Introducing native support for *bounding asterisks*

[geochronology]

I propose the introduction of native markdown support for *bounding asterisks*, with the goal of restoring a convention of internet communication and culture.

I believe that John Gruber's interpretation of bounding asterisks was well-intentioned, but lacking in appropriate context. From a UPenn article:

By "emphasis" Gruber explains that he means "informing the reader of a shift in style or voice," likening the use of bounding asterisks to "how foreign words are italicized in many publications and books." He figured it was an "Internet-ism," tracing its use to the need for a plain-text substitution for italicization or bolding. (Source)

"A plain-text substitution for italicization" is just one of the reasons why people use bounding asterisks online. In subcultures of anime, gaming, and fandom, for instance, bounding asterisks are used as a way to *emote*, signifying that within the encapsulated phrase, an action is being taken.

When bounding asterisks are used to emote, their usage is intentional, deliberate, and meant to be displayed as written. For instance:

*Walks into the dark room, unable to see a thing* Now where could I have put my cheese? *flicks on the light switch* Ah, there it is! Right where I left it on the counter. *walks to the cheese and takes it, smiling with an accomplished, satisfied grin*

Another use of bounding asterisks is to indicate an onomatopoeia (*nom nom nom*), as referenced by the following scholarly article. To quote:

Expressions can also be recreated by naming the expression offset by asterisks, for example ‘*grins*’. This technique can also be used to denote onomatopoeias like ‘*gluckgluckgluck*’ recreating the sound of drinking quickly (Hentschel, 1998).

Through decades of internet culture, all three uses of bounding asterisks (emphasis, emotive, and onomatopoeia) have come to be widely understood. Yet because of the widespread adoption of markdown syntax, only one of them survives.

It's now impossible to use bounding asterisks natively on platforms including Discord, Slack, Reddit, and Skype.

If this were merely an issue of formatting, I'd be less concerned. However, without bounding asterisks displayed literally, non-emphasizing use cases simply don't work. This isn't just my own feeling, but one echoed by internet users over and over and over.

In the words of one Discord user:

Please stop telling us to use a backslash.

Why should we have to use a backslash just to make a text application transmit the text we type? It's one thing to offer it as a workaround, but to use that to dismiss what others want is rude.

This quote comes from a user who wants an option to disable markdown completely. But I don't think that's the solution. I think the solution is improving markdown by adding a new, less problematic syntax to emphasize text.

Markdown is still in version 1.0.1 and it hasn't been updated since 2005. At the very least, I believe this one change would improve upon the original specs, and make for a solid v1.1 release.

In terms of what a replacement syntax should be, I propose bounding doublebangs: !!. Doublebangs have the advantage of being italic-flavored, but to the best of my knowledge don't mean much of anything else. (Example: Huzzah, we can !!finally!! use bounding asterisks again! *celebrates with much rejoicing*)

I welcome discussion and would love to know what others think.

[teh-maxh]

"A plain-text substitution for italicization" is simply not why people use bounding asterisks online.

This is inaccurate. Asterisks as emphasis have a long history of use for emphasis. Your observation of other uses is correct, but to claim that it isn't used for emphasis is simply wrong.

[geochronology]

"A plain-text substitution for italicization" is simply not why people use bounding asterisks online.

This is inaccurate. Asterisks as emphasis have a long history of use for emphasis. Your observation of other uses is correct, but to claim that it isn't used for emphasis is simply wrong.

Well, okay, that's a fair point, and you're right. I've revised my argument.

"A plain-text substitution for italicization" is just one of the reasons why people use bounding asterisks. In subcultures of anime, gaming, and fandom, for instance, bounding asterisks are used to *emote*, signifying that within the encapsulated phrase, an action is being taken.

[songcarver]

Small ideas: what if a period could be used to escape words or full lines. There is an existing use I've seen popularised in Twitter, where a period is used to 'escape' the @. For example, in twitter one writes @person123 check this out, then it won't appear in the poster's main thread. Twitter users escape this by putting a period in front .@person123 check this out.

Let's say we wanted to write in a particular internet-y style. And *boom* she entered the room

But escaping it, well, sucks, because it's so ugly

And \*boom\* she entered the room

Perhaps a period could do the trick for the word?

And .*boom* she entered the room

Or perhaps the full sentence can be escape

.And *boom* she entered the room