{"id":15279,"date":"2022-02-20T12:25:32","date_gmt":"2022-02-20T12:25:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/02\/20\/what-does-f-mean-online\/"},"modified":"2022-02-20T12:25:32","modified_gmt":"2022-02-20T12:25:32","slug":"what-does-f-mean-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/02\/20\/what-does-f-mean-online\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does \u201cF\u201d Mean Online?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"A
joelpapalini\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Has someone ever replied to you with a single letter \u201cF\u201d? Don\u2019t worry: It\u2019s not as bad as you think. Here\u2019s where this illustrious piece of internet history comes from and why an \u201cF\u201d means to pay respects.<\/p>\n

What Is an \u201cF?\u201d<\/h2>\n

You\u2019ve just described, in great detail, a terrible day to your friend via text. You got rained on, you lost your wallet, a dog bit your leg, and your partner broke up with you. In response, your friend sends you back a single letter, \u201cF.\u201d It\u2019s confusingly short, and you\u2019re not sure what it means.<\/p>\n

On the internet, \u201cF\u201d is a slang term used to \u201cpay respects\u201d or commiserate in a tragic incident. Unlike other words we\u2019ve covered, \u201cF\u201d isn\u2019t short for anything. It\u2019s almost entirely unrelated to the letter grade \u201cF,\u201d which means failure. It also isn\u2019t related to the expletive \u201cf***,\u201d which is sometimes shortened to just \u201cF.\u201d Instead, this odd piece of web speak comes from a meme in the gaming world.<\/p>\n

Press F to Pay Respects<\/h2>\n
\"Press
Activision \u2013 Call of Duty \/ Steam<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The origin of \u201cF\u201d is a classic internet story. In 2014, Activision released Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, the eleventh installment of the Call of Duty franchise. For the most part, it was a typical major FPS release, with millions of players loading up the game on its release day. However, during one of its cutscenes featuring the funeral of a major character, players were prompted to \u201cPress F to Pay Respects\u201d to trigger a quick-time action.<\/p>\n

This scene received widespread derision from players and the entirety of the internet, with many mocking the inappropriate and awkward mechanic. It also detracted from the somber nature of the scene. Eventually, this meme<\/a> spread far and wide outside of the context of the game, with it becoming one of the biggest internet memes of the 2010s. It also started the phenomenon of responding to tragic incidents, failures, and sadness with a single \u201cF.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> What Is a Meme (and How Did They Originate)?<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Fs in Chat<\/h2>\n

F has taken on a life of its own as an internet slang term. One of the biggest catalysts for its widespread popularity is its use on the streaming website Twitch<\/a>, where people can livestream themselves playing video games. When players make mistakes, lose, or accidentally do something funny IRL, such as knock over a coffee cup, people in chat would spam \u201cF\u201d repeatedly. The streamer themselves might ask for viewers to spam F by saying the phrase, \u201cFs in the chat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eventually, this practice of saying \u201cF\u201d to everything related to failure or loss became extremely widespread on the internet. You can find people spamming \u201cF\u201d in relation to everything, from sports teams losing big games to public figures making widely debunked claims on social media. You\u2019ll also spot some people spamming \u201cF\u201d when they disagree with someone\u2019s Tweet or post, with the implication that the original poster is making themselves look bad.<\/p>\n

An unusual phenomenon on the internet is how memes sometimes reach a point where their use becomes sincere and unironic. A good example is a practice many internet users have of sincerely commenting \u201cF\u201d when an online public figure, like a Twitch streamer or video game developer, passes away. While the original intent of Call of Duty to make \u201cF\u201d a touching moment may not have worked, internet users have found a way to genuinely show respect to the life of an iconic figure through a meme.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a Big F<\/h2>\n

Nowadays, F is ubiquitous in conversations, especially with those very attuned to internet memes. That\u2019s why when you\u2019re texting someone a story about your hilariously terrible day or \u201cTIFU moment<\/a>,\u201d they might respond with just \u201cF.\u201d This might seem weird, but this message might be sincere as they\u2019re trying to formulate a better reply. Alternatively, they could be gently mocking you.<\/p>\n

You might also experience this phenomenon on social media. For example, if you post a Tweet or Instagram Story detailing how terrible your exam just went, someone might reply with an \u201cF.\u201d This could mean a myriad of things, from making fun of your misfortune to genuinely sympathizing with your result. It might also be the start of a message, such as \u201cF. I got a terrible score too.\u201d<\/p>\n

How to Use \u201cF\u201d<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re interested in adopting F into your vocabulary, it\u2019s pretty simple. If you\u2019re replying to someone who\u2019s had some kind of mild misfortune, just send them an \u201cF.\u201d If they understand the joke, then it can be a way to inject some lightheartedness into the conversation.<\/p>\n

Here are a few examples of \u201cF\u201d in action:<\/p>\n