These are some common terms and acronyms used in forums. More lingo can be found at www.netlingo.com

AVATAR: A picture which expresses your online nickname or personality

EMOTICONS (SMILEYS): These are symbols used to convey how you feel while posting. They can be ASCII symbols like :) or >:( or can be graphical such as

FLAME WAR: When a discussion deteriorates to personal attacks against the debaters.

FORUM: An online community where users read and post about topics of common interest (aka Discussion Board)

IMO (IMHO): "In My Opinion"/"In My Humble Opinion"

J/K: "Just Kidding"

K: "Okay"

LOL: "Laugh Out Loud"

LMAO: "Laugh My Ass Off"

LURKER: A user who reads but never posts

N1: "Nice one"

NEWBIE/NEWB/nOOb: A person new to the internet (or anything in general)

OMG: "Oh My God"

PORTAL: A Web site that serves as a starting point to other destinations or activities on the Web

POST: Creating or replying to a topic in a forum

ROFL/ROTFL: "Roll On the Floor Laughing"

SIGNATURE: A text statement which you attach to posts. Is often a quote.

SPAM: Where people post identical and irrelevant messages that have nothing to do with the content of the posting

THREAD: A chain of postings on a single subject in a discussion board/forum

TTYL: "Talk To You Later"

TYVM: "Thank You Very Much"