I only use it occasionally. usually it's when I'm texting and can't spell things out. I say things like "lol" and "ttyl" and "fyi" and those sort of things.

Chat speak doesn't bother me too much. I understand that it came from typing on a keypad not designed to handle the full 26 (plus puntuations... what am I saying? punctuations are an endangered species ^_^)

Chat speak /here/ is a little more annoying simply because it makes me feel excluded for no reason. It takes a conscious moment of translation that highlights the fact that you are no longer speaking the same language I am. The internet and especially social sights like CW were made for connecting; feeling /included./ The whole keyboard is at your complete disposal. And it's simply pleasant to see a full bar of text that it looks like someone took the time to plan out. The effort is appreciated. I really don't think it makes people sound ignorant, though. Only when it is paired with bad grammar or hasty, easily-caught spelling mistakes does it seem to reflect poorly on the person's literacy to me.

And I do agree, I use smileys.... too much ^_^

I don't use chatspeak at all. I am capable of typing full sentences people can read.

Plus it also doesn't make me seem very smart. :L

I think that Norata's reply nails it fully and it should be left at that.