This article describes some of the etiquette, abbreviations, and emoticons
commonly used on the Internet.
Chat Etiquette
Good manners are as important online as they are in person. The impression
you make online depends on how well you know the rules. The following
etiquette rules are commonly used on the Internet.
- Do not type in capital letters. It is considered the electronic
equivalent of shouting and is frowned upon.
- Refrain from using abusive language.
- Refrain from overuse of sounds and colors.
- Do not expect a hello or goodbye from everyone in the room.
- Age and sex (A/S) questions are dependent on the channel and are
generally frowned upon.
- Do not demand to be a host; host privileges are given as a courtesy.
- Do not send comic mode to non-Microsoft Chat users. See the following
article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base for information about how to
chat with participants who are not using Microsoft Chat:
165900
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/165900/EN-US/
)
Interoperability Between Microsoft Chat and Internet Relay Chat
- Do not sit in multiple rooms unless you can actively participate in the
conversation. If have to leave for a moment, type "BRB" (be right back)
or "BBL" (be back later) so that other users know that you are away and
are not ignoring them when they speak to you. You can also click Away
From Keyboard.
- Consider the nickname that you use for the room. Some nicknames may be
offensive to others.
- Do not harass others with whispers if they ask not to be disturbed.
- When you ask for help, be polite and do not badger people. If possible,
go to a Help room or read the Help file or manual.
- Refrain from "dancing" in Microsoft Chat. This is done by pressing the
ENTER key to scroll through all of the emotions. Doing this sends
unnecessary information to other users and is considered very annoying.
- Do not send files without asking or having been asked.
Chat Abbreviations
Internet chat abbreviations are commonly used online to save time typing
words. Some of the many available chat abbreviations include:
Abbreviation Meaning
--------------------------------------------
NP No problem
AFK Away from the keyboard
WB Welcome back
L8r! Later!
BRB Be right back
BBL Be back later
BBIAB Be back in a bit
BTW By the way
IRL In real life
j/k Just kidding
CYA See ya
OIC Oh I see
GMTA Great minds think alike
IMHO In my humble opinion
PMFJI Pardon me for jumping in here
WTG! Way to go!
LOL Laughing out loud
ROFL Rolling on floor laughing
<g> Small grin
<s> Small smile
<S> Big smile
<G> Big grin
<vbg> Very big grin
<eg> Evil grin
Chat Emoticons
Emoticons are sideways faces that express emotion. Usually a colon is used
for the eyes and a parenthesis for the mouth. Below are some examples:
Emoticon Meaning
----------------------------------
:-) Smile
:) Smile
0:-) Smile with halo
:^) Smile with a nose
:o) Smile with a pudgy nose
:~( Crying
:-o Oh no!
:-( Frown
:( Frown
;-) Wink/Flirt
;) Wink/Flirt
:-x No comment
:-| Expressionless
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