by Ruby Patel
Internet culture is most characterized by internet lingo. Now when discussing internet lingo I am referring to the shorthand and special language that floods any type of web conversation. I think that the internet and cyberspace are about convenience: convenience in communication, of bringing people together, and of interaction. Internet culture has grown to support this phenomenon. Internet providers advertize their speed, and internet users seek to become part of this speed. If speed is a strong determining factor in convenience, then it is no wonder that the language between users has changed to include shortcuts that save time. This I believe is the bases behind internet culture and internet lingo.
From personal experience I can say that at times it is faster to use a e-mail or Facebook message to have a conversation than to physically come into contact with the person and have a discussion. The internet allows for conversation to occur without physical interactions, but that simple fact is not enough when it come to convenience. In fact the language used in such messages and posts has become shortened and now it is even faster to communicate.
Basically internet lingo shapes internet culture with respect to individual who uses the web. Its value is to save time, but it is my fear that if our language over the internet and the internet itself (with respects to the 1.0 model) are driven towards speed and quickness then what is the value of connection between people if it requires time.
