Thoughts On 'l337' Speak

MoonMoon Join Date: 2002-11-16 Member: 8873Members
edited July 2003 in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">-- save the english language --</div> Is anyone else out there bothered by the constant use of "leet"-isms ?

In all seriousness, is it a good thing for the younger generation to use inane lingo instead of reasonable english ? What sort of life skills are they gaining by doing this ?

I'd be curious as to the history of 'l337'... anyone have ideas as to how this all got started ?
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Comments

  • acer_r1acer_r1 Join Date: 2003-03-11 Member: 14397Banned
    one day a guy got 15 head shots in one round with the tmp and he was blessed by god with l337 and it has spread cuz of that........
  • BigMadSteveBigMadSteve Join Date: 2003-02-12 Member: 13472Members
    edited July 2003
    Not sure how it got started but <a href='http://www.ninjalane.com/leet.aspx' target='_blank'>here</a> is a website for some reference. I don't like "elite" speak and I don't think this site allows it. It can be funny but in most cases it's annoying and unreadable.

    EDIT: lol acer our sigs are almost identical
  • Cereal_KillRCereal_KillR Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1837Members
    great minds think alike?


    leetspeak has been invented in the Quake community I believe, among the "leetest players" <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • esunaesuna Rock Bottom Join Date: 2003-04-03 Member: 15175Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin--Moon+Jul 15 2003, 07:04 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Moon @ Jul 15 2003, 07:04 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> In all seriousness, is it a good thing for the younger generation to use inane lingo instead of reasonable english ? What sort of life skills are they gaining by doing this ? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    i'm going to be brief with my reply, since i have extensive issues with "13.37" speak, "SMS" speak, and so on.

    Yes, i believe that it is effecting the youth, i have a friend that works for an examining body in the UK who's told me on several occasions that she's seen children use "SMS speak" in their exam papers (for example: "Today i went 2 the mall to b with my friends"). English included. This is being encouraged, not only by the extensive use of mobile phones in the UK, but by films, tv shows and so on. Some examples being "2 Fast 2 Furious" and "Cradle 2 Tha Grave". Considering what an immense influence the media is on children these days, they're doing nothing but encouraging the poor use of English.

    And before anyone brings in the whole "English is a constantly evolving language and this is natural". This is not natural. Changing the spelling of words such as "Through" to "Thru" would be understandable, since "Through" really does have too many unecessary letters. I fear that the entire English language is going down the pan.

    And as far as the English language goes, it's a sad, sad day when the word "Bling" is added to the Oxford dictionary as a recognised word.
  • LikuLiku I, am the Somberlain. Join Date: 2003-01-10 Member: 12128Members
    It's been discused, but people that speak "elite" are lame.
  • Mr-StabbyMr-Stabby Join Date: 2003-03-11 Member: 14401Banned
    I agree with :esuna:

    I have written many "SMS" style words in my essays at college, so much so that my tutor pulled me aside and commented about this. But I don't do it on purpose, I just happen to use my mobile phone a lot

    as for "elite" speak, I hate it, god knows who invented it!
  • moultanomoultano Creator of ns_shiva. Join Date: 2002-12-14 Member: 10806Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Gold, NS2 Community Developer, Pistachionauts
    I think the origin of "elite" speak is in hacker communication channels. The idea was to replace letters with numbers to avoid government datamining software that the subjects of their text might set off.
  • xioutlawixxioutlawix Join Date: 2002-11-05 Member: 7118Members, Constellation
    Inasmuch as the argument against l337 speak goes, I really think the problem isn't that the children are picking up l337 speak through the internet and using it as text in their essays, I think the problem is they're not being told that it's improper to be using it formally. I know if I was a child who developed a habit of typing in l337speak or sms in my essays, all it would take is a small talk from my teachers or parents to correct the behavior. If these children are getting this talk, and continuing to do so, then the problem lies with the fact they're not learning proper english to begin with (and thus don't know any better), not that they're picking up some new style of shorthand from the digital world.
  • DOOManiacDOOManiac Worst. Critic. Ever. Join Date: 2002-04-17 Member: 462Members, NS1 Playtester
    <!--QuoteBegin--moultano+Jul 15 2003, 06:18 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (moultano @ Jul 15 2003, 06:18 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I think the origin of "elite" speak is in hacker communication channels. The idea was to replace letters with numbers to avoid government datamining software that the subjects of their text might set off. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    correct, although now serious hackers have abandoned this. Its now solely in the realm of games that the "elite" thrives.

    Personally, I think its a fun and innocent use of slang to say things like ""elite"" "r0x0r" "pwn' etc, but of course only appropriate ingame or on irc.

    People who think that these slang terms are actual words, I pity. The teachers whom have to read the essays of JohnnyB321@hotmail.com, I pity. But the ones I pity the most are the ones who honestly don't know when l33tspeak is appropriate and when it is not.

    A good example of this, I was in the living room and mom was flipping channels, she went to one show were a teenager was talking with her boyfriend and her dad walks in. The boyfriend gets up and says "well, g2g". He SAYS "gee to gee". Outloud. As if it was words. Blasted cell phone text messaging...
  • SpceM0nkeySpceM0nkey Join Date: 2003-01-19 Member: 12480Members
    edited July 2003
    The english language has been evolving since its birth. Before |33+ 5p3@|< there was advertising. Nike did research and found that most people can only remember three word slogans. And that small, popcorn phrases work best. hence "Just Do It". Going back a few centuries the major force of change in language was the church. The church dictated who was educated, to what level and how they would communicate.

    I remember when my mother went through school they would teach you grammer and spelling. When I went through school ( 2 years ago) grammer was not taught. Most kids these days couldnt tell the different between subject and predicate. I wonder whether this is positive or a negative for soceity.

    But generally I think that greater communication in any form is the way to go. People arent concerned with complexity. The texture of language, whether you follow a harsh syllable with a soft syllable to make a subtler point. People want greater interconnectivity. Its more important that people feel impowered to speak to eachother and to express their opinion in any form that they may. I am dissappointed by the degradation of the English language, however I will always have example of language in its purest form. Classic books, literature journals, my uni assignments *cough yer right*.

    That said there will always be people able to write great things and people who know how to appreciate them.

    Cheers.


    ps. schooling in Australia has dropped grammer (as a distinctly taught rule by rule entity) in its syllabus.

    edit: well that was way off topic and barely made a passing remark at the leetspeak issue. leetspeak is kinda silly i suppose. But i remember my friend in highschool used to be able to talk fluently and extremely fast in pig latin (igpay atinlay) which was fun. so if you want to say OMG WTH HAX! the more power to you.

    edit2: whee!! I am a minon. I pwn j00.... wait... some sort of irony there.
  • MulletMullet Join Date: 2003-04-28 Member: 15910Members, Constellation
    I think its funny every once in a while...but not when people do whole paragrphs of it....*headache*
  • DiablusDiablus Join Date: 2003-03-31 Member: 15080Members
    0]-[z!!!! j00 +4L|<1ng @b0u+ L4ngU4g3 l13k t15???!!!!



    a cookie AND milk for the person who can understand what i just wrote <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • SoulSkorpionSoulSkorpion Join Date: 2002-04-12 Member: 423Members
    It doesn't bother me. I think it's kinda funny. People who take it seriously bother me, though. It's what you say, not how you say it <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • Butt_monkey_saladButt_monkey_salad Join Date: 2002-12-17 Member: 11006Banned
    I like how on the AAO forums, the word "n00b", for example, is always automatically replaced with "inexperienced player" when u submit a post. Not sure about the word l337 though. I too would rather have it replaced with something simple like "aiming-professionist" or something of the like.
  • UltimaGeckoUltimaGecko hates endnotes Join Date: 2003-05-14 Member: 16320Members
    Outside of games or forums, 'elite' speak annoys the heck outta me...it's right up there with replacing s's with z's for no reason (ex Nabisco Cookie Barz (they pi...annoy me). Anyone who uses it out of a game or forum should be beaten, preferably with a blunt object (so they can be beaten longer). When used it should be 1 - 3 words and no more. Anyone that uses it in an actual serious tone should also be beaten.

    Whoever thought up j00 as you should be summarily shot, after being beaten, and then they should be dismembered, by a cheese grater.

    People in Everquest started to annoy me too with the j00. I think thats where the woot came from too. I was walking in the oasis or something...and just a woot outta nowhere, hooray, loot. I would think it was chosen since it rhymes with loot...."Woot, loot!" or something

    The only elite word that should ever be changed into an actual word is woot, since it's exclaimation like wow, or cool. Wootage would also be exceptable, as it describes a state of awe.

    So UltimaGecko feels, so UltimaGecko feels it should be done.



    Listening to: Open Up, by Dispatch
    ...So it is wriiten, so it shall be done...at least I think so.
  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    I'm fine with t3h sp34kz0r. It's okay in internet use because nothing you say matters, and even if you **** someone off it's not like you can expect to play a game these days and not get **** off. If you're a teacher, just clearly explain to the class that a misspelled word will be treated as if it does not exist, and the paper will be graded accordingly. Case closed.
  • ZelZel Join Date: 2003-01-27 Member: 12861Members
    theres no reason to prevent these things from changing and evolving the language.
  • eedioteediot Join Date: 2003-02-24 Member: 13903Members
    edited July 2003
    NOBODY uses '"elite" speak' as a subsititute for their primary language. nobody.

    it just does not happen, its more of a sarcastic "|-|3'/ /\/3\/\/|313" thing.

    edit: idiotspeak, however, is an entirely different matter. 13 yr old girls and retarded conformists around the planet use this online a lot. one guy who used to be semi-intellectual, or at least smart enough to scoff at all the other retards, has recently [about less than a year ago] decided he wants to be 'cool'. hes become a groupie, and on the internet speaks in 'idiotspeak' and is an idiot. i dont think he quite understands how transparent he is.
  • AegeriAegeri Join Date: 2003-02-13 Member: 13486Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--Zel+Jul 15 2003, 09:43 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Zel @ Jul 15 2003, 09:43 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> theres no reason to prevent these things from changing and evolving the language. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    The real thing is are you actually 'evolving' the language? It is true that the computer age is having a massive effect on the way we are speaking and writing. The internet is probably the main thing for this but more aspects of internet culture are flowing into normal media. It won't be very long until it is well known by everyone.

    This is typical of English in general, but should we really allow it? Well probably. If people understand you there really isn't anything to worry about in casual conversation, but when you write like that in exams in the like you should probably be butchered.

    Eh, anyone who ever wrote an exam answer like that to me would get an F.
  • ShloomShloom Join Date: 2002-07-25 Member: 997Members
    0/\/\g h4x j00z 4|| |2 73h f3gz!!!11
  • BigMadSteveBigMadSteve Join Date: 2003-02-12 Member: 13472Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--Butt monkey salad+Jul 15 2003, 09:23 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Butt monkey salad @ Jul 15 2003, 09:23 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I like how on the AAO forums, the word "n00b", for example, is always automatically replaced with "inexperienced player" when u submit a post. Not sure about the word l337 though. I too would rather have it replaced with something simple like "aiming-professionist" or something of the like. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    It does that automatically in the game too. If you say newbie it says "inexperienced soldier." If you say "He camps!" it says "He uses tactics." Or if you say "He is a camper!" it will say "He is a tactician!" Gotta luv it <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • esunaesuna Rock Bottom Join Date: 2003-04-03 Member: 15175Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin--UltimaGecko+Jul 15 2003, 09:31 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (UltimaGecko @ Jul 15 2003, 09:31 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> People in Everquest started to annoy me too with the j00. I think thats where the woot came from too. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    "w00t" stems back further. As i've been lead to believe it's an exclamation of happiness, etc, when gaining "root" on a server, from old hacking circles way-back-when. Feel free to correct me if i'm wrong.

    To be honest, i, myself, have been guilty of saying internet acronyms out loud. Exclaiming "lol" and "bee-are-bee" when appropriate. This is due to the abnormal amount of time i spend on the internet. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->

    But i know right from wrong. I know how to speak and write in clear English. Maybe not perfect grammar, but good enough to make what i say coherant. This decay in grammar and spelling isn't because of the schooling system. I know the syllabus hasn't changed that drastically since i left school (4 years ago) and i am literate. These kids need it beaten into them that "SMS speak" and ""elite" speak" are in no way acceptable forms of spelling or grammar and need to speak in proper English.
  • PerfectionsFlawPerfectionsFlaw Join Date: 2003-02-14 Member: 13555Members
    I've been on IRC since about 1996 or 1997 and I witnessed the birth of l337 heh. I hate it in all it's being, but I do know how it came about. It had nothing to do with headshotting or that I knew of at the time. Back in the day or 33.6k when the worst thing you could possibily do to someone was nuke or icmp them. Anyhow, first people were saying "We're elite! Don't mess with us!" They knew proper English I praise them for that, but condemn them for being the fathers of this poorly thought out creation. Later people were saying "I'm leet! Foo!" They still used letters, later came the letters we all know and love <i>(I say that in the most sarcastic of tones)</i> "\/\/e 0wnz j00! 4 \/\/ are "elite"" Where the number idea came from I have no clue.

    Err, second look at it and I know exactly where the numbers came from!!! Calculators!! Back in the day when I was in 6th grade we spelled words with numbers on calculators!! Either you punched in numbers and there was a word or you flipped it over after entering a few digits. That's where l337 came from!!! The mystery is solved!! The people who birthed l337 are those little geeks in school who continually spelled out 'Boobs' on their calculators with the numbers '80085'
  • esunaesuna Rock Bottom Join Date: 2003-04-03 Member: 15175Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin--PerfectionsFlaw+Jul 16 2003, 03:49 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (PerfectionsFlaw @ Jul 16 2003, 03:49 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Back in the day or 33.6k <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Nubcaek. 14.4 old school elite, represent <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->

    I've still got an old analogue modem around somewhere too.
  • RPG_JssmfulhudRPG_Jssmfulhud Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4006Members
    I don't mind if people use "elite" speak, if it's measured to a moderate level and at appropriate times. But if someone uses "elite" speak constantly, literally speaking a different language, it gets annoying really quick. Whether I'll understand the person is based on, how much effort I'll put in "decyphering" the "eliteness" and what "level" of "eliteness" it is (I'll understand 'pwn' or 'roxorz' but I certainly won't understand 0/\/\g h4x j00z 4|| |2 73h f3gz!!!11 right from the start...). And of course, it's based on my mood. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->

    To sum it up, I don't mind seeing "elite" talk every once in a while, especially when it serves a humorous purpose. But I certainly won't go eating whole novels written in that...
  • PerfectionsFlawPerfectionsFlaw Join Date: 2003-02-14 Member: 13555Members
    Err, I don't really like the idea of calling it a language, it gives them too much meritt to carry on. It's slang, if anything the white boy's way of getting back at Ebonics. Neither are a real language get it through. Killing boredom will kill invention, this will effectively get rid of any future slang while ridding the world of any new creations or ideas. Small price to pay eh? Heh.

    A true player, no matter what the sport or game, devotes himself to the playing not the gloating. L337 was developed for gloating and that is why so many despise it. Does a person really get to the point where he can not sit for fifthteen minutes putting together one l337 sentence? If he can then I pity him, some times I try this and it takes me even longer because I find the idea so absurd. But one should know thy enemy, and know him well because at the end of the story he'll turn out to be your brother or father. And lo behold having a disfunctional family is not a good thing. <b><i>::snickers under his breath::</b></i>
  • RPG_JssmfulhudRPG_Jssmfulhud Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4006Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--PerfectionsFlaw+Jul 16 2003, 11:23 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (PerfectionsFlaw @ Jul 16 2003, 11:23 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Err, I don't really like the idea of calling it a language, it gives them too much meritt to carry on. It's slang, if anything the white boy's way of getting back at Ebonics. Neither are a real language get it through. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Please note that I used the word 'language' as to make an observation, of how these people 'see' the "elite" speak... <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • StarchyStarchy Join Date: 2003-04-21 Member: 15727Members, Constellation
    It does make me laugh when some complete **** kills 3 people and doesn't shut the hell up about him beiing ""elite"" <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif'><!--endemo--> :
  • esunaesuna Rock Bottom Join Date: 2003-04-03 Member: 15175Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin--Starchy+Jul 16 2003, 04:50 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Starchy @ Jul 16 2003, 04:50 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> It does make me laugh when some complete **** kills 3 people and doesn't shut the hell up about him beiing ""elite"" <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif'><!--endemo--> : <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Just because you've still not got your first kill in NS yet. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    When I started using "lol" irl, I realized that I had already gone too far down the slope of bad articulation, at that it had to END. I mentally slapped myself every time I said lol, and after some time it was over. I still use "lol" and occasionally "rofl" when chatting or playing, but I'm fine with that. Similarly, I have no problems with abreviations (like irl), and I've never used them irl. Now, I typically only use "elite" speak for style, for example if I want to ridicule "elite" h4x0rz. I was only waiting for SMS-talk to have an impact on spelling. It had to happen. Fortunately I'm unaffected.
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