Age/sex/location

"A/S/L" redirects here. For other uses, see ASL (disambiguation).

Age/sex/location (commonly referred to by the shorthand A/S/L, asl or ASL) is an article of Internet slang used in instant messaging programs and in Internet chatrooms. It is used as a question to find out the age, sex (or gender), and general location of the person one is talking to.

This concept brings up ethical questions regarding users "chang[ing their] identity, adopt[ing] new personalities and keep[ing] dreams and fantasies virtually real" in the internet world.[1]

Variations

The variation A/S/L/P or ASLP is short for "Age, Sex, Location, and Picture".[2][3]

The variation NASL is short for "Name, Age, Sex, Location".[4]

ASLR is short for "age, sex, location, race". ASLRP is short for "age, sex, location, race, picture".[5]

A/S is short for "Age/Sex". A/S/L/M/H is short for "Age, sex, location, music, hobbies".[5][6]

Criticism

The chat room rules for Bipolar Disorder Chat Rooms state: "We discourage the use of age/sex/location (a/s/l). We urge you not to give your real name, location, address or phone number to anyone you meet in a chatroom. This is to protect your privacy and keep you safe."[7]

The fact that users often seek A/S/L information in "initial interactions" implies an "emphasis on the physical body online". 52% of the MOO character descriptions referenced age, sex, location, or physical appearance.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "A.S.L AGE SEX LOCATION". Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  2. ↑ "ASL". Computer Hope. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  3. ↑ Roche, Steve (2004). Protect Your Children from Internet and Mobile Phone Dangers: An Easy-to-understand Handbook for Worried Parents. Sparkwave. p. 87. ISBN 978-0-9546805-4-1.
  4. ↑ "NASL". Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  5. 1 2 Symens, Becky. Acronyms Dictionary for Texting Chatting E-mail. Rebecca J Symens. p. 9. ISBN 978-0-578-07716-1.
  6. ↑ Crystal, David (10 July 2008). Txtng: The Gr8 Db8. OUP Oxford. p. 190. ISBN 978-0-19-162340-0.
  7. ↑ "Chat Room Rules". Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  8. ↑ Joinson, Adam (12 April 2007). Oxford Handbook of Internet Psychology. OUP Oxford. p. 228. ISBN 978-0-19-856800-1.

External links

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