Vocabulary, geek.

[azurelunatic]

I've been coming to say "0wn" instead of "own" when we're talking about computers.

"Own", the traditional English spelling, is for possessing the legal rights to something. I bought this candy bar with my money; I own it. I own mineral rights on this large tract of land.

"0wn", with the zero instead of the 'o', is for possessing the most advanced administrative rights over something electronic. Anna owns her computer, but Betty has cracked in and now 0wns it. Also spelled "0wnz0r".

It's very odd, walking in several worlds. I walk in mundanespace. I walk in magic(k)space. I walk with geeks. I walk with grammar nazis. My grammar nazi position on various bits of l33t is that they are jargon, and may be used in the field, but should not be used in places where more formal speech is called for. You may greet someone with "Hey, bro!" all you want informally, but where "Hello" is called for, one should not use elite computer jargon either.

Comments

[otherbill.livejournal.com]

I've noticed a recent trend in gaming BBSes to spell "0wn" (with a zero) as "pwn" (with a...well, with a 'p', of course).

(Who am I and why am I here? I blame popefelix.)

[azurelunatic]

It's also happening at eastdorm. Hello, person who blames popefelix.