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At first, I really found it nice that most abbreviations in the DakkaDakka forums were handled well. You could hover over an abbreviation and maybe get 2 or 3 choices and context usually told you which one was correct. Lately I'm finding it way harder to actually follow any conversations because of the over-use of abbreviations and the multiple choices for those abbreviations. I'm not expecting to change the way people write their posts but could you maybe at least write out the abbreviation once before using it? For example: I really like how Dark Eldar play. However, it's taken me years to play DE effectively. Just a thought, anyone else having this issue?

I have a hard time with some of the abbreviations as well. Not sure what to do about it, though. I just ask when I see something new and care enough to type letters and words into a reply box.

You could post something like "Always spell out a word or phrase before using abreviations" and post it in the Forum Rules/Guidelines/FAQ.

However, who reads those? Besides this guy:

IDK. WCWD?

Tbh its fubar m8

You know, I never noticed this problem. But then again, my job has many more abbreviations, acronyms, and jargon than even Dakka could shake a stick at!

I am in the same mindset, but I often find myself using acronyms almost unconsciously to speed things up when i type. They really are evil.

Short Answer? No.

Ifalna wrote:Tbh its fubar m8

Ooh, love it how Dakka has those abbrevation-translater-thingies. Now I finally know what fubar means, and so can watch Saving Private Ryan and understand it. *nodnod* ... Then agian, last time I saw it was quite some time ago, they perhaps even say what it means there... Oh well.

Nice reply on the topic, though. Someone having trouble with abbrevations and 3/4 of the words you wrote are abbrevations. xD

Riffzor wrote:

Ifalna wrote:Tbh its fubar m8

Ooh, love it how Dakka has those abbrevation-translater-thingies. Now I finally know what fubar means, and so can watch Saving Private Ryan and understand it. *nodnod* ... Then agian, last time I saw it was quite some time ago, they perhaps even say what it means there... Oh well.

Nice reply on the topic, though. Someone having trouble with abbrevations and 3/4 of the words you wrote are abbrevations. xD

I thought SNAFU was the wartime acronym for fubar.
and I thought fubar is Scottish for football.

I believe fubar stood for (insert word beginning with F up beyond all recognition) .. .. .. .. anyhow

Abbreviations are used mostly by lazy people and in my opinion detracts from the quality of their posts, wether thats coincidence or not I don't know, I tend to find that the majority of good quality posting contain few .. if any abbreviation's and make for clear reading, whereas short and hard to read posts contain them.

I'm not saying they shouldn't be used, but Rymafyr's method seems sound, type it out in full once, then abbreviate, at least it makes things clearer.

Well, there are some abrevations I use. APC being one of my favourites. =P But then again I hate it when people write stuff like 'idd' 'kk' or 'Y'. Indeed is too short a word, and is a single word. Same with 'Ok' or 'Okay', 'kk' is as long as 'ok' you just have to move your finger a bitsie over the keyboard. And 'Y' is just stupid, it has two meanings and are often confusing. If I ask a question and I get 'Y' replied to me, am I to take it as a 'Yes' or as 'Why?', sometimes both fits in! =s

Seems to me, someone is being an asshat about something that really only would bother an AH.

The OP isn't being an AH. The problem is that some of the acronyms are specific gaming terms. A newbie may find it difficult at first.
Took a little while to discover the roll over function so at times wondered what people were talking about.

Also not all terms are in the glossary, and there is a rule not to use txtspk or whatever it is called.
There is the option of asking what something means of course.

I had a feeling that the OP post wouldn't go down well. Personally I believe his point is valid but there is nothing that can really be down with it. Dakka already has an acronym translator and you can't really make people use proper grammar techniques such spelling an acronym first before using it (it would be awesome if you could force noobs to use good grammar). The use of acronyms is an annoying trend that has happened with the internet in the last 10 or so years.

I have to agree.

IMO, textspeak is completely out and unacceptable. Of course, there are commonly used interweb acronyms, like IMO, which should be fine (IMO).

But the really specific ones should be defined first for newbies. You can't expect everyone to know what the DoM is, unless they play Tyranids, or what FRFSRF is...

Maybe a rule of 'no acronyms in thread titles' would force people to spell it out once, just for the sake of reference?

.

Well, both DoM and FRFSRF are in the glossary, but yeah there are a bunch that aren't. APC for one, isn't, and some may find it difficult to understand. Some would say 'Transport Vehicles'.

Anyhow, there's no real sulotion to the problem here. Either the Glossary would have to be massively expanded, or there'd have to be a list of abborations somewhere.

Then again, if someone makes a post and uses 1337 (or is it 7331?) speak or txtspeak, that person will have no one to blame but him/herself for being unclear when he/she recieves no answers to his/her questions.

So, how would we apply to have some more acronyms loaded?

Acronyms are going to be here to stay especially with everyone texting lately.
Urban dictionary may clear a few up...
I DO find it irritating as I type things that are not meant as acronyms and they get that silly hypertext explanation.

Anyone know if there is a command you can insert to prevent this?

Ta Ta for Now wonder if BOHICA is in the list (Bend Over, Here It Comes Again!) that is how I feel sometimes when I post...

Thanks for the feedback everyone. By all means continue to use your abbreviations I fine with them. It just get's to be difficult when an acronym doesn't have the proper definition in the roll over function on the site. Riffzor hit the nail on the head about that particular issue which has been throwing me lately in several posts.

Massively updating the forums' acronym database would be awesome though I think the downside is you end up w/ too many possible options for some abbreviations. Maybe if the system only supported those acronyms specific to gaming. Hmm..

The Dreadnote wrote:

YWTT!

HellsGuardian316 wrote:I believe fubar stood for (insert word beginning with F up beyond all recognition) .. .. .. .. anyhow

Still does.
The 'R' also stands for 'repair' depending on which military branch you are talking to.
Snafu is Situation Normal: All faxxed Up.

Idk, AFAIK, FWIW YMMV. lol.

KK and QQ are from the asian sector courtesy of 4chan and the like.

The sound of laughter (many cultures don't use 'ha ha ha' but more of a polite, chuckled "ke ke ke" sound ) and what looks like eyes with tears (crying).

The last thing we need is more Chanisms here, or should that be MOAR 4CHAN!!!!1

This board does a pretty good job of highlighting the various acronyms we use and you just over over them and they become expanded. Easy.

BYE <--- not an acronym.

IIRC - If I recall correctly.
IFF - If and only if
OMG - Oh my god
WTF - What the feth
LOL - Laugh out loud
BBQ - Bar-B-Que
FFM - Fantasy Football Monthly
RZ - Righteous Zeal
RP - Righteous Pants
MILF - What's for dinner
ROFL - Rolling on the Floor Laughing
ROFLMFAO - Rolling on the floor laughing my fething ass off
TTFN - Ta ta for now
TTFM - Tatas for me

WTFBBQ

Seriously though, if you think dakka is bad with abreviantions then you should try working in the Defense Industry, I swaer sometimes that my boss, and my bosses boss make up new abreviations just to give me a new and exciting headache.

*at the Defence department*

'We're under attack! CTAFATTTGAMOI, WTPACFRF ASAP!'

'...Whut?'

I think I'm going to continue using full words like a literate person.

Ohhh, so thats what DoM means, damn, I've been wondering about that. When I read that I LSHIMCOOMN!

(Laughed so hard imaginary milk came out of my nose)

I'm trying to start my own phrase here!

Literally alliterate literarily.

Juh?