Microsoft KB Archive/178294

= Etiquette, Abbreviations, and Emoticons Used in Microsoft Chat =

Article ID: 178294

Article Last Modified on 1/22/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Comic Chat 1.0, when used with:
 * Microsoft Windows 95
 * Microsoft Comic Chat 1.1, when used with:
 * Microsoft Windows 95
 * Microsoft Comic Chat 1.0
 * Microsoft Comic Chat 1.1
 * Microsoft Chat 2.0
 * Microsoft Chat 2.0
 * Microsoft Chat 2.5

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This article was previously published under Q178294



SUMMARY
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 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            Small grin Small smile            Big smile            Big grin Very big grin           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

Additional query words: chatfaq 1.00 1.10 2.00 2.10 2.50

Keywords: kbinfo KB178294

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