Does leet speak reduce your WoW playing enjoyment? Do caps lock and abbreviations set your teeth on edge? If so, Xkhan agrees with you and attributes it possibly to age. His list of pet peeves incites an interesting forum thread discussing in-game annoyances along with the etymological origins of some leet speak.For example, did you know that GG stands for Good Game? While it is currently used sarcastically, for years it has been spammed at the end of FPS games as a show of good sportsmanship. Ah, playing CTF in Tribes II with the Hammer or something-or-other mod equaled hours of pure gaming pleasure. But I digress...
We've discussed pet peeves before and whether or not we are killing our language with leetspeak. Many mature players would prefer not to play with children who are incapable of forming grammatically correct sentences or playing their character properly. But do we get more upset with these annoyances the older we get?
I think it is more of the attitude that we bring to playing the game than it is how many years we have been alive. Sure, those of us who write in complete sentences would prefer if everyone did -- but anyone with a 7th grade education (or earlier) has a good enough grasp of grammar to do that. I am definitely on the high end of the WoW playing age scale. I don't want to give out numbers because I find them very hard to admit, but let's just say that Petula Clark's Downtown was my favorite song when I was in Kindergarten. At my age, I have to say that I don't get upset when I get sent a tell containing "ur" or when I see the guild name Less QQ more Pew Pew. I tend not to group with the "ne1" crowd because I usually find they aren't as skilled or as fun to play with as the players who type out "anyone" -- but I don't wish them bodily harm like some of the forum posters seem to. In fact, I do find it amusing to read particularly egregiously leet sentences out loud.
But I must admit that my blood pressure rises when people say "rouge" instead of "rogue".
Rogue is such a great word for a historically fun class and it rhymes with "vogue". Rouge is a cosmetic and is pronounced "rooszh". It's a blush that you put on your cheeks to add color to your face and define your cheekbones. It can't backstab you and you don't really want it taking up a spot on your raid. Rouge is French for "red". Rogue is a melee DPSer who can open your lockboxes for you. The picture above is actually of powdered blush while rouge is usually a cream, but no one is going to get upset that I called blush "rouge", because they are essentially the same thing. A rogue is a vicious killer, even in gnome form. Rouge: in your makeup kit, usually pink, red or peach. Rogue: in ur group, controlling ur crowds.
I feel better now after venting. And I really don't think this pet peeve is related to age. Do you have a pet peeve? Is intolerance for lazy spelling and nonexistent grammar related to age? Have you ever applied a rogue to your cheekbone?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
7-17-2007 @ 8:38PM
Doomkin said...
Apply rogue to my cheekbone...? All I have to say is ouch!
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7-17-2007 @ 8:44PM
Automod said...
I don't mind kids playing as long as parents keep their kids on a leash. When some 12 year old starts spamming obscenities because I won't invite him to the guild, that's when my blood starts to boil. When someone who I do invite to the guild spams the chat with leet, incomplete sentences, and generally angers the rest of the guild, it's /gkick time. If it's not kids that are doing this then there are some really immature young adults and adults out there.
A little respect and common courtesy goes a looong way.
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7-17-2007 @ 8:48PM
Coherent said...
It's definitely the "Get off my lawn!" sentiment.
I'm pretty old though, and I just go, "Meh" when someone leetspeaks it up. Language is a living, evolving thing, not some kind of mathematical science whose rules are set in stone. If you understand what they're saying, then STFU about what's "proper" or grammatical. They have just as much right to talk the way they want as you do.
Besides which, they're building the next generation of language just like you did. It's cool, man. Just chill.
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7-17-2007 @ 8:51PM
Coherent said...
As far as confusing rogue and rouge, they're idiots, point and laugh at them :) They'll figure out why pretty quick. It's way more funny than annoying.
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7-17-2007 @ 8:51PM
saldean said...
Nice. I thought a great Blizzcon costume would be to just wear black with big red circles on my cheeks, but my husband said that was too subtle...
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7-17-2007 @ 9:10PM
Peregwyn said...
In a text MUD I used to play, I wanted them to create a rouge's guild that sold cosmetics.
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7-17-2007 @ 9:14PM
Chris M said...
I'll be the first to give a number- I'm 27. I consider myself highly educated (MBA and considering going back to school for my JD, and a degree in criminal law). I graduated in the upper 5th percentile of my class; I currently own a financial consultancy corporation which I founded at the age of 19 as an insight into the market for products in my age group.
The 'leetspeak' thing isn't about people that feel honor-bound to say things like that- but I use terms like 'GG' and 'LOL' because 'Wow, that item has great statistics and modifiers.' will get lost in the flurry of guild chat. I tried it, believe me. TYPING like I SPEAK is difficult- I can't type nearly as fast I can speak (however I hit 110 words a minute on a very good day) and the fact is while I'm grinding (should I say- killing a specific monster or beast for experience and drops, over and over again) and someone links their favorite item or what have you- I don't have time to stop casting my Mind Blast (also known as 'MB') and type 'Nice item, great modifiers, I like the additional spirit that that item adds as well, since I'm a shadow priest. The defense is a plus too!'
What I do have time for is - 'Nice drop- +spirit = gg for s.priests. +def is good.'
And continue my grinding... er.. my 'repeatedly killing mobs.. I mean... enemies for their drops.. I mean.. for the items they provide after they die and I loot their corpses, and the experience they offer.'
I suppose if you take such offense, you really -are- too old to play WOW.
I have no problem with things like PST (please send tell), abbreviating 'whisp' for whisper, or anything of the sort. Really. By the theories that are offered, people should cut out nicknames- I'd be Christopher all the time, everywhere I go- because it's the PROPER name for me, not 'Chris'.
Honestly. It's a game, and what's more, it's an MMO- we're trying to save time.
On Rogue and Rouge - I misspell words all the time. I'm sure I've spelled Rogue wrong and switched a letter at LEAST once. Sometimes ONCE a day! It's not a HUGE deal. Really. Do you not know what I meant? Are you insinuating that I think that our lead blush is topping the damage meters? Perhaps you're in question as to whether or not I feel a level 35 blush would be a suitable addition to our group.
Get. Real.
When it comes to Vent, I speak as fluidly and coherently as always. I don't say L-O-L (letters) to signify laughing. I hold down my PTT (er.. push to talk) button and let the actual laugh go - if it's funny.
In the virtual world of WOW without voice chat running through stormwind; a guy making a joke about gnome rogues (er.. blush?) would be met with dead silence until people could type out 'I am laughing out loud right now, literally- after your joke about gnomes.'
There's no middle ground, so don't discount my simplification.
I do grant you- words like 'ur' are just stupid when it takes two additional keystrokes to type 'your'. 'Ne1' I've never seen used in play, but I'd also stray away from users of such a simple word contraction. 'Any1' I could deal with. Really.
Less QQ more PEW PEW? It's FUNNY!! (Okay, not after you make a mockery of it, but it was before- and not after there's one on every server...) it's the translation of 'Quit 'ya cryin!'
I come home after 17+ (easily) hours at the office because I've got employees that are REALLY ignorant and won't do their jobs- I've been typing out formal drafts and bid reports all day. If I slip up and misspell 'rogue', you've got two options: 1) Assume I'm a moron and never group with me (fine by me); or 2) Concede that I might have made a (gasp) spelling error, and let it pass!!
Scary, huh?
Chris
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7-17-2007 @ 9:18PM
dean.speedway said...
ummmm... hate to break it to you but the Rogue/rouge thing is actully a very common typo for touch typists. Sure- some people genuinely don't know how to spell but I often make that mistake when typing too damn fast in chat(often while trying to defend a flag in a BG at the same time!)
eg : "eeeek! Rouge in teh fR! hepl!" while spamming my noob insta win trick (nerf it now!)
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7-17-2007 @ 9:18PM
dean.speedway said...
ummmm... hate to break it to you but the Rogue/rouge thing is actully a very common typo for touch typists. Sure- some people genuinely don't know how to spell but I often make that mistake when typing too damn fast in chat(often while trying to defend a flag in a BG at the same time!)
eg : "eeeek! Rouge in teh fR! hepl!" while spamming my noob insta win trick (nerf it now!)
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7-17-2007 @ 9:22PM
Milktub said...
#7 had a nice response. As much as I hate shorthand and prefer to see nicely written chatter, when you're in the middle of a grind and want to chat, it's a trade off. Do you pause between fights to write out "that's funny, I'm laughing now" or do you press "r" then type in "lol" and hit enter while still fighting?
For me the problem with children playing is the level of social competency. For two months I had this kid who couldn't understand that I wasn't going to drop my own needs for two hours to drag him through ZF. Or the kid who started calling my wife "slut" and "bitch" when she was running him through SFK because she asked him to share some of the drops with her to disenchant ... then when she kicked him from the group and ignored him, signed onto an alt and continued to verbally abuse her. That's what really bothers me.
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7-17-2007 @ 9:35PM
Mike said...
They're: Look at those noobs, they're the worst player's I've ever seen.
There: Over there in the barrens you will find noobs to pwn.
Their: I'm so old that those noobs and their leet speak make my back ache.
Your: Your pet is on aggressive, noob!
You're: You're not really going to try to tank without a shield, are you?!
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7-17-2007 @ 9:41PM
Chris M said...
Player's: That is the player's character.
Players: Look at those noobs, they're the worst players I've ever seen.
;)
Chris
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7-17-2007 @ 9:46PM
Mike said...
@12:
I swear that I thought:
Should I look over this before posting so that I don't mess up my grammar and look like a fool? ...nah
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7-17-2007 @ 9:49PM
Chris M said...
And case in point- like the Rogue/Rouge sentiment. Correct someone, laugh with them- and move on! Or skip steps 1 and 2, if you so desire.
;)
Chris
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7-17-2007 @ 10:03PM
Paul said...
Maybe someone already said this, but there is a difference between "leet speak" and abbreviating.
Leet speak annoys me, but abbreviating is just good sense, especially when you type at a computer all day at work as it is, and then go home and type more.
What makes me the most mad is people using the word "noob" in a non-ironic fashion. I guarantee you that no mature, intelligent person has ever called someone a noob in a non-ironic way.
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7-17-2007 @ 10:23PM
DontLetsStart said...
I just think using text speak is rude. It says "In order to save me a couple of milliseconds typing, I'm going to make everyone who reads this (possibly hundreds of people if I'm on city trade) spend those extra milliseconds working out what it is I'm saying".
As far as I'm concerned, such an indicator of gross selfishness is a good reason not to group with someone.
Mis-spellings don't bother me so much, since they're usually not intentional.
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7-17-2007 @ 10:44PM
Varatil said...
My attitude toward shorthand generally tends to differ given the subject. Something as short 'any' reduced one letter, not worth it (this from the guy who says "pallies" and "shammies") but brb, g2g, and lol (really no better way to say it) I'm fine with. Actually, as a profound advocate of 'internet culture' (I'm still working on the faxmonkey page for wowwiki) I say lol in real life when I think something's funny but can't get an actual laugh out.
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7-17-2007 @ 11:38PM
Sam said...
Leetspeak annoys the hell out of me, I'm fourteen. Luckily, my guild has very strict grammar rules. I'm part of the Penny-Arcade alliance, yes, the webcomics. The PAA was founded by the creators on the Dark Iron server. Anywho, the series of comics my guild branch is based around are very.... "Educated", if not insanely random.
Because of this, we don't allow leetspeak or incomplete sentences. I try to be as nice as possible to younger players, many of whom are too young to play anyway, but I try. Call me young and angry, but hey, I think I'm lucky to be in a guild that enforces that sort of thing.
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7-17-2007 @ 11:41PM
Chris Deke said...
I think a lot of the people posting the "get over it its just shorthand" posts haven't truly felt how bad this can get. An example from recent memory is "wut u prb" in party chat, after I got pissy at a warlock CONSTANTLY pulling aggro off the tank. These people have mutilated the english language out of sheer laziness, and to the point that it actually takes some time for me to decipher. This royally pisses me off, just put those 4 extra letters in there so your message doesn't make my eyes bleed, ok? Then I won't spend the rest of the instance purposefully dumping aggro on you so you die, over and over again.
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7-17-2007 @ 11:47PM
Chris M said...
@19 - The 'get over it, it's just shorthand' mantra only applies to shorthand. What you experienced from that warlock was most certainly not shorthand; it was pure leetspeak, unfiltered, unabridged. That, I cannot deal with.
'Whats your prob?' I would have been fine with- 'Whats your beef?' is fine too- seems to be a common term nowadays. 'wut ur prob' isn't even a question. It's sorta a statement.. not even really a statement.
Chris
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