hru? lol, the uv tmi; gtg.

Does reading this text feel like reading another language? You may recognize this gobbledegook as text or instant messaging shorthand, used almost as an artform by those “younger” than you.

If you’ve figured it out, great, but don’t count on your parent’s (or grandparent’s) generation to decipher it. (As an aside, you probably don’t understand some of the nuances that this older generation uses either.)

If you haven’t figured it out, the message translates to “How are you? Laughing Out Loud at the Unpleasant Visual – too much information; got to go.”

Whenever we communicate with other people, their understanding of our message will be influenced by their generation. So if you really wish to be understood, use generation-relevant expressions and style. When we don’t do this, or do it poorly, we either alienate or patronize the very people we wish to influence. This is true in a meeting with your colleagues, a pitch to a prospect, or even in a job interviewer.

A cautionary note for my younger readers: using generation-relevant expressions and style is only one part of the communications mix. In formal business correspondence – or any times when you are pitching your ideas – using informal language is often a quick route to disqualification.

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