l33tspeak For Parents By Microsoft

An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft has published A parent's primer to computer slang where !337$p34k is explained to the uninitiated. Expect to see a l33t-localized version of Windows XP soon." They also have a wonderful guide to the tactics of a griefer. "Honey, we're getting worried that you may be 0wning newbz. We need to talk..."

Comments

Leet words possibly indicating illegal activity...

[mongoose(!no)]

"Leet words possibly indicating illegal activity: "warez" or "w4r3z": Illegally copied software available for download. "h4x": Read as "hacks," or what a computer hacker does. "sploitz" (short for exploits): Vulnerabilities in computer software used by hackers. "pwn": A typo-deliberate version of own, a slang term that means to dominate. This could also be spelled "0\/\/n3d" or "pwn3d," among other variations. Online video game bullies or "griefers" often use this term." I have never heard of sploitz, but its pretty obvious that M$ was trying to plug anti-piracy in the comment on part about Warez. Interesting that they didn't mention the term "p0rn". Any parents looking to learn leet should find guides from stuff like the Jargon File (http://jargon.watson-net.com/section.asp?f=cracke rs.html), not learn from Microsoft.

This just goes to show...

[Traegorn]

This just goes to show that something really *is* completely uncool when Microsoft is writing guides to it.

Not too bad

[kongjie]

I read the article on griefers. It was okay, actually, considering a lot of parents don't have a clue about this kind of stuff.

I'm just not very sure about how they expect this information to be used. Do they think that Johnny will go crying to his parents about griefing, and this will clue them in to the problem? I don't really see children complaining to their parents about something that they in many ways sees as THEIR domain, exclusive of parents.

One thing I thought was missing was some ideas for parents of griefers themselves. How do you know your kid is griefing? What do you say to your child when you find out he is a full-time griefer?

Re:More useful than most

[dougmc]

It's like they actually kinda get it.

They actually do seem to get it. It was a well written article (and the one on dealing with griefers is good too) -- and while we make fun of it, I can certainly see how some parents who don't know much about that there intra-web could find it to be very useful.

Compared to, say, http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,88686,p g,2,00.asp, where they include 'kiss' as 'keep it simple stupid'. Have you ever seen anyone actually use that in chat?

I have, yes. Of course, it's more of a technical term than pwn3d. `KISS' has been around for a lot longer than l33tspeak.

Another good (i.e. amusing) article is this one -- this slang I've generally not seen, but I guess I'm not a 15 year old girl pretending to be 25 on AIM either. But while I'd not be fooled by strange abbreviations, I realize that others might. Fortunately, my kids are still a bit over a decade away from being 15, so I've got some time to not pick up the new lingo.

Please...

[andreMA]

...let it be that with it more widely known it dies a quick death.

"l33tspeak" was never cool, is not "elite" and isn't spoken.

Retarded, yes. Or about like pig-latin as an amusement for children.

Point 9 of the griefers list

[mwvdlee]

Speaking as a person with a stereotypical slashdot-childhood; I don't think bullies actually need any kind of provocation. The only benefit of provocation is that bullies can pretend their actions are justified.
In my experience both as a child and as a grown-up, bullies will find a "reason" even if there isn't one.
Telling children not to use provocative names in online games is telling them the bullies win.