lol

lol doesn't really mean "laugh out loud". It never has.

It can mean "I acknowledge what you said, and it may or may not be mildly amusing. Either way, I genereally approve, in a non-comital way."

It also usually communicates the amused, nearly silent expulsion of air from the nose, which is not quite a small snort, which is reserved for reading something funny. Originally used for amusing and witty books, but now translated to text communication as well. One does not actually have to politely laugh, one mimics it with a simple lol, and doesn't bother to mime the false pretense in person.

lol!

1👍 1👎