OMG WTF ETC

Tuesday, February 28, 2012 Permalink

I’m sure I’ve previously mentioned that I have discerning taste. Or, at least if I haven’t alluded to it, I’m sure you’ve come to that conclusion yourselves… having committed my blog posts to memory (as you have most certainly done)!

Well, today I have to confess to a slight double standard. I know, I know… you can’t believe what I’m telling you, but alas… it’s true.

But before I ‘fess-up’ I need to give you a bit of context…

Years ago I tried internet dating. I mean, didn’t we all? What’s that you say, ‘No?’

10 percentOh okay, so maybe it was just me and some of my friends. And while they’ve had some success (long term relationships, marriage and the like), I pretty much crashed and burned. (And yes, I know – yet again – you are shocked to the core!)

Anyhoo, there were a number of things which drove me to distraction during that period. In fact, somewhere in the bowels of my computer I have several draft posts:

  1. An idiot’s guide to speed dating
  2. Ten things not to include in your online profile (etc etc)

And while I may well sound like a bit of an expert, again you’ll be shocked to know that my friends had to beat me around the head to even try these options. I suspect that when I hit 35 I finally realised that the man of my dreams (aka Prince Charming, or… you know… Richard Armitage) was not about to throw himself in my path, which is when I finally succumbed to these 21st century dating rituals.

My friends also felt compelled to lecture me about my (seemingly!) judgemental attitude to the whole thing. (Of course at that stage I didn’t know I’d still be single in my 40s or I might have lowered my standards a little. Joking. Mostly!)

As a result, they made me DELETE the line in my RSVP profile which made some scathing comment about men with spelling mistakes and typos in their own profiles (a perfectly legitimate expectation I would think). They did, however, allow me to keep the line about how much I hated those who used ‘try-hard’ (aka tragic) abbreviations: LOL and the like.

A Xmas present from my church-going mother!

Yes, yes…. those who know me from my diet blog know that I use WTF in almost every post. Similarly, I drop FFS in there quite a bit, and OMFG along with TFIF when appropriate! All worthy and deserving acronyms. I think.

But in the early-mid 2000s when LOL first appeared in force, the people who used it – along with smiley faces (DO NOT GET ME STARTED!) were the type like our then secretary at work… who also used little hearts to dot her i’s. (Yes I know it’s not possessive, but otherwise it would look like ‘is’. FFS!)

So back then the cutesy acronyms had VERY negative connotations for me. I imagined all users to be well-versed in twee abbreviations from years of newspaper classifieds about NS SWF and the like and to essentially be the Australian equivalent to US trailer park trash.

Am I a judgemental bitch? Um…. sometimes!

I was reminded of all of this when my mother sent me a clipping featuring some shopping bags. She thought they would appeal, as a reader of my diet blog and regularly subjected to my favourite acronyms. (She is obviously unaware of my LOL-issues!)

  

 

 

 

 

 

While I think the bags are kinda cute, my LOL prejudice will probably preclude me from purchasing one at this point in time.

Of course, now LOL is oft-used, along with ROTFL and those (obviously more-tasteful) acronyms more favoured by myself. I still refuse to use the former… though have partaken in a smiley-face on occasions – ONLY to ensure someone knows I’m joking, than any smiley-face passion.

So – perhaps it’s a double standard to which I’m confessing; or just an acronym hierarchy which makes sense only to me.  (Like my colleague who believes The Biggest Loser is quality fly-on-the-wall TV, but thinks Excess Baggage is reality television at its worst!)

Do others have similar quirks and prejudices I wonder?

14 Comments
  • KCLAnderson (Karen)
    February 28, 2012

    As an early adopter of internet dating (back in 1994 LOL [heh]) and as someone who actually met the man of her dreams that way (in 1994 LOL [heh]), I do admit to having similar quirks…and double standards, but whatever.

    I am not sure when you first started reading my blog, but I did a series on “how I learned to love,” which outlines how it all came to pass.

    Oh, and I had to look up some of your TLAs to figure out what they mean!

    • Debbish
      February 28, 2012

      Karen… I had to look up TLA! I wondered if there was a word for the acronyms / abbreviations!

      I possibly made up FFS, because sadly it’s something I say (in full) in my head CONSTANTLY. (I am an impatient thing!) I did actually google the ‘LOL’ phrase to see if I could find out where it came from and – alas – wikipedia wasn’t of much help!

      Thanks for the heads-up. I will go back and read some of your old blog posts!

      Deb

  • Sasha
    February 29, 2012

    So I am now officially self conscious about all the times I’ve dropped a smiley in your comment box :p.

    Actually, no, I’m not. So don’t worry. Or maybe do worry that going to continue.

    I’m with you on the LOL though. I use it now, but it took me a long time to warm up to it.

  • Helena
    March 1, 2012

    Deb, I was cleaning out emails in preparation for the new job, and happened across some from you…. Can I say there was a 🙂 or two in there…. however, probably totally appropriate given the need for light relief in that office!! And here is my favourite one – for those older people amongst us – ROFLCGU – ROFL can’t get up!

    • Debbish
      March 1, 2012

      Hi Helena… I forgot you were moving on! I think I was more averse to smiley faces and LOLs in the mid 2000s than I am now! Definitely hadn’t heard of ROFLCGU (even more important for we oldies… who sometimes literally can’t!).

      Deb

  • Mum of Adult Kids
    March 2, 2012

    TGIF 🙂

    • Debbish
      March 2, 2012

      Ha! Absolutely!

  • Jess
    March 2, 2012

    I can’t stand LOL. It makes me so angry. As if anyone actually laughs out loud, and the way it sounds phonetically just ticks me off.

    I do use the smiley faces though. Not cause I’m addicted to them, but so eat people know I’m saying things in a jokey/happy way. It’s kind of necessary when you’re often sarcastic.

    • Debbish
      March 2, 2012

      Yes, I’m the same on the smiley-faces front. And sometimes I’m just lazy, so if someone tweets something sad, I’ll send back a 🙁 rather than have to think of something supportive to say!!!

      I’m also yet to use LOL…

      Deb

  • Misha - The Bling Buoy
    March 2, 2012

    It took a long time for my inner pedant to accept the use of acronyms. Twitter and it’s debilitating 140 character limit eventually forced my hand and now I am excitedly waiting for the day when I can casually plop ROFLSHIHTBST (rolling on the floor laughing so hard I have tears but still typing) into a comment. Actually, I think that day is now! Loved your blog and found it via Where’s My Glow?.

    • Debbish
      March 2, 2012

      Thanks Misha and I noticed your comment on my diet blog as well (I left a response). I also commented on your ‘brain squatters’ post cos I could SO relate!

      PS. That must be the LONGEST acronym I’ve ever seen!

      Deb

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