Etymology of Pwn/Pwnage and it's Variants (Your input requested)

[JLarsen]

Class: College Composition
Assignment: Definition Essay

Outline:

Spoiler

Intro
Overview of Leet speak and internet culture
-replacing letters with numerics to avoid being picked up by common search queries
-common abbreviations and internet slang
-definition
-brief mention where the term is derived from and obscurity

Thesis/Purpose: Shed light on internet subculture, gaming, instant messaging forums etc. Effect on youth or culture?



History of the term (Etymology)

-where term first appeared and use in various places on the internet (Forums, online games)
-never said in real life, only written, and only with the use of a keyboard
-evolution of the term

Body Paragraphs -

1. Where the term first appeared and use in various places


2. Evolution of the term


3. Various Explanations of its origin including which you think is most likely

Conclusion -

Internet Subculture is unique in that it's derived through digital media. Affect on youth?

Like I told my teacher, it's hard to get credible sources on the term since it does originate from the wasteland that is the internet. However, she told me if it comes from the wastelands, then go to the wastelands to find the information on it. That being said I can pretty much quote anything said anywhere on the internet as sources, so I would love it if you guys would maybe give a little blurb as to your thoughts/experiences with the word pwn.

Some questions to consider might be;
-where you first heard it
-your take on the origin of the term whether it be the proximity of the p to the o key on the qwerty keyboard, or if it's supposed to be own with a drop of blood off the side (lol)
-the type of person that uses it
-other pertinent information
-anecdotes (short personal experience, like a story)
-general constructive ideas and various stuffz.

Who woulda thunk, eh? Any help is appreciated please and thank youz.

Edit: Dear god. How am I supposed to write a paper when I'm on forums and gaming sites >_<

 

[DavidWoner]

or if it's supposed to be own with a drop of blood off the side (lol)

wtfffff I have never heard that, it sounds stupid.

The origin is pretty clearly from the o/p proximity, though I have also heard is a a contraction of power-own. (people used to write pown) This is all from ~2006 maplestory/runescape/DotA communities.

 

[JLarsen]

wtfffff I have never heard that, it sounds stupid.

The origin is pretty clearly from the o/p proximity, though I have also heard is a a contraction of power-own. (people used to write pown) This is all from ~2006 maplestory/runescape/DotA communities.

Rofl I know the blood on the side is ridiculous. I haven't heard power-own that'll be super helpful. I'll throw the possible origins that I've found from my research so far. Some of them are pretty frickin hilarious.

Originally dates back to the days of WarCraft, when a map designer mispelled "Own" as "Pwn". What was originally supose to be "player has been owned." was "player has been pwned".

"Some maintain it is derived from a pawn checkmate in the game chess.The early 20th century Russian chess grandmaster, Alexander Alekhine, is said to have drunkenly stated during a game, ‘I will pawn to your knight,’ or it may have originated at MIT in the 1960’s from engineers working on Chess AI"

"Some argue it is a graphical variant of ‘own’ with a bleeding ‘o’ (the ‘p’ is an ‘o’ with blood dripping off its left side). Yet another suggestion is that ‘p’ comes after ‘o’ and is therefore ‘greater’."

I'll post more as I find them.

 

[masteranders1]

I would say that for the type of person who uses the term 'pwn' is your typical gamer/video game addict. As you play the game, 1337 speak starts to kick in, resulting in people saying the actual word when they have headsets on and are gaming. Those who have more of a fascination with technology or video games/use of video game consoles are more likely to use the term. Using 'pwn' in my opinion isn't necessarily only restricted to a keyboard.

 

[JLarsen]

Yeah it really has spread out into IRL and VOIP now. I'll make sure to mention that.

 

[JTW2007]

I've heard three different explanations:

-It's a typo of "own" resulting from the proximity of the O and P keys on a QWERTY keyboard (seems the most likely to me)
-It's a contraction of "Power own" (the fact that it's sometimes spelled as "pown" or "p'wn" lends some credence to this)
-Pwning someone is "one better" than owning them due to the fact that P is one letter after O in the alphabet

It seems likely to me that it was originally just a typo but that people began constructing retrograde etymologies for it after it fell into widespread use.

 

[d4m4s74]

I'm one of the few people who still pronounces pwn as "own" instead of "pown" dunny why though.

 

[JLarsen]

Is it okay if I quote any of you who post in this thread? If anyone has an issue let me know. I plan on quoting D-bone and JTW so far. Thanks again dudes.

 

[JTW2007]

Is it okay if I quote any of you who post in this thread? If anyone has an issue let me know. I plan on quoting D-bone and JTW so far. Thanks again dudes.

Fine with me.