What Does "LOL" Mean When a Girl Says It? A Gamer‘s Guide to Interpreting Laughs in Online Conversation
*"Lol" stands for "laughing out loud" or "laugh out loud" – it indicates something is funny or amusing. But in online chatter between guys and gals, lol can signify much more than just laughter.
As a passionate gamer and content creator who regularly interacts with female players in multiplayer lobbies, streams, and gaming forums, I‘ve noticed lol pops up constantly in conversation. However, there‘s often more nuance to a lol text or chat comment from a girl than immediately meets the eye.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll break down the key meanings behind lol when used by female gamers and streamers, with statistics, academic perspectives, anecdotes, and tips for properly responding. Read on to become a lol expert and keep gaming chats fun, friendly flowing!
Lol Softens Statements
According to a 2022 study in the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication**, over 63% of women report using lol to soften critiques or blunt statements in digital conversation.
I see this technique constantly in gaming circles. For example, just yesterday in a Fortnite Duos match, my teammate HollyHype killed an opponent with a clever rocket launcher trap. In chat, another female player responded:
"Wow way to spam rockets…so annoying lol."
While her core feedback was critical of the rocket strategy, tacking on lol softened the statement to be less accusatory. HollyHype was then much more receptive to the critique, leading to a productive back-and-forth about rocket launcher etiquette.
So when receiving feedback from a female gamer with a lol included, understand it‘s meant kindly before getting defensive. Laugh it off, then consider whether there are gaming habits you could improve or adjust.
Lol Signals Friendliness
A 2021 study by Linguistics professor Dr. Tyler Schnoebelen## found that women use lol to indicate friendliness nearly 45% more often than men.
This tracks with what I‘ve observed in games like Valorant. When I queue into a match and am teamed up with female players I haven‘t met before, I‘m way more likely to see a "Hey guys! lol" with a lol tacked on compared to male teammates.
The laugh helps them come across relaxed and approachable right off the bat with unfamiliar players. As a guy, mimicking this lighthearted energy makes you seem friendly too, potentially sparking fun banter.
So if a gal tosses you a lol, pay it forward with a lol or haha to kickstart an amiable gaming sesh, even among strangers.
Frequent Lols Could Signal Romantic Interest
Schnoebelen‘s research uncovered another fascinating finding – women used lol nearly 70% more frequently when flirting compared to normal conversation***.
When a female player laughs a ton or constantly uses lol specifically around you, it demonstrates she finds you humorous and entertaining. Making someone laugh is scientifically proven to increase attraction****.
I‘ve found this rings true when gaming too. In Overwatch recently, I ended up in multiple matches with a skilled DPS player, RachelXOXO. Each time we dominated with a damage combo, she‘d hit the chat with a flurry of lol and smiley emojis. When I eventually added her as a friend, she immediately suggested linking on Discord. Fast forward – we‘ve duo queued ranked as an online item for 3 seasons now!
So if it seems like a female gamer is lol-ing more than usual at your jokes or commentary, take it as a green light to get flirty yourself and potentially spark an in-game romance. Just don‘t overdo forced humor if it‘s not organically landing.
Sparse Lol Replies Could Signal Disinterest
Context matters when interpreting lol usage though – Schnoebelen explains simply replying lol has essentially become filler in digital talk*****. Saying "lol cool" or "lol nice" in response to someone doesn‘t necessarily mean a woman finds you or what you said funny.
Unfortunately in gaming, I often see this sparse lol usage as a potential warning sign when engaging female players. For example, while discussions in a Guild Wars 2 Facebook group, I noticed one woman in particular responding to my party strategy suggestions or build advice with just solitary lol comments, lacking follow up.
Despite my best jokes and banter attempts, I was hit with radio silence when I eventually tried continuing conversation in DMs. Turns out she was just being politely distant.
So if you‘re consistently getting bare minimum lol replies without deeper engagement, be cautious advancing things – muted interest could be the reality. Don‘t force interactions in uncomfortable ways.
The bottom line is context and patterns determine the meaning of a girl‘s lol across gaming channels. Apply the lessons in this guide, and you‘ll expertly chat with female players in no time! Got any lol stories of your own? Share in comments – I‘m all ears lol.
References:
*Merriam-Webster Dictionary https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lol
**Kruger et. al "Women’s Laughter in Writing" https://academic.oup.com/jcmc/article/27/1/zmab014/6408766
https://language.stanford.edu/blog/gender-loling/
*https://language.stanford.edu/blog/gender-loling/
*Wade Girls Really Do Love Funny Guys https://humanhow.com/en/girls-really-do-love-funny-guys/
https://www.dictionary.com/e/lol/
