#internet lexicon

[superbeans89]

Reddit Herring

Noun (derogatory): Someone who goes online to spread lies and misinformation

[aspiringnexu]

I propose that in internet lingo '!?' and'?!' have different meanings as do '?' and '???'. Now people have probably noticed this before but its been an unwritten rule in my head for years now and I thought I'd just go ahead and get it out of my system.

So, '!' is an exclamation and '?' is a question. '!?' is an exclamation that is phrased as a question but is really a statement.

e.g. "What is your problem!?" - Not actually asking, simply exclaiming in frustration. Its a rhetorical question at full volume.

Whereas '?!' is an exclaimed question.

e.g. "Where have you been?!" - Actually asking the question but also at full volume.

Now this effect can also be done via italics to avoid the double punctuation:

"What is your problem?"

"Where have you been?"

And you can fuck about with the placement of the italics to change the word that is stressed, it completely changes the tone but still implies exclamation. Think of Mrs Weasley's "Where have you been?"

But italics are not always possible so double punctuation fills in the gap and turns what looks like a regular question without clarifying remarks (such as 'he shouted' or something) into a definite exclamation, with the placement of the '?' differentiating whether or not its an exclamation or a shouted question.

Now with the triple question marks I always find that '?' is a genuine question but '???' is more... mystification. Like confusion.

So:

"What do you mean?" - Genuine.

"What do you mean???" - Confused, possibly disturbed. The questioner may be mildly horrified/disturbed/plain befuddled. The person they are asking didn't just reference something they don't know, they referenced something that requires three powerpoint presentations, general knowledge on edible nightshades, and a yellow hard hat to understand.

Again, italics can help clarify but italics are civilised and sometimes you don't have the time to be civilised when demanding answers from those into complex aubergine construction projects.