WebRev Blog

You know how it is...you call your IT help desk, or website administrator, and ask what you think is a simple question, like: How do I get my blog posts to show up on Twitter.  If you get an answer that contains six acronyms and three other technical terms, and you still have no idea how to get your blog posts to show up on Twitter...you're probably being buffaloed.  There are a number of possible reasons for this;  maybe your IT buddy:

1. Doesn't want to deal with your question at the moment, and bewildering you will make the question go away.
2. Doesn't actually know how to make your posts show up on Twitter, and doesn't want to admit it.
3. Is anxious to impress you with his vast knowledge of the world of tech-speak.
4. Is brillian with computers, bu has no people skills.

What to do?  If you have received your answer in writing, you have the option to look up all of those confusing words and terms (try NetLingo.com, or the Berkeley Library).  If you don't have time to do this (probably you don't, or you wouldn't have asked your IT buddy for help in the first place), you can simply insist that your IT expert slow down, and use plain English.  Yes, you can do that, and most "technical" concepts can (and should) be explained in layman's terms.  If your web administrator or help desk personnel really know their stuff, they will be able to explain what you need to know in a clear, easy-to-understand manner.  Insist on it.

As time goes on, you will also need to update your internet vocabulary.  You'll be able to do this by subscribing to tech blogs in your feed reader.  Keep in mind that there is usually more than one "correct" way to do anything technical, and even the geekiest of geeks does not know everything. Remember that technology is changing and developing on a daily basis, and even the experts often have time keeping up. Don't be afraid to ask questions - it's the only way to learn.

Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is a trainer and tech writer in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking. Her weakness is the mocha frappuccino.

NWAL, here ROFL! (NTTAWTT). 

No, that’s not programming code. That’s text-message slang, and those are internet acronyms. Translation: Nerd without a life, here! (Not that there’s anything wrong with that).

If you know someone who likes to use text-messaging or instant messaging (IM), then you’ve no doubt been stumped by this shorthand, which is working its way into the fabric of our language and culture.

I was at Quik Trip getting my morning caffeine fix a few days ago, when these teens were talking to one another. One asked a question, and the other replied (verbally) “I-D-K.” I finally figured out that was “I don’t know.” On a morning talk show recently, the hosts were joking about using “LOL” (laughing out loud) sarcastically at the end of sentences to get away with saying things that normally would be socially unacceptable to say (i.e. “Well, isn’t that a fun hairdo! L-O-L”).

So, what to do? If someone sends you one of these abbreviations, and you don’t know what it means – it’s usually better not to guess. If you don’t have the time or desire to look it up, simply reply with a question mark (“?”), and hopefully they’ll clarify. If you want to look it up, there are a lot of good lists online. Sharpened Glossary has a pretty good list of the most common abbreviations.

Also, you might simply try entering the acronym in your search engine search box, (e.g. “define LOL” or “internet slang AFK”).

NetLingo is a rather comprehensive list of these acronyms. If you have any SNERTs (snotty-nosed egotistical rotten teens) in your life, you might want to text a couple of the more obscure ones to them, to see if they need to “WORD” up.

Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is a trainer and tech writer in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking. Her weakness is the mocha frappuccino.