While not exactly school related, I thought it might interest you. our language is changing to the point where we, and especially our students, speak in acronyms. We’ve shortened our language into a series of letters and numbers, and I fear it will only progress until our entire method of communication is a series of bleeps and burps, codes and signs, and today I noticed a new marker of this change written on the bedroom window of my neighbor’s house.
The neighbors have about fifteen kids, and they’re all afraid to come into our yard to retrieve the footballs and soccer balls and bouncy balls that land on our lawn — they always send the neighbor kid to do that.
Anyway, while I was mowing the lawn after school (what better way to relieve any built-up tension than to kill a bunch of grass) I noticed a message written in marker on one of the bedroom windows. It read: Kylie and Marcus BFFF.
Now, I understand BFF. It’s “Best Friends Forever.” Everybody knows that. It’s been used so much that it’s even shown up in commercials. Another web acronym (known heretofore as chatspeak) that’s shown up in commercials lately is OMFG, or “Oh my fucking god.” I’d like to think we all know that one, too.
But the neighbor kids have BFFF written on their window, and I’m puzzled. Are they trying to mix up the acronyms? Are they trying to insert a swear word into their emblazoned declaration of friendship? Are they part of the conglomerate British Frozen Food Federation? Do they stutter? Who knows.
It’s interesting, and I must admit that as I mowed the lawn I was chanting to myself:
- Best friends forever, finally.
- Best friends for-fucking-ever
- Banking For Foreign Finances
- Blue Fish Find (Other) Fish
Again, who knows.
If it’s the first, then fine. If it’s the second, that just doesn’t match the acronym; where’s the E?. If it’s the third, then I need to talk to those teenager about refinancing my home. If it’s the fourth or any others, then I’m at a total loss.
Ultimately I figured it was a sign written by the parents, reading:
- Best Friends Fucking Forever
Because, wouldn’t that be a memorable wedding vow?
These kids have taken something understood and changed it, and now I don’t know what to do with myself. I feel like Richard Dreyfuss in Close Encounters of the Third Kind — What does it all mean?
Filed under: Chat
Wait until they start adding apostrophes to pleurals. It might read BFF’sF. Have another Dead Guy!
You mean Dead Guy’s. I’m having lot’s of them’s.
Too funny! It’s really irritating when they say these acronyms in normal conversation. Why say LOL when you can just laugh for pete’s sake?!
Trying to decode them is fun… I’m voting for the third choice!
Although it you think about it, our nation is becoming so acronym-dependent. Today we took the TAKs, which tests the TEKs. My AP monitored to make sure my SpED kids were taken care of, especially since the ARFs were held up by the TEA.
Oy vey!
Took me a while to figure out YMMV (“your mileage may vary,” which you probably figured out a long time ago!)
Somewhat OT (off-topic): how do you think about “the line” in terms of your posts here? Do you think about your boss reading these posts? Your parents? I’ve been exploring this over at http://relaxnoreally.blogspot.com/2008/04/seeding-conversation.html … would love to hear your thoughts as someone who seems pretty comfortable being “out there.”
I recently went to a comedy show where the comedian encouraged us to drone “LOL” instead of laughing if we were more comfortable with that.