With the rapid development of the internet, we have witnessed the birth, change, and demise of many words.
When chatting with friends, I always notice the character "6" appearing frequently in a way that makes me feel complicated. I still remember when I first encountered "666"—it was a sincere and straightforward word used in game livestreams to praise the streamer's skills. Back then, it even made me feel a rare warmth. But now, whenever a friend casually throws a "6" into the chat, I can't help but pause for a few seconds, trying to figure out whether it hides genuine admiration or is just a perfunctory response (sensitive). It always leaves me feeling strangely uncomfortable and hard to understand.
I still recall the sincerity of seeing "666" for the first time—back then, when someone pulled off an amazing move in a game, it was the highest respect players could show for skill. It carried a bit of exaggeration but also genuine admiration, like people standing up to applaud someone after a match. However, as internet culture expanded, this "6" became simpler and simpler. Its original meaning gradually blurred, replaced by a fast-food style of expression: "You did okay," "Oh," or simply put, when I say "6," you understand I'm praising you, and there's no need to bother truly appreciating it.
Sometimes, I wonder what made this simple "6" lose all its depth. Is it because it no longer carries real emotional investment, or because we are too rushed in this virtual ocean that we have given up on genuine communication? "6" now seems to have become a synonym for "I don't want to say much but have to respond." You post a selfie, I reply with "6"; you tell a joke, I reply with "6"; you're in a bad mood, I reply with "6." This is no longer appreciation but more of an unconscious perfunctory response. I know this way of expression isn't malicious—it's just that the relentless tide of internet culture has made us forget the original mission of language: communication and connection.
This isn't just about "6." With the rapid spread of internet slang, many words have suffered a similar fate. For example, "haha" was originally an expression of laughter, but now it has become a default response in chats, even when it doesn't represent real amusement. Another example is "haojiahuo" (good heavens)—it was initially an exclamation of surprise, but now in some contexts, it has degraded into a filler word with empty meaning.
The vulgarization of these words isn't just due to overuse; it's more about our growing detachment from interpersonal communication. When we get used to responding to everything with "6," we gradually become indifferent to the depth of conversation. We no longer bother to think about how to appropriately express emotions, nor do we listen carefully to the feelings behind others' words. We are just eager to respond, eager to consume these fast-food expressions, as if "6" is enough to solve all communication dilemmas.
I also know that the pace of the world is getting faster, and our time doesn't seem to allow us to pause and savor every conversation. But can't we, in the midst of our busyness, leave some room for genuine communication? I think the vulgarization of internet language is not just a change in vocabulary—it reflects our gradual estrangement from human connection. When we start treating language as a tool rather than a bridge for emotional exchange, perhaps we have already lost the warmth it was meant to bring.
Therefore, I want to use this article to remind myself, and I hope to catch your attention too: don't let "6" become a habitual dismissive response. The distance between people has already grown wider because of the internet, and we need language even more to convey real feelings, rather than brushing things off with these "fast-food" words. Maybe it's time to think about whether there are more suitable words to express our thoughts.
Language has power, and that power comes from our sincerity