If you use the term “lol” in writing, Keaven will assume you’re an idiot. If he already knows you’re not an idiot, he’ll silently seethe a little. (Actually pronouncing “lol” as a sarcastic speech act merely elicits a groan and rolled eyes from Keaven.)
Keaven’s hatred of “lol” stems from its ubiquity among the AOL users who, upon being released from their playpen in 1993, flooded his beloved IRC channels. (See Eternal September.)
When asked, Keaven will claim he dislikes the term because it is “illogical” or “redundant”–how can one laugh other than out loud?–but this seems more like a post hoc justification of why a term overused by AOLers might be annoying.
[Addendum by Keaven]
This applies to “LOL” specifically, because when one uses it, they very rarely are doing what they claim to be (i.e. Actually laughing in a boisterous manner). Other initialisms, such as “OMG” and “BRB” are perfectly alright, since they are standing in for phases that you would actually be saying/doing.
ROFLCOPTER, AWAY!
Some of us know how to laugh without being "out loud." But we are also all well aware that Keaven knows only one decibel of laugh, and that is surely "out LOUD!!"