ping
1. {Packet INternet Groper}.
2. To send a message to all members of a {mailing
list} requesting an {ACK} (in order to verify that everybody's
addresses are reachable). "We haven't heard much of anything
from Geoff, but he did respond with an ACK both times I pinged
jargon-friends."
3. A quantum packet of happiness. People who are very happy
tend to exude pings; furthermore, one can intentionally create
pings and aim them at a needy party (e.g. a depressed person).
This sense of ping may appear as an exclamation; "Ping!" (I'm
happy; I am emitting a quantum of happiness; I have been
struck by a quantum of happiness). The form "pingfulness",
which is used to describe people who exude pings, also occurs.
(In the standard abuse of language, "pingfulness" can also be
used as an exclamation, in which case it's a much stronger
exclamation than just "ping"!). Opposite: {blargh}.
[{Jargon File}]
(1997-03-10)