Culture
Why Is 'Ping' a Thing?
Does the word come from sonar? Is it a "backronym"? Internet jargon? Yes, yes, and yes.
My first real job was in a museum education department, where most of my time was spent away from my desk and off my phone. So it wasn't until I landed in the office world of a magazine that I encountered the term "ping": Ping me when you're ready for lunch, or, I'll ping you if you forget to reply.
I felt somewhat bothered—pinged, if you will—by the term, belonging as it does behind the glass door of irritating office-speak: Let's take this offline; She was hoping to touch base; I'll circle back later.