To Wonder What's With the Sudden Surge in x's

[ArtDecoChristmasFairy]

Over the past month or two I've noticed several posters putting a x at the end of posts.

I keep having it check I'm definitely in the right place...

My DH kept putting LOL at the end of his texts for years, until he realised it didn't stand for lots of love ha ha. I've never put an x at the end of texts for years. Not since I text my Service Manager at the time and ended it with an x

What's wrong with it? Sometimes it's the only way to express genuine empathy.

awww im on a mmc thread with a group of women who joined an antenatal board and all had to move over. as the post has moved on and the support has gone from strength to strength people have started adding x's and i for one really appreciate them. they're a nice touch altho i must admit ive not done any as ive seen a few anti 'x' posts on here and as a fairly new mumsnetter i dont want to commit any posting fails lol! i do think on occasion though they are very nice

I think when it's meant as a hug, kiss or support, it's great.

It's when you get posts like 'Nigel farage is a really nice guy, you're just rude Xxx' that it's a bit funny.

ginger you may not say "lol" either. MN sin.

xxx

?

oh damn i lol all the time. mumsnet needs a thread telling newbies of the donts i only gathered about the 'x's after lurking all the time. woops. i am a mumsnet nightmare. i promise to try harder in future xxx lol

Fabulous lol used to mean lots of love 'back in the day' not sure when it changed tbh. But agree X has its place and it's not instead of full stops.

Xxx

Agreed. On support threads it's fine, I've done it myself.

It's really irritating when someone does it like this:

Hi ladies can you recommend me a brand of washing power please? xxx

Just ... garrrgh! Stop!

oops I occassionally do this. Often after Ive been particularly strident about some twat of a boyfriend on the relationships board.

I hadn't twigged it was only Brits but you're right. How very strange we are.

It also gives me the mental image of someone going up and giving a complete stranger a giant smacker.

Used in sympathy/when a poster knows another personally it's more like a kiss on the cheek to say goodbye or a comforting hand on their arm and feels appropriate and well meant.

It's a slippery slope. You start with a few x's and next thing you know you've got over-capitalisation of thread titles.

Fabulous 46 is your DH David Cameron?

I do it only on threads where the op is distressed; basically wherever I would hug someone irl.

Otherwise no, it's ghastly.

Some people use a kiss like a full stop x

I find it very annoying personally x

Just another way in which texting has destroyed language x

And yes, I'm being a bit facetious x

LOL hunni x

I like putting the odd LOL in my posts - it amuses me that I know some posters find it irritating. I might have to start with the x's

X HTH

Ach I don't care. I might stop using my favourite creepy wee brackets and start xxx ing all over the place.

Depends on the thread.

if the op needs support and generally sounds like she could do with a hug and a / then I think it's ok.

Threads such as "next door neighbours cat's uncle's guinea pig has just won X factor" - meh, not so much.

It's annoying & largely pointless.

Also on texts. All of my female friends put a silly little x at the end of every text.

Just stop it.

I also do it if I am responding to a post where someone is particularly upset.
OP as you seem upset (by the x's)
XXX for you.

Bartle. I usually put an x at the end of a text, it's an x marks the spot x instead of my name or a signature etc though, not a kiss, it feels unfinished without something...if it's kissing, you'd get xXx.

As fir on here, X's when done with thought and care are fine. Random as punctuation, not.

Unfortunately its the working class special symbol.

I like creepy wee brackets! And use xx if I wish to express love and sympathy.

Do expand hoover
Mwah! Xxx