It is no longer cool to LOL (Laugh Out Loud). It may have actually been uncool several months ago, but I tend to be the last to know about this sort of thing. In fact, I’m not even sure it’s cool to say “cool” any more, but let’s take one outdated phrase at a time.
Now I’m well aware that such phrases have a life cycle. A cool phrase starts with the cool people, of course, usually the teenager or the college student. Next, it’s adopted by the others, i.e. the wannabes, the nerds, and the younger kids. The parents then catch on and what was once a cool phrase finds its way onto t-shirts, bumper stickers, advertisements and in cheesey novelty music. Eventually, the cool kids retire the phrase, giving way to something fresh and new, and the rest of the world catches wind.
So why am I wasting a post on the loss of my favorite go-to response? Because LOL is hard for me to give up completely. First of all, it’s really easy to type. No explanation required there. Secondly, if a friend just said something funny (see below) which really does make me laugh out loud, I feel the responsibility to express that via text/chat/email/Facebook comment.
Person 1: I just farted.
Person 2: LOL
Thirdly, even when I’m NOT laughing out loud and maybe just chuckling, smiling to myself or even sneering, the use of LOL at least gives the friend the illusion that I find their statement comical and that I’m engaged somewhat in the conversation. Next example:
Person 1: I just spilled hot coffee on my pants and am a hot mess.
Person 2: LOL
Finally, and this is the one I’ll miss the most, there is the statement to which I really don’t know how to reply at all, such as the one below. Perhaps I don’t even want to bother to finish reading it. Perhaps I’m distracted, I’m multi-tasking…or maybe I just don’t give a rip. But at first glance, I already know that the stock go-to response is in order.
Person 1: Great day today! I wrecked my car and was late for work. Then I spilled hot coffee on my pants, which burned through the top layer of my skin, and I farted. My co-workers complained, I was written up for being late, making a mess in the break room, and farting, and I told my boss where to go. That’s when I got fired. I was mugged on the bus. And to top it all off, when I finally got home, I learned my pet gerbil had died.
Person 2: lol
Now you see my dilemma. What do I say now? If I’m really laughing out loud, do I revert to the tried-and-true “hahaha”, “heh hehe” or “tee hee”? This could get tiresome after a while, and I feel some variety is in order. There are the emoticons 
but these require too much effort and a risk 0f being too cutesy. I could add a (wink, wink) at the end, but that could be misconstrued if directed at the wrong person. Or I could skip all of the above and just say what I need to say. PERIOD. The problem with THAT is that my sarcasm doesn’t always translate on the world wide web and I risk being defriended, blocked, or (gasp) shunned in the real world. Assuming JK (just kidding) is also being retired, I’m not seeing any viable options here.
Until I sort this whole thing out, I think I’ll just play it safe and plead the 5th, LOL.
If you liked this post, you might like Guess What? I’m A Facebook Creeper.
It has always been one of those overused phrases anyway. Very funny blog.
Thanks, and I agree…just need a good substitute. Love the blog name, by the way.
I’m watching an episode of Mythbusters with Obama in it, he said Mythbusters is “cool”. So I guess that makes “cool” cool still? or? :p
Anyway …
Got introduced to “lol” through computer gaming. It was overused to the extent that it stopped carrying any momentum, so people started using ROFL, LMAO, ROFLMAO, ROFLCOPTER and god knows what. As soon as one gets diluted, they add a new and more ridiculous one. I try to never use “lol”, I use “hehe” or “hihi” depending on what describes my response best. But I have no problem with people using “lol” or “lmao” when it’s appropriate. The other ones not so much.
Your posts are often “lol” though.
This one was a “hihi” I think
I also like using some emoticons because emotions is a part that is missing when commenting, and emoticons reduce the difficulty of expressing the felt emotions in short texts.
I love your comment, and that’s a great idea….I’m going to start using ROFLSHIJPIMPANSD = Rolling on the floor laughing so hard I just peed in my pants and need some Depends. Thanks!
LOL
What’s a person to do? I felt like my exchanging “far out” for “cool” was quite a momentous occasion for me. Are you telling me that I now have to get rid of “cool” AND “lol?” Ain’t gonna happen in my life time! Now that I have expressed my opinion on that issue, I did want to comment on my reactionwhen I was done reading your post. LOL so thanks!
I will always say “cool”, no matter what anybody says. Nothing can take its place! I may even still thrown in a “groovy” here and there!
Thanks for your ever hilarious blog. If you are wondering how we met, I found you on “Freshly Pressed” and subscribed immediately.
Have your heard of David Mitchell? Not the ‘Cloud Atlas’ guy but the comedian? He has a youtube channel which is often funny and always interesting and he did one on LOL. Thought you might like the link: http://www.youtube.com/user/davidmitchellsoapbox#p/u/17/j_x5cfdwP98
Thanks! Glad you’re still around. I’ll have to check the video out when I get back on my laptop. Can you believe they have now blocked YouTube at my office? Haha.
I’ve always used “haha.” Then again, I am that weirdo who at least attempts to use correct spelling, punctuation, and capitalization in text messages. I was never really in the “in” crowd, even if I was using instant messaging in elementary school (mostly with my grandma…)
I’m all about correct spelling and punctuation too. I hate when people use too many shortcuts.
I have always been against lol, I loathe it. So hearing that its out is now a major victory for the “hahahaha” people of the world!!!
Yeah, I even hate lol a little bit, but so easy to use…and to overuse. You know it’s bad when you start writing emails at work and have to remove the lol’s (hahaha)!
ROFL!
LMAO! These are dead now too, right? Now I really don’t know what to use!
“I spilled hot coffee on my pants, which burned through the top layer of my skin, and I farted.”
I have just screamed laughing in my office ….people are getting worried
I love LOLOLOLOLOLOL
Okay, I’ve been summarily shamed. . . LOL!
Me too…my day of reckoning came when my nephew wrote a facebook status that he would defriend people for saying LOL. I’m so behind the times!
LOLing at this. nah, i feel dirty now (;
playin, but i never did feel comfy saying it anyways
Chuckling inside right now…
Is there a way we can find those few people that still think that using LOL is cool and make them read this blog?
Yeah…a Facebook post! (shameless plug there, I know)
LOL! And to you my new BFF I mean it! You just make me chuckle, laugh out loud, smirk with a twinkle…whatever you want to call it. So LOL, haha, hee hee,
, and all that will translate that you made me LAUGH! What a truly delightful quality in a person!
Awwww…thanks! You always have the best comments! I’m tickled pink! BTW, I wonder if BFF is still okay…I don’t know what’s cool anymore!
I have NEVER used LOL for it’s intended purpose. It’s lazy and sooooo lame.
I’ve stopped using ‘cray-cray’ (but to my credit, I’ve only used it about 4 times) because the uber-unfunny “Whitney” used it several times on her show.
Cray Cray ????? LOLOLOLOLOLOL what is that ?
Cray-Cray? That’s a new one to me. What is it?