Does the use of some acronyms annoy you?

[SSJBlastoise]

Now, before I start I am asking this question more in relation to people who use them even if they are obscure or not really obvious.

It can be very annoying going onto a site or thread and finding someone has used an acronym.For me, this isn't usually an issue because often the acronym is relevant to the topic i.e. the topic is the Assassin's Creed games and AC is used instead. However, some people seem to think that everyone knows what their acronym means.

I have no issue with common acronyms but I know it may be a small thing but it really annoys me when someone uses acronyms and assumes people automatically know what it means.

So, does the use of uncommon or obscure acronyms annoy you? Feel free to add acronyms that you feel shouldn't even be acronyms or examples of poor uses on them.

 

[DoPo]

However, some people seem to think that everyone knows what their acronym means.

I have no issue with common acronyms but I know it may be a small thing but it really annoys me when someone uses acronyms and assumes people automatically know what it means.

I'm usually trying to use the full thing before the acronym. However, in some circumstances, I just go off on the assumption that context shows what the acronym should be - for example OP on the forums or a series specific acronym (SR for Soul Reaver) if talking about specific series (Legacy of Kain, receptively). So all in all, I try to fit acronyms into the context - of course, somebody could not know what OP is but it'd be rare and they'd ask - it is much more convenient to not explain it each and every time you write it, as most people would know what you mean.

 

[SSJBlastoise]

I'm usually trying to use the full thing before the acronym. However, in some circumstances, I just go off on the assumption that context shows what the acronym should be - for example OP on the forums or a series specific acronym (SR for Soul Reaver) if talking about specific series (Legacy of Kain, receptively). So all in all, I try to fit acronyms into the context - of course, somebody could not know what OP is but it'd be rare and they'd ask - it is much more convenient to not explain it each and every time you write it, as most people would know what you mean.

Of course stuff like OP is a lot more common but I guess just because it has occurred twice in the last day on here it struck me as a bit weird why some people assumed it was an obvious acronym. One was QWET, I'm sure that might be a little obvious to some people but I had no Idea what it was but thankfully someone said it in the next post. The other one though was AO which to me does not seem obvious.

Also, I'm guessing you mean if you went onto a forum about Soul Reaver it is acceptable to use SR because if you mentioned it on here randomly I would think of Saint's Row but that's just me.

 

[The Wykydtron]

I really don't like people using acronyms for things that already have short enough names. I mean really, Persona 4/P4? Is it so hard to write a seven letter word? Same for Katawa Shoujo but I can forgive that because Katawa is kinda weird to type on your standard QWERTY keyboard.

Some ones have to depend on context, like I know OP would stand for opening post here but after playing so much LoL it will forever stand out as meaning OMG SO OVERPOWERED!

 

[DoPo]

One was QWET, I'm sure that might be a little obvious to some people but I had no Idea what it was but thankfully someone said it in the next post. The other one though was AO which to me does not seem obvious.

Both of these don't make sense to me.

Also, I'm guessing you mean if you went onto a forum about Soul Reaver it is acceptable to use SR because if you mentioned it on here randomly I would think of Saint's Row but that's just me.

Yeah, if it's either a forum or a thread about the series, then I'd use SR, otherwise I'd specify. Especially since there is Saint's Row now (for a few year but still).

 

[SSJBlastoise]

One was QWET, I'm sure that might be a little obvious to some people but I had no Idea what it was but thankfully someone said it in the next post. The other one though was AO which to me does not seem obvious.

Both of these don't make sense to me.

QWET turned out to be Quake Wars: Enemy Territory, the thread had a video of one of it's features but to me it looked like a regulation shooter so I had no idea and AO I didn't even bother to check back in to see if it was pointed out what it was.

 

[PsychicTaco115]

I hate the acronym YMCMB: Young Money Cash Money Billionare

Sense, this does not make at all

 

[Thommo]

On occasion. I only really get annoyed if they don't include, at some point what the acronym means. (when they are acronyms using it properly in an article)

 

[Legion]

I dislike it when somebody creates a topic and only uses the acronym. I feel the first time they use mention whatever it is, they should type it out in full to make sure everybody knows what they are talking about.

Otherwise, like most people have said, I will just look it up. It's only because I don't think you should need to look something up to respond to somebodies topic, it's their job to make sure you know what they are talking about. The same goes for when people discuss a news story and don't provide any links and tell people to "look it up" if they ask what they are talking about.

 

[sky14kemea]

I do get annoyed when people turn every game title into an acronym. Then I have to play "Guess that game!" or ask them what it means every time. :/

Just type out the name of the game if you wanna talk about it D: You can acronym once everyone knows what we're talking about!

I don't mind the everyday ones like "brb", "afk" and "nvm" though.

 

[Abomination]

On occasion. I only really get annoyed if they don't include, at some point what the acronym means. (when they are acronyms using it properly in an article)

A good writer/journalist will use its full name once and place the acronym in parentheses immediately after then continue to use the acronym for the rest of the article.

I agree with the OP, it is especially annoying in an education setting.

 

[Vegosiux]

So the other day I was over at DMV which left me so annoyed I had to go home for some R&R and hoping for some TLC, then some dude walked the dog past and it wanted to take a crap on my lawn so I told him NIMBY, he told me DILLIGAF, so I walked inside and fired up my rig to play some HOMM3 because RL has stressed me enough for one day. LOL J/K, that story actually never happened.

On a more serious note; abbreviations get my got a lot more than acronyms do, but mostly in spoken language, I'm a bit more lenient when reading. Still, say "carbohydrates" instead of bloody "carbs" if you're trying to give expert nutritional advice, for crying out loud!

 

[C. Cain]

I personally dislike acronyms and excessive abbreviations in text messages.

Back when cell phones were neither common nor in ubiquitous use I could understand why people resorted to that kind of language. Text messages were not free and characters were limited. Nowadays, however, there's no justification - if you spend several hours a day typing away on your phone I expect you to put some effort into expressing yourself properly.

 

[Dethenger]

Generally an acronym is easy to determine just by the context of the conversation. TOR can mean many different things, depending on whether we're talking about Star Wars, online privacy, or Reddit in the theoretical sense. If we're talking about Zelda, I don't think it's unreasonable to assume that everyone involved is familiar with the appropriate acronyms, and when I say WW, MM, OoT, TP, SS, PH, OoA/OoS, etc., it's fair to assume we're all on the same page.

If an acronym is not easily determinable in a conversation, then I guess that's a little annoying, but it's easy to look up, so it's not a big deal; and if I simply don't know the acronym, the user of the acronym can't be blamed for that.

 

[Mossberg Shotty]

It bothers me to no end. Especially when people start using acronyms that I'm convinced they just invented themselves. Using acronyms isn't really all that helpfull anyways, its only saves you a few seconds usually. If you're gonna be a regular poster, get used to the idea of typing alot.

 

[Adeptus Aspartem]

Yolo

It's dumb. I don't like it, and it's generally used to excuse doing something incredibly stupid or being ignorant of something.
And i'm constantly making fun of it and people using it

 

[kerbouchard]

I read through these and all I could think was how frustrating it is when people use initialisms and call them acronyms.
AC is an initialism.
SCUBA is an acronym.

 

[Shinsei-J]

Topic specific acronyms are ok when used in a discution of that topic but damn it, I hate it when people use acronyms for phrases in real life. Lol and brb being the most prominent in my day to day life. It's really contradictory to say "lol" out loud without laughing and it's the same amount of syllables to say "be right back" rather than "brb" so why even bother when you can be clearer without the acronym.

 

[lacktheknack]

I love to walk into God of War topics labeled "GOW", check the OP to see if it ever says "God of War" or if it just keeps saying "GOW" (sadly, very common), and if so, go on a rant about Gears of War.

It tends to get the point across.