Someone explain ~ to me

[Benn]

I just realised that I use the ~ character pretty often in internet typed text - but I can't actually explain what it means...

I know what it feels like and what I'm saying, but I can't really explain the usage of it.

someone help~

[Calix]

I have no idea, i'm sure I picked it up from UO. It seems to work as a sentance finisher, but I can't explain why. Gives some kind of extra inflection to a line of text..

~

[Lady Redname]

i do it to, but i noticed that some people i chat to on facebook have started doing it back to me~

i also use it to show sarcasm sometimes~

[Toki]

I always thought it was a posh way of saying lol

[Benn]

It was definately from UO somewhere, was it the same jap or korean comics where DED came from??

I wa asking because I used it at work with someone and realised I had no idea how to explain it if they'd asked what it was.

On another note, I use DED and a few other things a lot IRL and other people eventually start using it too, it's pretty funny!

[Superfast Oz]

Always noticed attard using the ~ too. Always thought he used it where not using it might make the line seem abrupt or too serious.

Always though ded came from uo.

Aids is def spreading anyway, only occasionally does anyone query my everyday use of it.

[Ingo]

It's no ^^

[Calix]

Yeah that's the best explanation, removing the seriousness from a sentance I think.

..and lol yes, aidz and ded are common vocabulary amongst workmates/friends now. As is Beste. Beste !

[zole]

Can confirm that aids is a proper noun with everyone I know. ~ is used a lot in japan, so I kind of forgot the Internet meaning, but it keeps a message light, so seems to be the same wwwwwwwwww~