...much short for a big laugh when...? ... there is nothing to laugh about, really. For example, a friend went into surgery and had to have staples after. She uses lol and lmao to describe how she is feeling right now. Tons of people seem to be depressed when they are texting or sending emails, etc., but use one or both of these abbreviations. I admit confusion. When someone says, "I just feel so depressed right now lol" or "it's been another one of those awful days at work lmao" I have to double check to see if the meaning of these abbreviations has changed. LOTS of people are doing this. What gives?