L33Tspeek- An emerging language? (Bollocks!)

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My hatred of l33tspeek has reached even greater heights after the latest hacking attempt. The fact that they seem not to know how to use any properly spelt English words. Even swearing incoherently, while very much frowned upon, I can tolerate if actually spelt properly, and with the right usage of offensive terms.

However, call me an old conservative (ironic, considering my general political disposition, and my age), but l33tspeek is an abasement of the English language. It may have been useful in its original context, but despite its sometimes creative use of numbers, letters and symbols, it is annoying, puerile, and generally looked down upon. I am a grammar nazi, but this is because I set very high standards for spelling and grammar. (The latter occasionally slips, but c'est la vie)

Some may argue that it is an emerging written dialect of English, although I view it with as much dread as one might upon reading Newspeak from Nineteen Eighty-Four. Do not get me wrong, I am NOT against occasional and appropriate usage of abbreviations like "LOL", "LMAO", and "STFU". These abbreviations can also be extremely useful on chat. But I am against l33t, as members One-Winged Angel and Greyhelium know. So I must put my feelings out in the open, as well as create a poll.

I'm hoping that people still realise that the English language, as versatile as it is, can still be used appropriately on a BBS.

I HATE 1337!! !! !

Yes, but is it because you're like me? A grammar nazi?

By the way, the second option (obtained using, shudder, a l33t translator) means "Yes, it is the elite language!" L33t is a mongrel derivation of "elite".

3|173 15 r34||y 4nn0y1n9. 90d 1 h473 17.

See how annoying that was?

I rest my case.

honestly, I don't think 13375p33k is that bad. I'm a terrbile grammar nazi, but when people talk 1337 i mostly see them doing it for fun, they know it isn't grammatical incorrect, as opposed to ignorant people who simply dont know any grammar. Honestly, I think its sort of fun, since its like decoding a hidden message.

1n c0nc1u510n, 1 d0 n07 7h1nk 7h47 17 15 4 r341 14ngu4g3, bu7 175 c3r741n1y n07 4 f145h 1n 7h3 p4n.

13375p33k pwn5 j00

ph0r t3h h0ly m0n0r41l!

y1ff!

I agree with you, Quartermass. It's completely absurd.

I understand why people shorten words on some Internet games - those are fast paced and some of the slower users don't have time to type out their messages - but on a forum (or, gasp, in school) it's pointless.
Especially when there are people who don't speak English as a first language. It (netspeak) is hard enough to figure out all ready.