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why even on old computers do they have #? pre twitter

[Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 386
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in General Discussion #1
Did people ever use hashtags before social media was created?
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    Gary_LandyFanGary_LandyFan Posts: 3,824
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    #2
    It has been used a long time before Twotter started to use it as a feature on their website.

    'hashtag' refers only to it being used in this way. The hash symbol is quite often used as a symbol for number, eg #1, #2 etc
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    KapellmeisterKapellmeister Posts: 41,322
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    #3
    Or a sharp in musical notation.

    F# minor
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    coughthecatcoughthecat Posts: 6,876
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    #4
    T no1 scot high wrote: »
    Did people ever use hashtags before social media was created?

    Of course! After all, keyboard manufacturers would hardly add a key if it didn't have a purpose! :D

    Amongst other things, it was used as shorthand for "number".
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    EspressoEspresso Posts: 18,047
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    #5
    It's called a pound sign in America. They have it on phones for use during connecting to an extension number.
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    [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 386
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    #6
    coughthecat wrote: »
    Of course! After all, keyboard manufacturers would hardly add a key if it didn't have a purpose! :D

    Amongst other things, it was used as shorthand for "number".

    Didn't the euro key exist long before they euro?
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    cnbcwatchercnbcwatcher Posts: 56,681
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    #7
    It's often used for numbers instead of typing Number or No.
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    ScottishWoodyScottishWoody Posts: 23,241
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    #8
    The '@' symbol has been around for over a century!
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    tealadytealady Posts: 26,266
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    #9
    Used for formatting numbers #,###
    Languages C#
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    FizixFizix Posts: 16,932
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    #10
    Really, is this a serious thread? Twitter made use of an existing, commonly used symbol (examples: denotes numbers and a musical note, also used on telephones and programming), they didn't invent it.
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    swehsweh Posts: 13,665
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    #11
    Have you never played around with HTML codes back in the day?
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    CentaurionCentaurion Posts: 2,060
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    #12
    amazingly the querty keybord existed before computers,


    I know !!!!!!
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    skp20040skp20040 Posts: 66,874
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    #13
    Fizix wrote: »
    Really, is this a serious thread? Twitter made use of an existing, commonly used symbol (examples: denotes numbers and a musical note, also used on telephones and programming), they didn't invent it.

    Its a bit like sex, having fun, fashion and a whole list of other things, the youth of every generation think they invented it.
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    zippydoodahzippydoodah Posts: 2,778
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    #14
    Centaurion wrote: »
    amazingly the querty keybord existed before computers,


    I know !!!!!!

    Qwerty :)
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    zippydoodahzippydoodah Posts: 2,778
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    #15
    I just hope the OP doesnt see a # on a telephone :)
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    InspirationInspiration Posts: 62,706
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    #16
    Fizix wrote: »
    Really, is this a serious thread? Twitter made use of an existing, commonly used symbol (examples: denotes numbers and a musical note, also used on telephones and programming), they didn't invent it.

    For some youngens it's probably a serious question.
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    swehsweh Posts: 13,665
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    #17
    zippydoodah wrote: »
    I just hope the OP doesnt see a # on a telephone :)

    Or a *

    Everyone knows that's only used to correct typos and turn words into an action online.
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    Biker JeffBiker Jeff Posts: 984
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    #18
    Things were around before the internet ??
    What the hell is this madness.
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    AOTBAOTB Posts: 9,708
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    #19
    ScottishWoody wrote: »
    The '@' symbol has been around for over a century!

    Woah there, hang on a minute, this can't be right- there were no emails a century ago...! :p
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    John259John259 Posts: 28,467
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    #20
    In addition to all the above examples and many more, the hash sign has been used to reference previously opened data files in BASIC for decades, for example Input#1, Print#2, etc.
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    boddismboddism Posts: 16,436
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    #21
    T no1 scot high wrote: »
    Did people ever use hashtags before social media was created?

    LOL U under 20??
    The hashtag has been on computers since their mass production started in the 70's.
    Twitter didnt invent the hashtag!
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    CryolemonCryolemon Posts: 8,670
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    #22
    T no1 scot high wrote: »
    Didn't the euro key exist long before they euro?

    It was released in 1996, which is after the Euro was invented, but before it was used as actual currency.
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    tealadytealady Posts: 26,266
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    #23
    boddism wrote: »
    LOL U under 20??
    Profile says 17.
    Have they heard of bonusprint though?
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    this_is_methis_is_me Posts: 1,304
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    #24
    #define in C
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    MargMckMargMck Posts: 24,115
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    #25
    ScottishWoody wrote: »
    The '@' symbol has been around for over a century!

    Yes I have an Imperial typewriter by my feet from George V era, and as well as @ it has a set of fractions keys.
    There's a book by Keith Houston, 'Shady Characters: The Secret Life of Punctuation, Symbols & Other Typographical Marks,' which traces # back to usage from 14th century, and it is 'descended' from Roman signs.
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    Jesse PinkmanJesse Pinkman Posts: 5,794
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    #26
    Biker Jeff wrote: »
    Things were around before the internet ??
    What the hell is this madness.

    Porn films were around before the internet and video tapes.

    They were on 8mm film and lorry drivers going to Europe used to bring them back.

    Called "Blue Movies".

    Oh how time has changed!
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