L33T: Outmoded or Integral

[XjokerX]

Ted Easton in replying to one of my posts in General expressed the idea that I might find a more welcome niche here. I would repost my topics, but the BBS rules say nothing for or against this. Having been banned several times, I am unwilling to have my stuff pulled because of a simple misunderstanding. So here goes.

L33T emerged during the formative years of the then fledgling WWW. Like most trends, a simple idea went mainstream and soon everyone was using the abbreviated text for everything. And just like fads, what was once cute has now turned into a nuisance. This is not something uncommon, we see it everytime somebody posts a AYB tribute. Everytime one is submitted it is immediately responded to with "not again."
The question is whether or not L33T has outlived it's usefulness. How does one gauge the life spand on a trend? Member's Only Jackets. Slap Bracelets. These and more have come and died in the last few years. Yet L33T has far surpassed the expected ratio. Most generally when a fad reaches public understanding it is no longer considered "IN." Are we to expect now that shirts are being made boasting "PH3@R |V|3" that it'll just phase out?
It is this one person's opinion that as a subculture within another, that a definitive society has formed. By classic definition, a civilization is a culture that is set upon it's own particular practices, rituals, taboos, and langauge. Is it possible then to believe that for all it's worth, L33t has gone to secure asylum from the outside world? Created a stable form of life outside of reality?
I am not suggesting that life on line is made possible by L33T. I am, however, saying that this alternate life is given greater form by allowing us to speak in a form that is beyond the congenial niceties our native tongues permit. In my years on the ethernet, I've known people leagues apart able to communicate on the simple basis of L33T.
To refute this, all one needs to do is look upon the fact that now every man, woman and child familiar with the internet can in part read, write, and understand L33T. What made it cool was people's inability to understand. Only the elite knew what the jumbled, disjointed series of symbols, numbers, and letters met. By introducing a larger scale of people take away the status as a "members only" language. How cool is a secret handshake if everyone knows it? In another ten years time will we all still be sitting around and breaking our words into fragmented figures? I think not. While newbies/N00Bs can now blare all they want, it'll force L33T into a remission. true elitists will abandon the langauge as a lost cause and cut their losses. The fury of the times will sweep the trend into oblivion and some new catchy language will come into birth. All so folks can sit around and admire their own wit and cleverness.
L33T did not form the cirtical network our community is a part of. It did allow us the ability to speak more on the level without outsiders pressing in on us. yet the need to be cool has again driven something to be inane. If L33t is a true language then it'll adapt, or it will die out. It's as simple as that.

[Commander-K25]

\|/ |-| 4 7 '5 \|/ .- 0 |\| 6 \|/ ! 7 |-| 73|-| 1 3 3 7 5 |> 3 4 |< ?

Maybe we just need more obscure l33t?

[mrpopenfresh]

l337 was never something I ever used, let alone understood. The only time I ever use improper spelling and ponctuation is on online games when you don't have time to write full correct sentences. L337 speak is lame. I try and avoid because it deteriorates my english. By spelling "gay" as "ghey" over and over again is just simply not good to your english. Thankfully, english is my second language and final exam questions are, and i quote:"what colour is the blue car?" Back on the subject now, warping the english language into obscur and odd spellings that are sometimes even more time consuming than writing the actual normal word is just plain useless in my opinion. Abreviation spelling, although not as good as the regualr spelling and annoying after a while, is already more acceptable.

[TheShrike]

Heh. 133t suxxors.

Really, it does. Like ebonics, it is no substitute for 'real' english.

[Ted-Easton]

I think the real reason it lingers is because there are forever new people (either joining the WWW or just learning of it), who think it's new and exciting.
Just like we sometimes have noobs still flaming Penny Bain.

[mrpopenfresh]

At 7/7/03 09:11 AM, Ted_Easton wrote: I think the real reason it lingers is because there are forever new people (either joining the WWW or just learning of it), who think it's new and exciting.
Just like we sometimes have noobs still flaming Penny Bain.

True, kind of like how you think you can go around insulting everyone and saying you have a 12 inch long one because no one know who you are. With time comes maturity, and with maturity comes the notion that good english and writing non-stupid or insulting things is actually alot cooler than acting like an ass.

[FUNKbrs]

I don't know, I think 1337 has it's place in the www, only not as big as it once was. For example, people who use 1337 are clearly joking most of the time. To me, it's a substitute for tone of voice. If I want to sound intelligent, I won't use 1337, but if I'm just screwing around, it adds something. it's just like emoticons and /action, it fills in the gaps that plain text just can't accomplish alone.

\/\/|-|47 73|-| |-| ][5 \/\/.-0]\[6 \/\/][7|-| 73|-| 1337????//??

[TheShrike]

A|| j00r 1337 ar3 b3l0ng to [rap

[TheShrike]

A|| j00r 1337 ar3 b3l0ng to [rap

[AJ]

[rap haha

[XjokerX]

I have to agree with Easton here (hey mate) the problem is the amount of people trying to catch up. It breaks down our true lines of communication simply because people want to fit in with the whole group dynamic, but don't realize how retarded they sound.

[FUNKbrs]

At 7/7/03 04:54 PM, XjokerX wrote: I have to agree with Easton here (hey mate) the problem is the amount of people trying to catch up. It breaks down our true lines of communication simply because people want to fit in with the whole group dynamic, but don't realize how retarded they sound.

but that's the point. We're TRYING to look silly. 1337 never made anyone look intelligent. It made them look like a bunch of goofs or "elitists", but never intelligent.

][ 4|\/| 734 5][11`/!!!111!!

l337 5p34k si a j03k, d00dz.