"JuD9e mE aLL y0u wAnT, jUSt keEp tHe VeRdiCt t0 y0uRsELf."

When you see text written in this kind of style, you think: (a) That's cool. (b) Whoever wrote that should be shot, or have their fingers broken. (c) So what? If that's the writer's style. If your answer is (b), then you could be part of a growing club whose members use the word "alay" to refer to - or mock - anyone who types using a mix of upper and lower case letters and numbers. The word alay has no exact meaning or obvious derivation; it seems to have come out of nowhere. However, it refers to something "tacky" and "cheesy" (norak or kampungan, in Indonesian).

What's more, they mix up the upper and lower case letters. An example of this last case is young Ophi A. Bubu, who became a popular target of people irritated by her preference for playing with her letters. The high school student from East Java shot to fame in the virtual world for her postings on her Facebook page. Her name is getting mentioned in blogs and forums everywhere - all of them discussing her writing. Not because her notes are so great, but because they're in "code". For example:

cXnK qMoh tO cKiDnAAAAaaaAaAaaaa . (Translation: Sayang kamu tau sakitnya/ Honey, do you know how much that hurts?) m_tHa apOn YoH .(Minta ampun ya /Please forgive me). So, quite simply, Ophi has become famous for making writing even harder to read than the scrawl of any doctor. (Written by Dian Kuswandini)

Your comments:
Alright people, listen up! Alay is an abbreviation of anak layangan/kite kid. How come? Well, the kids from the kampung are not like the kids who live in big cities like Jakarta, who play something modern. The kampung kids can't afford those "city games and toys", due to the financial constraints of their families. So, they play with kites instead of PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo. And since they play kites in the afternoon while the sun is blazing, their skin becomes dark. I think it's safe enough to visualize them as kids with a dark, dirty, and messy look (no offense). You see, a kampung kid gets along and befriends other kampung kids, so their circle of friends is limited.

Some of them (many, actually) have the wrong perception of what's cool and trendy. They soon become fashion victims. If you can, go to Blok M Plaza. You'll see lots of youngsters (kampung people, of course), wearing skinny pants, black tight tee shirts with punk rock designs, and Emo-style hair. Sometimes they add tacky accessories. In urbanites' eyes, they look very cheesy (kampung people trying to look cool and so kampungan, norak, etc.) that's the alay fashion.

While they're trying to be like sophisticated city people, they mess with their typing as well, in order to look cute or unique. Most people (who aren't alay) despise this. But people who type in this kind of style shouldn't be immediately considered alay. After all, they're just human beings, trying to keep up with trends in the wrong way, trying to get attention. It's normal. I think it is a part of young Indonesians' creativity, and we should patent it.

Pandu
Jakarta

My response, whenever I get that kind of writing in any media from my younger friends would be: "Hey, learn how to write correctly will you, you're hurting my eyes". It sounds harsh but I do it in a gentle way and they never sent me that kind of writing again. I agree with the opinion that says it is the result of a creative mind, and I would not support an active movement to denounce it.

I think kids have the right to be as creative as they want, as long as they are not doing anything criminal or could harm anybody. And we adults, if you don't like it just say so and make boundaries so everybody can live harmoniously, with mutual respect.

Another thing, I despise bullies, nobody should be bullied. If you don't like it, say it in a proper manner and respectfully, then walk away and leave it alone. Teens should be more careful with their online profiles too, that's why Facebook provides the "ignore" button and privacy setting.

Annissa G
Philadelphia

I hate alay. It's so irritating. Even without reading it. Just scroll through, and it's still there. Please note, alay is not only messing up writing, they are messing with people's lives! Haven't you heard about it? Sending junk sms, junk mail all over your Facebook page, miscalling you for a whole day. Yes, it does happen and I am not the only one to have experienced it. That's the main reason I hate alay.

Areta
Sydney

First, applause for Pandu. I couldn't agree more. I don't really mind alay. I have alay friends and I can say they're quite close to me. But sometimes they can be too annoying. I don't hate alay personally, but I do hate people who write L1k3 7hI5. I think it shows how they only care about themselves and not about other people (especially those who read their texts).

Maybe it's all right for them to write and read 7Hiz W4y, but it's quite irritating for other readers, who prefer normal letters.

Bri
Nijmegen, The Netherlands

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