The origin of LOL-- CANADIAN???? - GoFuckYourself.com

Chillin the Most · 06-03-2006, 09:54 AM

I just found this

"LOL was first coined on a BBS called Viewline in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, in the early-to-mid-80s. A friend of mine who went by Sprout (and I believe he still does) had said something so funny in the teleconference room that I found myself truly laughing out loud, echoing off the walls of my kitchen. That's when ?LOL? was first used.

We of course had ways of portraying amusement in chat rooms before that (>grin< >laugh< *smile*) and the gamut of smiley faces, but I felt that none of them really got across the fact that the other person just made you feel foolish by laughing out loud in a room all by yourself (or worse, with other family members in another room, thinking you quite odd!)

The use of the phrase LOL spread quickly around Viewline, but it wasn't until a bunch of us got free GEnie accounts that it really became popular.

GEnie, back then, was one of the big online services (with Compuserve and Prodigy), and the hundreds of chatrooms included trivia rooms (run by script bots -- quite fancy at the time!) A bunch of us Viewliners found these rooms and, of course, our jargon mixed with the regulars of GEnie. (One thing that I took from there, and still use today, is "my" smiley -- *:^) )

Of course, LOL was introduce to this new group, who took to it quickly; I always emphasized (and still do) that it was meant to be used *only* if you truly Laughed Out Loud... a smirk, smile or giggle just didn't cut it. These GEnie users soon started mutating it: Rolling On Floor Laughing was born by the GEnie people.

Today, of course, we see many variations, and I'm amazed daily whenever I see ?LOL? appear in obscure places. The ?true? use of LOL has been tainted; people use it in the same way that *grin* or ?hahahaha? might, but I guess this is the evolution of words and language. I admit that every so often I try to explain to people that LOL has a specific meaning or usage, but most scoff when I explain the origin.

If I had any idea that such a thing would spread, I would have saved the original conversation that led to the acronym's inception. Alas, I don't even recall what was so funny! While I can picture in my mind where I was when it happened, I can't narrow the time down any further.

I don't expect you to believe this, really, as so many others don't. Still, it ought to be written out so there's at least a record of it somewhere on the Internet."

-- Wayne Pearson

06-03-2006, 11:28 AM

uselessssssssssssssssssss

ffmihai · 06-03-2006, 11:54 AM

americaaaaaaaan

madawgz · 06-03-2006, 12:34 PM

nice, it was canadian!! :D

Splum · 06-03-2006, 12:38 PM

Bzzzt sorry wrong
http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki...nternet_slang)

Marie · 06-03-2006, 12:40 PM

American or Canadian, at least it's something to be VERY proud of.

NOT.

Lance69 · 06-03-2006, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marie

American or Canadian, at least it's something to be VERY proud of.

NOT.

Outstanding and True post!

LadyMischief · 06-03-2006, 01:01 PM

OMG I was on viewline... that makes me feel old

Bro Media - BANNED FOR LIFE · 06-03-2006, 01:09 PM

my name was coined when i was born and my doctor litterally "LOL"ed at the way i looked

RogerV10 · 06-03-2006, 01:15 PM

Pretty soon:

will replace LOL.

J. Falcon · 06-03-2006, 02:35 PM

Interesting

Gambit · 06-03-2006, 04:22 PM

Yeah right - this is just urban myth.

u-Bob · 06-03-2006, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gambit

Yeah right - this is just urban myth.

True. People have been using "LOL" for thousands of years... Some cavemen even painted it on the walls of their caves...

06-03-2006, 09:54 AM	#1
Chillin the Most Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Jose, Costa Rica Posts: 146	The origin of LOL-- CANADIAN???? I just found this "LOL was first coined on a BBS called Viewline in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, in the early-to-mid-80s. A friend of mine who went by Sprout (and I believe he still does) had said something so funny in the teleconference room that I found myself truly laughing out loud, echoing off the walls of my kitchen. That's when ?LOL? was first used. We of course had ways of portraying amusement in chat rooms before that (>grin< >laugh< smile) and the gamut of smiley faces, but I felt that none of them really got across the fact that the other person just made you feel foolish by laughing out loud in a room all by yourself (or worse, with other family members in another room, thinking you quite odd!) The use of the phrase LOL spread quickly around Viewline, but it wasn't until a bunch of us got free GEnie accounts that it really became popular. GEnie, back then, was one of the big online services (with Compuserve and Prodigy), and the hundreds of chatrooms included trivia rooms (run by script bots -- quite fancy at the time!) A bunch of us Viewliners found these rooms and, of course, our jargon mixed with the regulars of GEnie. (One thing that I took from there, and still use today, is "my" smiley -- :^) ) Of course, LOL was introduce to this new group, who took to it quickly; I always emphasized (and still do) that it was meant to be used only* if you truly Laughed Out Loud... a smirk, smile or giggle just didn't cut it. These GEnie users soon started mutating it: Rolling On Floor Laughing was born by the GEnie people. Today, of course, we see many variations, and I'm amazed daily whenever I see ?LOL? appear in obscure places. The ?true? use of LOL has been tainted; people use it in the same way that grin or ?hahahaha? might, but I guess this is the evolution of words and language. I admit that every so often I try to explain to people that LOL has a specific meaning or usage, but most scoff when I explain the origin. If I had any idea that such a thing would spread, I would have saved the original conversation that led to the acronym's inception. Alas, I don't even recall what was so funny! While I can picture in my mind where I was when it happened, I can't narrow the time down any further. I don't expect you to believe this, really, as so many others don't. Still, it ought to be written out so there's at least a record of it somewhere on the Internet." -- Wayne Pearson

06-03-2006, 11:54 AM	#3
ffmihai keep walking... Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,177	americaaaaaaaan __________________

06-03-2006, 12:34 PM	#4
madawgz 8.8.8.8 Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Noordermarkt Posts: 30,509	nice, it was canadian!! :D __________________ TAEMDLRMSKRJIXMRLSMRJ.

06-03-2006, 12:38 PM	#5
Splum Confirmed User Join Date: May 2003 Location: USA Posts: 6,195	Bzzzt sorry wrong http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki...nternet_slang) Last edited by Splum; 06-03-2006 at 12:41 PM..

06-03-2006, 12:40 PM	#6
Marie Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: May 2003 Location: Netherlands Posts: 3,024	American or Canadian, at least it's something to be VERY proud of. NOT. __________________ Maria - maria at photorama.nl - Photorama International CONTENT LOADS of content in various niches - many photo/video combinations! CONTENT

06-03-2006, 11:28 AM	#2
Borka Guest Posts: n/a	uselessssssssssssssssssss

06-03-2006, 01:01 PM	#8
LadyMischief Orgasms N Such! Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Oakville, Ontario Posts: 18,135	OMG I was on viewline... that makes me feel old __________________ ICQ 3522039 Content Manager - orgasm.com [email protected]

06-03-2006, 01:09 PM	#9
Bro Media - BANNED FOR LIFE MOBILE PORN: IMOBILEPORN Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Tinseltown NL Posts: 16,502	my name was coined when i was born and my doctor litterally "LOL"ed at the way i looked

06-03-2006, 01:15 PM	#10
RogerV10 Confirmed User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,000	Pretty soon: will replace LOL. __________________ See how woman just give me their Money! you too can make easy money with GGWCash. join off my sig and get a free GGW Trucker hat or shirt now! http://www.ggwcash.com/?wmid=957 Also when you get a chance check out www.PornoPushers.com ICQ: 161759738 AIM:RemoteRoger

06-03-2006, 02:35 PM	#11
J. Falcon www.AdultCopywriters.com Industry Role: Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 31,626	Interesting __________________ Adult Copywriters SEO Content for Porn Sites sales at adultcopywriters dot com

06-03-2006, 04:22 PM	#12
Gambit Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UK Posts: 571	Yeah right - this is just urban myth.