Filename Extensions

Filename Extensions

Part of a series on Internet Slang. [View Related Entries]

Updated Feb 04, 2014 at 01:42AM EST by James.

Added Mar 12, 2012 at 08:44PM EDT by RandomMan.

PROTIP: Press 'i' to view the image gallery, 'v' to view the video gallery, or 'r' to view a random entry.

BUS, rar

About

Filename Extensions are suffixes added to the name of a computer file to indicate the encoding of its contents or type of usage. On message boards and discussion forums, media filename extensions like .jpg and .avi are commonly used in text-based comments to convey one's reaction without uploading and posting the actual media. See also: Fake HTML Tags / Fake Markup Tags.

Origin

Filename extensions[1] originate from file formatting[2] on various operating systems like Windows and Linux. The first operating systems only had a minimal amount of filename extensions to determine the file's generic type, for example .txt for text, .mus for music and .exe for executable applications.


image.jpg filename file extension period aka dot

As computer technology continued to evolve, additional software programs were developed to handle a wide range of data types. Along with this growth, the diversity of filename extensions continued to expand, some of them even becoming associated with certain product versions.[3]


TEX PNA PHP PSD TXT MASE 0 BMP MOV RGB INI PDF RSE FiL DOC PG VOC SKIN OPS FiLE XLS PNG 3DS UTILITY MNY PPT ABW SH AW

Filename extensions are displayed as a suffix placed behind the filename, indicating the contents and type of the file. On the English-language web, the earliest known usage of filename extension in substitute of an actual media file can be attributed to Facepalm.jpg, which became adapted by users on 4chan imageboard as a quicker alternative to posting a reaction image of Facepalm, beginning sometime in early 2007. In the Spanish-speaking online communities, an Internet legend built around a peculiar photo of a man referred to as Tio.jpg became widespread as early as in 2006.

Spread

Filename extensions have been commonly used as text responses on discussion forums and chatroom settings, particularly on imageboard sites like 4chan where there are limits on maximum upload file size and / or each media file's name and its extension type are fully disclosed within each post submitted.[4]

While certain notable image or video files became distinguished through the labels containing filename extensions, such as facepalm.jpg or Nope.avi, other recognizable imageries of reaction faces (ex: do_not_want.jpg) or emoticons (ex: sadface.jpg) may be also encapsulated in their filenames. This shortcut reference technique is applied in the My Face When threads on 4chan.


facepalm.jpg Flutteryay.gif

Such text-based shortcuts using filename extensions can be also commonly found in chatrooms or fast-cycle discussion threads as well, where the real-time pace of conversation often lends itself to brevity and quick-witted responses.


I have every single different weapon that affects gameplay (minus hats). So, naturally, I have been hoarding weapons for at least the last 3 months. paranoid.gif 99 QUOTE
橤Sadface.jpg I know I've only got four followers, but no messages on tumblr since | started? Notes

Notable Examples

Smile.jpg

"Smile.jpg" refers to a disturbing copypasta story often accompanied by a photoshopped picture of a dog that began circulating on 4chan's /x/ board in 2008. Although occasionally referred to as "Smile Dog," the "Smile.jpg" in its filename extension format has stuck with the copypasta to this day.



LaughingWhores.jpg

"Laughingwhores.jpg" refers to a type of reaction images depicting two or more women, usually teenagers, laughing or snickering at something. Such images are commonly used as replies in imageboards to mock or dismiss original poster’s thread that may be deemed pathetic or inadequate, similar to the usage of Facepalm and George Costanza’s Reaction Face. The earliest known instance of “girls laughing” image was posted in a thread about 1954 drama teleplay 12 Angry Men via 4chan’s /tv/ (television) board on August 4th, 2009.



SuicideMouse.avi

"Suicidemouse.avi", also known as Suicide Mouse, is a black-and-white cartoon featuring a looped animation of the Disney character Mickey Mouse walking along several buildings accompanied by eerie piano music. The video cuts to black for several minutes and returns with distorted video and loud screaming audio at the end. The video was uploaded by YouTuber Nec1 on November 25th, 2009 and was accompanied by a lengthy description with a fabricated creepypasta story.



Nope.avi

"Nope.avi" is a video clip featuring a BLU Engineer character from Team Fortress 2 saying “nope.” Due to its abrupt nature, the video is most often used humorously as a negative response or a curt dismissal in discussion forums and comment threads. The original video titled “Nope.avi” was created and uploaded by YouTuber Jimbomcb[1] on January 11th, 2010, using Valve’s Source Filmmaker software. Although embedding the video itself is the most common form of execution, numerous types of filename extensions other than .avi (movie format) such as .mp3 (audio format) and .jpg (image format) have been used with "Nope," when iterated in text.



Pony.mov

"Pony.mov" refers to a series of fan-made videos based on the popular animated series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic that are created by artist Max Gilardi, also known as HotDiggedyDemon[1]. Each video focuses on one of the characters of the MLP:FiM series, although with drastically different and more grotesque personalities than in the original canon. Various phrases and scenes from the episodes have also gained their own popularity on the web. The first video in the series, “APPLE.MOV," was uploaded to YouTube on October 11th, 2011.



Merchandises

The website Gizmine sells various underwear items with filename extensions printed on it.[5] These were also featured on Incredible Things.[6] The online shopping site Etsy also sells various necklaces with pendants reading a variety of filename extensions, created by Quite Lovable.[7] These have also been featured on Walyou[8], Riceplate[9] and Polyvore[10].



Search Interest

External References

[1] Wikipedia – Filename Extensions

[2] Wikipedia – File Format

[3] Wikipedia – List of File Formats

[4] Encyclopedia Dramatica – Reaction.jpg

[5] Gizmine – Extension Underwear

[6] Incredible Things – Unzip To Show Off Your File Extension

[7] Etsy – Quite Lovable

[8] Walyou – Adobe File Extension Necklaces

[9] Riceplate – Adobe File Extension Necklaces

[10] Polyvore – Adobe File Extension Necklaces

Recent Videos 11 total

Recent Images 36 total


Top Comments

Taira
Taira

At first I was like

But then I thought about it…
There is an awful lot of viral media that uses file extensions in their names… Some of the most famous examples being nope.avi and apple.mov
+1 work
+1 wait

+23

+ Add a Comment

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