17 0r191n83d 0n 885'5 4nD 804rd5, 17 pr0v13d3d 4n 345153r 0r l355 5p4c3-c0n5um1n9 w4y 70 74lk english it originated (in the 80's) on bbs's and boards and in email...it was more or less a secret language that hackers had to themselves, and sometimes it was more space/bandwith expedient to say I h8 icecream (instead of hate) or something like that...`