I regret that I wasted time with this thread. If that really makes you mad then you need more interaction with people, you don't get enough stimulation.

There's alot more things that deserve your attention

I remember when BASIC only let you use single letter variable names, but I also remember M$ coming into use in the late 80s. All of the MS BASICs I can think of for 80s micros (Applesoft, BASICA, GW-BASIC) all supported long variable names. TRS-BASIC only let you have short variables, but that's nothing to do with MS. Is this is a reference to Altairs? If so, it sounds like one of those retroactively applied meanings.

As far as I know, there's no BASIC reference. The phrase was coined after that period. M$ is just short for Micro$oft or Micro$haft.

I use M$ if I'm referring to Bill Gates' money-grubbing ways and I think I'm being snarky.

OR if little things like that make me angry I need a little less interaction with people and I get too much stimulation.  :-p

I figure it's no different from someone saying Ninty, Nin, N instead of having to type Nintendo every time. Sony is pretty short and simple. M$ saves a lot of time when you refer more than once.

@twesterm
Linguistic choices are identity markers for the outside world. I was merely pointing out that your own language denotes your adherence to a subculture, and adherence always deprives you of a dimension. As such, bickering about the conformistic choices others made with their language tickled the funny bone in my inner ear.
That said, lighten up, it was all in good spirit. I even added the ";)" glyph at the end that you youngsters seem to use so much...

whatever dude. look: M$ , yeah I fail at life 'cause you say so. :P I'm joking.

M$.

M$

How about I call Nintendough a greedy money grubbing company?

Why stop typing M$ I might even start typing MICRO$O£T so I can fit another currency in .

Hey Thanx for the inspiratation Twest :)