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- A funny item found on a non-networked BBS:
-
- The SysOp's Guide to D00Dspeak
-
- A phenomenon exists throughout BBSs in this nation which makes it
- difficult to understand a portion of the users on these systems. Where
- standard English and effective communication once reigned, there now
- exists a growing vile undercurrent: This scourge is D00Dspeak.
-
- The world of computers already contains jargon and babble that would
- confuse the uninitiated, but this new, clever child's lexicon can reduce
- those in-the-know to blithering idiots in short order. Before you
- attempt fluency in D00Dspeak, you must understand its origins.
-
- * WHAT IS A D00D?
-
- A d00d (dude) is a computer user with a modem who seeks to distinguish
- himself from un-d00dz. Since the nature of BBS communications makes it
- nearly impossible to discriminate against another user based on external
- clues like appearance, speech patterns, and general poise, d00dz provide
- their missing plumage through clever misuse of the English language and
- the ASCII character set.
-
- * NATURE AND FEEDING HABITS
-
- A d00d is typically a teenage computer user possessing higher
- intelligence than his non-computer peers. Though the very use of the
- computer tends to signify the potential for higher-reasoning, this
- innate ability is discarded for the motif of the carefree
- know-it-all-and-then-some user.
-
- Physical characteristics are difficult to assimilate into one stereotype
- as d00dz can only be observed indirectly. D00dz are active primarily
- during the 3 pm to 9:30 pm period on weekdays but may prowl at any time
- on weekends and school holidays.
-
- Secondary behavioral characteristics include, but are not limited to,
- in-depth involvement with sociopathic fantasies, feigned homophobia,
- scathing rebuttals to innocent inquiries from other users, preoccupation
- with the construction of explosive devices, crude discussions of sexual
- activity and genitalia, and base references to human excretory
- functions.
-
- D00dz seem to draw sustenance only from fast-food franchises and
- solemnly attest to their consumption of large volumes of alcoholic
- beverages.
-
- Though a d00d often lacks first-hand knowledge of the goings-on of a
- lost weekend, it is not unusual to see one claim to have "gotten so
- wasted" as to be unable to finish "the third bottle of 151".
- "Cafeteria" food seems to repel d00dz, as they prefer to spend their
- lunch money on pizza and Big Macs.
-
- * DISTINGUISHING A D00D FROM AN AVERAGE USER
-
- D00dz have the ability to blend into the general user population if
- needed, but sometimes forget their attempts at stealth. Though the d00d
- may not exude blatant warning signs, subtle differences can be
- discovered upon careful scrutiny.
-
- A d00d is far from k00l if he doesn't have a "signature". It is nearly
- a requisite that this signature contain several of the foreign
- characters found in the IBM high-ASCII set. Examples:
-
- #g#$t #$#r## ##r#+# M#s+#r (The !-k#r?
- #!. |\|a#h-M D**P -hr/#! ##pt#a- !#r#
-
- Advanced versions have animation, every color available via ANSI control
- codes, and occupy 70% or better of the total message.
-
- A d00d has a yearning desire to run a limited-access BBS for all his
- k00l friends. Often these systems traffic only in pirated game
- software, erroneous phreaking information, and text files describing
- various felonious acts. Due to funding constraints, these BBSes are
- usually limited in hours to 10am until 10pm. But if you call
- "NOW!!!!!!" you can be a co-sysop. This is a big help if you like to
- steal other user's passwords and home phone numbers.
-
- D00dz tend to ignore (or misuse), punctuation leave incomplete sentences
- "dangling, and; sometimes. Run-on sentences are also very favorite.
- Sexual intercourse occupies a large portion of a d00d's higher brain
- activity. Often a d00d will exaggerate about the sexual partners he has
- "had", but when pressed for details will only respond with a meek "well,
- if you don't know by now, I ain't gonna tell you..." In place of
- voluptuous "babes-eager for it", a d00d will substitute every single
- XXX-rated .GIF your BBS has available. Astute sysops will relabel
- Disney characters as:
-
- BAMBI .GIF 720k : Awesome piece of meat who likes it in the woods!!!
- BASHFUL .GIF 601k : One of seven hot, hot images - over 21 only!!!
- GOOFY .GIF 422k : XXX - You've never seen it like this before!!!
-
- * DANGERS OF D00DZ *
-
- D00dz are intrinsically harmless to your computer and
- BBS. However, just as barnacles on a ship impede
- it's progress, a d00d can cause your system to become
- an electronic wasteland devoid of anything resembling
- stimulating conversation.
-
- Though your BBS will use the same amount of
- electricity whether or not a d00d is monopolizing it,
- the purpose of most BBSes extends slightly beyond
- creating a Romper Room for introverted teenagers.
- Every minute that a d00d spends on your system is one
- less minute that an intelligent (or even literate)
- caller could have utilized.
-
- Further, d00dz tend to litter your hard disk with
- pirated and corrupt files, pointless messages (sent
- in the hope of beating the post/call ratio), and
- other sorts of tripe than can be the cause of
- hypertension and other SysOp physical ailments.
-
- Discouraging d00dz from calling and eliminating those
- who manage to call anyway is a highly rewarding
- activity. Call-back user verification seems to work
- wonders for this, but some SysOps may care to take a
- more active stance:
-
- 1> Randomly change user CTRL-x macros to user's
- real phone number.
-
- 2> Forward d00d's private mail to another d00d.
- Get a "conspiracy" going with two against
- another. Works especially well with #1.
-
- 3> Periodically jiggle the phone on its cradle
- during long downloads.
-
- 4> Modify BBS source code to interpret "/S" as
- "/ABT" for certain security levels. Assign
- d00dz this SL.
-
- 5> Set up a private sub that has lists of FBI phone
- numbers labeled as "extender codez". Allow only
- d00dz to see it.
-
- 6> Send $1, in the d00dz real name, to an
- evangelical Christian fellowship. Include his
- address, home phone number, and mention he
- is hospitalized with a terminal illness and is
- going to be writing his will soon.
-
- 7> Set your BBS to make 4:30am d00d-check call
- during nightly routines.
-
- 8> Call d00d with your voice line every time you
- see him logged on to be sure he figured out how
- to disable call waiting.
-
- 9> Randomly press F3 during d00d activity.
-
- 10> Create "AWESOME!!! on-line game" that subtracts
- 20 points from user's security level. Have it
- send 300 ASCII "beeps" each time it's run.
-
- 11> Delete any user with "Captain", "Agent",
- "Master", "Ninja" or numerals as part of his
- name.
-
- 12> Modify editor to abort any message with more
- than two consecutive "!"s.
-
- 13> Modify editor to time out on any user who uses
- "sucks" more than twice.
-
- 14> Modify BBS to delete anyone who attempts to chat
- again after being told "SysOp not available, use
- feedback instead".
-
- 15> Modify "Flashing Red" color sequence (CTRL-P, 7)
- to hang up on user.
-
- D00dz are persistent. These techniques will not
- permanently deter a die-hard, but time wounds all
- heels. Eventually, if you delay him enough, he will
- reach late puberty and will spend more of his time
- asking his parents for car keys rather than bothering
- you. This is the moment to savor - he has left your
- BBS and will now spend the next two or three years
- resurfacing the streets with rubber at each and every
- stoplight...
-
- * THE LEXICON OF D00DSPEAK *
-
- filez This term refers to "files". D00dz have
- a fixation with the letter "Z".
-
- d00d The subject of this profile. Slightly
- higher than goldfish in attention span.
-
- k00l Refers to the relative acceptance level
- of an idea or object. Also provides clues
- as to how many "babez" the d00d has
- "had".
-
- l8r Refers to a time in the future. Typically
- disguises d00d's age.
-
- welp [sic] Babies are born, birds are hatched,
- d00dz are whelped.
-
- elite A misnomer that suggests special
- privileges. Often allows access to all
- 71 disks of Leisure Suit Larry XXIII.
-
- phreaking A special method whereby d00dz can
- involve their parents in the hobby by
- having men in grey sedans follow the
- parents everywhere.
-
- codez Another "Z" term. Refers to special
- symbols and incantations a d00d may use
- to encourage the men in the grey sedans
- to arrive faster, in larger numbers, and
- bearing litigation.
-
- PBX Private Branch Exchange. Assists d00dz
- in spending 126 hours hacking library
- card catalog systems.
-
- BTW By The Way. Often used as shorthand by
- "power-d00dz".
-
- duz (that mean something?)
-
- [sys]'OP Refers to the person who provides free
- babysitting for d00dz.
-
- warez Special software that is commercially
- sold and stolen by d00dz. Typically a
- video game, often missing vital portions.
-
- Yo! An interjection that begins most messages
- written in d00dspeak.
-
- awesome The favorite d00d adjective.
-
- totally The favorite d00d adverb.
-
- !(!!!!!!) The terminal puntuation for any d00d
- sentence that contains more than one
- word.
-
- . Hypothetical - but never observed-
- terminal punctuation for a d00d sentence.
-
- * Special d00d color. Possibly religious
- symbolism.
-
-