Date: 2008-11-02 11:52:02 Created: null
Speaking, or actually, typing, the elite (that's what leet means) way is pretty much about obfuscation. "Simplifying" or otherwise alter the spelling of words and changing certain letters for similar-looking characters are the key tricks. Above all, L becomes 1 (the number one), E becomes 3, A 4, S 5 and T 7. Oh, and 0 instead of O of course. Moving things around a bit so "the" becomes "t3h" 4dd5 50m3 3ff3ct t00.
Yes, ph instead of f is kind of mandatory too. And z instead of s of course ... ph34r my 1337 [whatever appropriate] ski11z, as they like to say.
7h3r3 4r3n'7 700 /\/\4ny ru13z r3411y, 45 10ng 45 i7'5 i|\| 73h righ7 5piri7 ... And if you got through that one you know pretty much all you'll ever need too! It's easier (and more fun/phun too, I guess) to write than read, really.
I've gone from thinking it's just a silly thing to do to fail to appear cool, to thinking it can actually be kind of ... well, 1337, in the right places ...
Everything2 (which at the moment of writing seems to be down. 7h3y'11 6e b4ck, 63 5ur3 0f 7h47!) has more information about the art and background of 13375p34k, including the radical theory/suggestion that there's actually a meaning with its existence.