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Fun Stuff => CLIKC => Topic started by: Aztex on 04 Nov 2006, 19:09

Title: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: Aztex on 04 Nov 2006, 19:09
The origins of pwned comes from gaming.

originating as the screams of avid gamers in the form of "owned" often accompanied by "OH my F******* God You Got/I got". the phrase is shouted or typed when one defeats another in an online or local game. It is explicably used when one is utterly crushed and defeated by another player in a short period of time or very efficiently.

as many people are bad typers one must observe the vicinity of the "o" key and the "p" key. they are very close together. The misspelling of the word "own" into "pwn" became popular. Also since the letter "p" is like "o" except with dangly bits a Freudian interpretation could be that gamers which is comprised of a strong male base, are attracted to this.
Another reason is that many gamers and users of the popular instant-messenger program AOL instant Messenger or AIM enjoy deliberate spelling mistakes. Such as experienced in the mixings of 1's and !'s at the end of excitement.

Pwn spread like wildfire embraced by many, rejected by few. Another cause for the advent of the use of pwn has been the popular internet show 'Purepwnage' (www.purepwnage.com) this show follows the life of Pro gamer Jeremy and the troubles and excitement that follows. The plot delves deeply as the episodes progress. Many memes have been developed from this show like the exclamation 'boom headshot' and 'pwn'

Another theory is that the phrase originated back in the early 19th century on whaling missions. When they managed to harpoon a whale, everyone on the crew would jubilantly yell 'Pooned!" The now antiquated spelling of this word when it was recorded by scholars was "Pewn'd", which over the generations adopted the "oh" sound and was transformed into "Pown'd" and eventually "pwnd" on the internet and gaming community.

Either way the pronunciation of pwn is  widely disputed. Many people like to pronounce it as 'own' however many who wish to speak the way things are spelt like to say 'pone' this may often erupt into fights. Purepwnage is also officially pronounced 'pure Ownage'

Own or pwn has also managed to tunnel itself out of it's gaming and nerdish roots and get into mainstream popular use. The phrase is often used to describe somebody who gets hurt significantly or defeated significantly in any events in sporting or day to day happenings. i.e. somebody falls over 'he got owned'. It has been observed that 1st grade sports players (jocks) are also using this word showing the infiltration of the gaming community on the wider community.


So there you have it. The history of pwn.
Title: Re: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: Shaft on 04 Nov 2006, 19:23
Thanks dude
Title: Re: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: Johnny C on 04 Nov 2006, 21:55
I thought it came from Starcraft. Am I wrong?
Title: Re: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: ForteBass on 04 Nov 2006, 22:57
More to the pointm why is this here? instead of, oh, lets say... the video game forum since you said this originated in video games and all.
Title: Re: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: Aztex on 05 Nov 2006, 19:26
due to it's large mainstream use in the internet culture....
Title: Re: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: thegreatbuddha on 08 Nov 2006, 10:22
It's older than Starcraft. I think it started online with Quake.
Title: Re: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: Warshrike on 11 Nov 2006, 11:03
I heard Counterstrike...

Either way, I prefer 'qwn'
Title: Re: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: Sporky on 21 Nov 2006, 05:05
I had always theorized that "PWN" had originated from a misspelling. I find it hilarious that this is actually true. XD
Title: Re: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: Tophoo on 21 Nov 2006, 05:21
Warcraft.
Dev commited a typo on one of the multiplayer maps.
When a player was killed off, the game announced that so-and-so had been 'pwned'.
Title: Re: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: est on 21 Nov 2006, 14:16
"Owned" isn't used outside of computer games due to "tunnelling out of nerdish roots".  It was first used outside and in their usual stupid way wannabe fratboy gamers used it online.  I'll concede the point here if they are talking about "pwned" being used in real life now as a substitute for the usual "owned", but that doesn't make saying "pwned" out loud without a shred of irony any less fucking imbecilic.
Title: Re: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: nihilist on 21 Nov 2006, 22:39
People are curious about this?  I heard it for the first time back in '98, when Roger Wilco ruled the voice communication roost.  It was stupid then, it is stupid now.

"Owned" is fine by me.  I'm not a 15 year old pizza faced fatass bastard stewing in my own stench as I play games for 48 hours straight.
Title: Re: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: Orbert on 21 Nov 2006, 22:59
How would one pronounce "pwned"?
Title: Re: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: Ulmassir on 22 Nov 2006, 10:02
I hate hearing anyone say it, type it, or whatnot. It bothers me so terribly!
Title: Re: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: Lord Ernie on 30 Nov 2006, 04:32
Its awesome that somebody would bother to research this...
Title: Re: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: Thy Dungeonman on 30 Nov 2006, 05:57
How would one pronounce "pwned"?

It's just "owned" with a P at the beginning. Like, "powned".
Title: Re: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: Orbert on 30 Nov 2006, 22:33
How would one pronounce "pwned"?

It's just "owned" with a P at the beginning. Like, "powned".

I kinda figured that, but usually with a typo, you still pronounce the word correctly. "poned" just sounds kinda dumb, but I suppose you rarely actually say it out loud, and the whole thing's dumb anyway.
Title: Re: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: nihilist on 05 Dec 2006, 23:49
See, it's really supposed to be "pwnt."  More power in that utterance.
Title: Re: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: salada on 06 Dec 2006, 01:11
i always read it in my head as "pawned". god forbid ever actually saying it. or ANY OTHER INTERNET SLANG FOR THAT MATTER.
Title: Re: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: notselfcreated on 06 Dec 2006, 14:37
No, but reading it online, the mind registers a vocal sound.

I see "pwn'd", I hear not quite "powned" but more like p-owned
Title: Re: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: Marneus90 on 07 Dec 2006, 02:02
i always know it as pun'd not as in a joke pun. the u sound is alot shorter, almost non-existant.
Title: Re: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: Tophoo on 09 Dec 2006, 13:23
Since I also think that 'pwned' is imbecilic, I've always pronounced it 'prawned', just to fuck with people.

I've also been knnown to reply to 'pwnage!' with 'l0bstrage!'. The counter-volley is usually 'huh?'
Title: Re: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: Strumpet on 10 Dec 2006, 12:26
Pwned is simply a fun word.
The fact that there's any controversy over it amazes me.

/gravedigger.
Title: Re: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: kallisti on 10 Dec 2006, 15:38
Since I also think that 'pwned' is imbecilic, I've always pronounced it 'prawned', just to fuck with people.

I've also been knnown to reply to 'pwnage!' with 'l0bstrage!'. The counter-volley is usually 'huh?'

Perhaps I've had far too much coffee, but this is currently the funniest thing ever to me.  I keep thinking "pr4wnxxorreedddd" and giggling.

I apologize for being completely inane. Any beatings administered will be wholly deserved.
Title: Re: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: salada on 11 Dec 2006, 05:51
BEATINGS ARE GO!


...anyway, does anyone here actually use internet slang in regular speech? or know anyone who does?
Title: Re: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: kallisti on 11 Dec 2006, 14:28
only in jest.
Title: Re: The Origins of Pwned
Post by: Tyler on 12 Dec 2006, 07:09
I use it, along with a series of other terrible phrases when playing Rainbow Road on Mario Kart 64 with my friends. They should know by now to fear the Toad.