummies. Remember you heard it here first!
Again reading my nephew's Facebook chats were like reading a foreign language. I couldn't understand any of it. I tried looking on line, tried to find websites where I could get the definitions of this new text lingo. There are many, many websites, but the acronyms I was specifically looking for, I have still not found but I'll keep searching long before I ask my nephew what it means. I'd like him to think I'm a step ahead of him, which is not easy! There are so many websites with these acronyms and their meanings but I'm sure that certain areas, neighborhoods, friends, all have their own individualized slang, it's going to be difficult to learn what it all means. I think that's when you have to get a pen and paper, sit your kids and teens down and ask right out, what does this, that and that mean. I want to know. IW2K!!!
I found some definitions of this new lingo and will share with you a few that I think parents should know.
pal = Parents Are Listening
pos = Parent Over Shoulder
p911 = my parents are in the room (P=Parents) (911=emergency, in other words change the subject or watch your language
asl? or a/s/l = what's your age, sex and location ... that's one sends red flags up in my mind and chills down my spine...I'm not digging anyone who is asking a kid or a teen that question.
irl = in real life
&-( = crying
sup = What's up? or Wassup? ... This one I have heard in conversations between kids and teens, not a bad word, but do we really want kids saying "sup" when they talk to their teachers? To their bosses later in life? To grandma and grandpa? Yes it's cute now but I remember during the "valley girl" days saying "you know" and "like" became a thing, cute, funny. But it caught on, it's stayed with us. I even find myself using "like" and "you know" way more than I'd like to.
Remember "ain't"? We were always told how you shouldn't say "ain't" and now it's in the dictionary. Will "sup" also be in the dictionary? Is it already? And socializing? I've had dinners with my nieces and nephews with cell phones and that's all they do, text, text, text. It makes me wonder what conversations will be like 10 years from now!?
These are just a few of the way too many chat, e-mail and text slang and acronyms. The new lingo. I think I posted a few that we should know. And I'm still going to try and figure out my nephew's slang. I think we have to pay attention to this new lingo, make sure we understand, keep reminding kids of the danger of strangers asking you questions, even on the computer or their cell phones. I wouldn't want to see "asl?" on any kid's computer or as a text on a cell phone, again red flags, chills down my spine, "danger Will Robinson!".
I remember when "word" was big. Meant a lot of things. It meant Yes. Cool. I'm with you. I agree. Probably so much more that I don't know but I remember my father using the phrase to my younger brother when he was about 15 or so. My brother got a kick out of it but more than that, he knew our dad was paying attention to his life. Yes, our dad was trying to be cool and make my brother laugh, but I think there was a bigger meaning there for both of them.
I know, and now you know I know. I'm always going to make sure I understand you as best I can. I care.
