Atlantic Ocean, en route to the Bahamas
Photo Credit: Doree Weller
It’s not that I’m against the word, “Ok.” In spoken language, it has a myriad of meanings and subtle intonations. It can express doubt, excitement, agreement, irritation, interest, or be a simple act of checking in. But in text, the flexibility that spoken language gives it becomes a mire of uncertainty. And quite frankly, it’s lazy.
“Ok” has its place in text messaging.
“Running late.” “Ok.”
“Meet you at 7?” “Ok.”
“Fajitas okay for dinner?” “Ok.”
“Wanna watch House of Cards reruns tonight?” “Ok.”
But when I’ve taken the time to share an entire thought with people, and they text back “Ok,” it sounds like they were too busy or disinterested to bother to type an entire response. Even “lol” is a better response. I know they probably didn’t laugh out loud, but that shorthand tells me that they at least thought my anecdote was amusing. That they were paying attention.
Please, heed my words! If you care about someone, unless you’re answering a direct question in which “Ok” is the appropriate response or a placeholder acknowledgement, think before you type those letters. This has been a public service announcement.
Doree Weller 