In the U.S. MUD community, it has become traditional to express pique or censure by bonking the offending person. Convention holds that one should acknowledge a bonk by saying “oif!” and there is a myth to the effect that failing to do so upsets the cosmic bonk/oif balance, causing much trouble in the universe. Some MUDs have implemented special commands for bonking and oifing. Note: in parts of the U.K. ‘bonk’ is a sexually loaded slang term; care is advised in transatlantic conversations (see boink). Commonwealth hackers report a similar convention involving the ‘fish/bang’ balance. See also talk mode.
