Plokta

2 definitions found

From Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001) [jargon]:

  plokta /plok't*/ v. [acronym: Press Lots Of Keys To Abort] To press
     random keys in an attempt to get some response from the system. One
     might plokta when the abort procedure for a program is not known, or
     when trying to figure out if the system is just sluggish or really hung.
     Plokta can also be used while trying to figure out any unknown key
     sequence for a particular operation. Someone going into `plokta mode'


     usually places both hands flat on the keyboard and mashes them down,
     hoping for some useful response.
  
     A slightly more directed form of plokta can often be seen in mail
     messages or Usenet articles from new users -- the text might end with
  
            ^X^C
            q
            quit
            :q
            ^C
            end
            x
            exit
            ZZ
            ^D
            ?
            help
    
     as the user vainly tries to find the right exit sequence, with the
     incorrect tries piling up at the end of the message....
  
  

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  plokta
       
          /plok't*/ Press Lots Of Keys To Abort.  To press random keys
          in an attempt to get some response from the system.  One might
          plokta when the abort procedure for a program is not known, or
          when trying to figure out if the system is just sluggish or
          really hung.  Plokta can also be used while trying to figure
          out any unknown key sequence for a particular operation.
          Someone going into "plokta mode" usually places both hands
          flat on the keyboard and mashes them down, hoping for some
          useful response.
       
          A slightly more directed form of plokta can often be seen in
          mail messages or {Usenet} articles from new users - the text
          might end with
       
                 ^X^C
                 q
                 quit
                 :q
                 ^C
                 end
                 x
                 exit
                 ZZ
                 ^D
                 ?
                 help
       
          as the user vainly tries to find the right exit sequence, with
          the incorrect tries piling up at the end of the message.
       
          [{Jargon File}]