What's up with *this* anyway?

[Joe G]

What exactly does placing an asterisk on either side of a word convey? Sometimes it seems to be used for emphasis in the same way that bold, italics, or underline do, but if so, why not stick with those time-honored devices? Or is there some subtle nuance that I'm not picking up on? I'm sure this is yet another example of internet-speak, but one that has me slightly baffled. Users, explain yourselves!

[Dan Gould]

Yes, it is shorthand for placing emphasis on a particular word.

I use it regularly in e-mail when you don't have any easy way to add italics or bold.

Here, when bold or italics is easy to add, it shouldn't be used, though sometimes I'll do it when I'm trying to fire off a quick post and sometimes don't take the time to add the code.

And speaking of code, I notice a diference in how the board works depending on whether I am using Netscape (home) or IE (work). On one, clicking on the B above the text box launches a window in which I have to fill in the text I want bolded. In the other browser, clicking on the B simply adds the bold code to the text box, and I click on the B again to turn the bold off, like a toggle.

I definitely prefer the latter.

[couw]

it's a leftover from ancient times when all communication was still in non-formatted, one font ascii. the ** at both ends of a word do *indeed* indicate stress as nowadays usually done by bold or italics. Some browsers do not support the wacky java this board uses (no offense) and so some users (myself included) use the asterisks as they are put down faster than two sets of two of those square brackets (very awkward monkey grip on a German keyboard), a letter of your choice and a slash to round it off. laziness really.

[Brandon Burke]

It's definately a way of emphasizing a word but I tend to use it in cases where my word choice may or may not be ideal. It's rather like prefacing a word with the phrases such as: "I guess I want to say...", "for lack of a better word...", or "I know I'm kind of being a wise-ass when I say this but..."

I used it the other day when writing to a friend back in Lawrence. We were discussing the merits of a somewhat girly/frilly pop band and I think I said something like "...I know they come across as sounding a little *precious* at first but they..."

[Claude]

Like the good old old non-graphical smilies :-)

[RDK]

*Guilty* as charged!

I tend to use asterisks - * - rather than underlining or italics just because I find it easy - for me - to type. I'm on a few boards that have "quick post" mode, where you don't have the benefit of clickable formating, but beyond that I just find it easier to use the *'s rather than underlining or italics or bold.

[Joe G]

Brandon, you bring up another usage I've seen that's more akin to "quotes" than bold or italics. That's why I was a little confused on the issue. I'm waiting to see someone replace ( ) with * *. Then I will be lost for sure.

[Jim R]

We used to use them *a lot* on the old Jazz Corner board...

[Rooster_Ties]

Personally, I'm MUCH more of a fan of selectively using ALL CAPS when I REALLY want to make a BIG point about something. Anything else just seems kinda SILLY if you ask me.

(And - when I REALLY wanna make my point known, I use ALL CAPS PLUS BOLD -- which seems to work pretty well, all in all.)

[JSngry]

The asterisks catch the male eye because they sublimninally suggest female breasts.

[JSngry]

Hey, SOMEBODY has to make the "typical Organissimo board member" post, doncha know...

[Jim Alfredson]

( . )

[rachel]

The asterisks catch the male eye because they sublimninally suggest female breasts.

Oh yeah, *that's* why I do it....

[JSngry]

Yeah, but you don't like shopping and you love SportsCenter, so what does *that* prove?

[rachel]

well, that either I'm really a guy or I let my breasts speak for themselves? (wait, I didn't just say that ...)

Edited April 18, 2004 by rachel

[JSngry]

Either way, you get no arguement from me!