Best of 2010 Cell Phone Acronyms

With the advancement of cell phone and computer technology, people have found a new way to communicate with one and another through the use of acronyms. When I first started texting six years ago, I would often receive messages written in a cryptic code of LOL's, LMAO, and BRB's. It took me forever to decode the meanings of these apparent abbreviated sentences. It took me just as long to learn how to use this new form Internet Lingo. Needless to say, I'm still no expert in the written dictation of this twenty first language, but, I am getting there. You might say it has been a necessity of late, seeing how last August my son got his first cell phone. The ever watchful parent, I have had to take a crash course in this very subject.

I think the first thing, a technology newbie like myself needs to realize, is that for the most part these technology lingo acronyms are universal. Although, I have found some slight differences in the lingo, based off of the sending user's country. There are also differences on what acronyms a sender will use, based off of a particular reason. For example, different age groups employ the use of some acronyms that another age might not. Like for instance, my fifteen year old son might use the acronyms PAW, P911 or POS. Which meanings are "Parent are watching," "Parental emergency," and "Parents over shoulder." Now since I'm an adult I have little use for these particular characters. However, they are dead are giveaways to knowing the age group of someone with whom you are communicating with.  

As for my son and myself, I guess you could say that we use the most common acronyms, and rarely do I use emoticons in my messages. It's literally takes me too long to remember and compute acronyms.  I wish the same could be said about my son Zachary. Whereas I can generally type a long sentence faster than I can remember a particular acronym, he can be off and running......, communicating with an entirely different person in the comparing time frame. I have personally found out that the Anti-drug Campaign's public website is a perfect resource for text messaging acronyms. They have put together a parental guide on mobile phone and Internet lingo, and there hidden meanings and uses.

• WYCM — Will You Call Me?
• ASL — Age/Sex/Location
• MorF — Male or Female
• KFY — Kiss For You
• MOOS — Member(s) Of the Opposite Sex
• ADR — Address
• LMIRL — Let's Meet In Real Life
• HAK — Hugs And Kisses
• ILU or ILY — I Love You
• KOTL — Kiss On The Lips
• SMIM — Send Me an Instant Message
• SMEM — Send Me an E-Mail
• WUF — Where Are You From?
• WYRN — What's Your Real Name?

For a complete list visit www.antidrug.com/advice

:-V Shouting, :-d~ Heavy smoker, :-|| Very angry, B:-) Sunglasses on head, d :-o Hats off to you!

~:-( Flame message, IOHO In Our Humble Opinion, :-> Smile of happiness or sarcasm

:->< Puckered up to kiss, 8-| Wide-eyed surprise, :@ What?, :^D Happy, approving

][ Back to back, :-{} Blowing a kiss, :-r Sticking tongue out, =:-) Punk, or hosehead

=^D Big grin, =^* Kisses, -) Tongue in cheek, :.( Crying, : ( Sad, : | Bored, sad 

For the full list go to www.computeruser.com