The Despicable "K."

Whether you're a Crackberry addict or a part of Team iPhone, we've all experienced that painful moment when your phone vibrates after the twenty agonizing minutes you spent waiting for a response to your detailed and thoughtful text message, only to open the text and see a glaring and obnoxious "K." looking back at you from the screen.

Although there may be a plethora of other annoying cellphone faux-pas, none may be as loathsome as this one letter death sentence. What does it mean? Who deemed it appropriate? Are you not even worth the "O" before it?

Perfect example. You're in the middle of a texting conversation with a new guy and thought you just cleverly responded to something he said, only to receive "K." as his response.

What do you do? Do you change the subject and play it off like it didn't happen? Resend the same text and hope he responds with something different? End the conversation completely?

With no surefire way to respond, a whole new world opens up when you start wondering what does it mean? Which in turn, allows for the endless slew of unanswered and increasingly paranoid questions to start to occur; Did he not like my response? Does he not like me? Is he not interested? Is he too busy doing something else to write more? If he's busy what is he doing? Is he with another girl? Is she prettier than me? I bet she 's way skinner and has bigger tits. Why am I so fat?.....

And the list/night of crying yourself to sleep after gorging on Ben and Jerry's Half Baked and painstakingly analyzing every word of every single one of your text messages sent to find out what you possibly could've done wrong, goes on.

"K." can also turn what seemed to be an innocent conversation between friends into a full blown bitchfight.

Perfect example. You're stoked about the great night you had with a new guy and text one of your closest friends asking her if she wants to grab lunch and discuss the details and potential of your date. Your phone dings and your open her response..."K."

Excuse me? Does she not care about the great time you had? Is she PMSing? Is she doing something more important and is too busy to hangout with you? Wait, nothing's more important than you, Screw Her!

Nothing can dampen a mood more than that despicable letter.

How can one letter be so awful and turn what seemed to be a simple conversation into a paranoid, misinterpreted, agonizing death trap? Although I'm sure there are many theories, ideas, and opinions on ways to remedy such a tricky situation, my belief on the matter is simple. The next time someone sends "K" to you as a response to your text message, remember this: "K." may be a one letter response, but "F U" is two letters and helps gets the point across a whole lot quicker.