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The original was posted on /r/nostupidquestions by /u/ThisIsTheCaptain on 2023-09-12 18:34:03.
I was at my best friend's house and hanging out with their 14-year-old who was telling me about modern note-passing techniques in class, despite it being antiquated when cell phones and texting are available. I laughed and told them some of the more creative ways kids "in my day" pre-cell phones got messages and even told them about how a friend and I would write our notes in "'advanced' Leet speak" so if the teacher got ahold of it, they wouldn't be able to do the thing where they read the note out loud to the class.
They looked at me, puzzled, and asked, "What's 'leet speak'?" I was a little taken aback. But then I also realized how long it's been since I've heard someone, anyone, even reference 1337 speak.
Do kids these days just not even know what it is at all? It felt like it was such a huge thing way back when. And this kid runs in all the same circles that would have used 1337 speak back in the day, so it's not like exposure to its existence would be unheard of.
So did the concept of 1337 speak just go the way of omgwtfbbq and turn into dust under the weight of modern pop culture and blow away in the wind? Not that it wasn't cringy as hell or should be "brought back" or anything... I'm just wondering if it was just this kid, or if a lot of younger folks have simply never heard of it.