OU!
Could you say that again please?
Sorry, no can do. OU, preferably immediately followed by an exclamation mark, is strictly for use in text form, misuse may lead to permanent injuries and/or major financial losses.
Pardon?
Well, okay. But don't make me regret it!
For heaven's sake man, get serious!
Yeah, this is getting a bit stupid, isn't it?
It sure is ...
Well, sorry then. On with it!
Right! So, what is that word?
Once upon a time, before 1998-12-24, there were two carbon-based beings called Martin and Fredrik. These two beings were, at the time of the events related here, communicating through the online messaging system ICQ. Being struck by some obscure bolt of inspiration, one probably rejected by saner beings, Fredrik started sending series of 0's and 1's to Martin. Martin, being the rational and organized (cough, cough!) being he was, translated those outbursts of digits to ASCII characters. One series happened to translate as one capital O and one capital U, and the combination stuck immediately in the participants' minds. One of them, or both, soon realized that OU was an ideal greeting phrase, and both also came to the conclusion that OU was for non-verbal purposes only.
Doesn't that word mean something?
Well, sporadic information from various sources indicate that the word ou exists in French or Spanish or something, and means what or similar. Even though this could still make a decent greeting, it is completely irrelevant. OU, with capitals only, is a completely different and entirely language-independent greeting phrase.
That sounds pretty cool!
Well, thanks (blushing, tries to lessen it by dipping head in liquid nitrogen)! Trying to get somewhere by flattering me, eh?
Well ... I was wondering, can I use OU too?
Sure! Send me a message starting with OU! would be very much appreciated ... As most other words, OU is freeware and may be freely distributed and copied as long as the contents remain intact. But remember, no talking!
