pr0n (1994) gamerpr0n pr0n* - words constructed from letters, numbers, and other characters

[Garson O'Toole]

Victor Steinbok wrote
> How do they treat w00t and n00b, d00d?

The usual rationale offered for the construction of the term pr0n is
the avoidance of filters and searches. This is plausible, but terms
like w00t, n00b, and d00d were presumably not created to circumvent
filters or hide from searches.

Calculator spelling of the 1970s substituted upside-down numbers for
letters. For example, 3 becomes an E. I think this influenced Leet
(1337) Speak on bulletin boards in the 1980s, and B1FF slang on
Usenet. The term pr0n is rooted in this evolving slang. The Dictionary
of Computing connects it to B1FF slang.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calculator_spelling
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BIFF
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B1ff

Of course, in cryptography numbers can be substituted for letters and
that field has a very long history. Influences before calculator
spelling are possible.

On Wed, Mar 17, 2010 at 6:15 PM, victor steinbok <aardvark66 at gmail.com> wrote:
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> Sender: Â  Â  Â  American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster: Â  Â  Â  victor steinbok <aardvark66 at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Â  Â  Â Re: pr0n (1994) gamerpr0n pr0n* - words constructed from letters,
> Â  Â  Â  Â  Â  Â  Â numbers, and other characters
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> How do they treat w00t and n00b, d00d?
>
> Wiktionary also include the alternative "n0rp", which is also
> mentioned in Wiki under Leet.
>
> In fact, proving, once again, that all ADS-L threads are linked, you
> will find under Leet:
>
>> In particular, speakers of Leet are fond of verbing nouns, turning verbs into nouns (and back again) as forms of emphasis, e.g. "Austin rocks" is weaker than "Austin roxxorz" (note spelling), which is weaker than "Au5t1N is t3h r0xx0rz" (note grammar), which is weaker than something like "0MFG D00D /\Ü571N 15 T3H l_l83Я 1337 Я0XX0ЯZ" (OMG, dude, Austin is the über-elite rocks-er!). In essence, all of these mean "Austin rocks," not necessarily the other options. Added words and misspellings add to the speaker's enjoyment.
>
> That's right--misspelling adds to speaker's enjoyment. And verbing
> just irritates prescriptive grammarians. And lolcats are just 1337
> humor (I wanzez pr0n chow mein).
>
> But the truly bizarre entry is "pr0n" in
> http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/pr0n
>
> The initial link is a bit of a dud, but it leads to
>
> Acronym Definition
> PR0N Â  Â Pornography (slang)
>
> So, according to the authors, it is both an acronym and slang.
>
> I am not sure I find this particular dictionary trustworthy...
>
> orZ
>
> On Wed, Mar 17, 2010 at 5:27 PM, Garson O'Toole
> <adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com> wrote:
> ...
>>
>> I wondered how dictionaries will treat the term pr0n. (The "o" is
>> replaced by the number zero.) A message in the ADS list archive from
>> Grant Barrett in 2000 included the term pr0n.
>>
>> Currently pr0n is contained in only a small number of dictionaries.
>> The earliest relevant cite I found in a shallow search was a Usenet
>> instance dated Jul 2 1994 in comp.sys.mac.hardware.
>>
>> Wiktionary has a webpage.
>> http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pr0n
>>
>> Free On-line Dictionary of Computing has an entry.
>> pron jargon
>> (Or "pr0n") B1FF-speak for pornography. Often seen on IRC in such
>> desperate cries for help as "I WNAT PRON!!!!!"
>> (1997-09-14)
>> http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pr0n
>>
>> Wikipedia has information.
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pr0n#Pr0n
>>
>> Urban Dictionary has an entry for pr0n. The earliest of their
>> definitions is dated Oct 17, 2001 and says simply "Another word for
>> pornography"
>> http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pr0n
>
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>

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