Uhhhhh....

Uh. Um. Er. Em. Eh.

We all know these filler words. We know that Speech 101 tells us to avoid these words at all possible. We all know these words make you look unprepared, nervous and unpassionate. We know, or at least try our damnedest, not to use these words when speaking.

So, is it okay to use these words online?

Most people don;t use them, but they do have their place: the only time I have really seen anyone use filler words is when the situation has gotten really awkward and you want the other person to know just how awkward it is.

For example, if this chat window were to pop up on your Facebook:
Hey guh wats ur sign

Then this would be an appropriate answer. Followed by an X-out and "Go Offline"
ummmmm...

But to be frank, these words are awful. I know I use them and I wish I didn't. So our online voice has the right idea: cut 'em out!