My Personal Response to "LOL"

We live in a digital world.  

Communication is changing faster than it ever has, and our language is changing with it.

You know my biggest problem with all this?

"LOL". 

Or "lol" even.

I live in a world and work in a career where instant messaging is constant.  I have two different instant messaging clients on my BlackBerry, and a corporate client on my work computer where I'm in constant communication with three teams of co-workers.  It's pretty effective, though a little chaotic.

The only thing that really bugs me is "LOL".  Or "lol".  Whatever.

You what my problem is?  It doesn't even mean what it was originally meant to mean... which itself was only about twenty minutes ago!!

See, it was supposed to mean "laugh out loud".  Now, people type it all the time, and I *guarantee* they aren't laughing out loud when they do it!  Now, it means "ha ha" or something even less significant!  

If I type, "Nice day today" they respond, "Yeah.  lol."   If I say, "I have a nasty rash on my thigh", they say "lol."   If I say, "What time is it?", they say, "330.  lol"

What the f*ck!?!

Even my own WIFE does it now!  I swear, the first time she did it, I think I felt like that woman who realized that Donald Sutherland was now a pod person too at the end of that Body Snatchers remake in the 70's.  NOT YOU TOO!! OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

Can't we PLEASE stick to our guns for just a moment?

In response, I've created my own acronym.  It replaces the cursory "lol" that gets thrown around so fast:

MABNLOL.

See, if someone says something slightly pleasant or amusing, but not nearly funny enough to make me laugh out loud, I type "MABNLOL".

Mildly Amused But Not Laughing Out Loud.

Of course, people now have to ask me what I mean, and I have to explain.  So it does take a bit longer. 

However, I like to think that it will pay off eventually.

MABNLOL.  

I wonder if I can get a trademark on that?