SIGforum
Overuse of Acronyms

This topic can be found at:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/230601935/m/3730048654

May 18, 2019, 12:42 PM
ZSMICHAEL
Overuse of Acronyms
I find it mildly irritating to look up various acronyms that are not in common use. Not everyone is a physician, teenager or former military commander. Internet and text language are one thing, constant use of acronyms is just lazy communication.
May 18, 2019, 01:11 PM
sigfreund
Agree!

If one is making a post or it’s in another context, the purpose is presumably to communicate, so why deliberately obscure meanings?

I always think of two explanations: The users have little ability to see things from others’ perspectives, and therefore are less bright than they believe they are, or they believe that it makes them seem as if they have privileged, arcane knowledge and if the rest of us don’t know what they’re talking about it’s our fault, not theirs.




6.0/94.0

To operate serious weapons in a serious manner.
May 18, 2019, 01:29 PM
GaryBF
During my years as an engineer, I always made it a practice to spell out in full any term that I later used as an acronym, e.g. Cummings Custom Refinishing (CCR).

Many here on SIGforum are guilty of abusing acronyms. It's like you're not one of the cool guys if you can't speak the code.
May 18, 2019, 03:37 PM
LS1 GTO
Well IAW the MOA with COMNAVWIFEPAC, I'm not allowed to use them here either. Big Grin






Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.



"If dogs don't go to Heaven, I want to go where they go" Will Rogers

The definition of the words we used, carry a meaning of their own...



May 18, 2019, 04:16 PM
bobtheelf
IKR? TWSS. GL.
May 18, 2019, 04:35 PM
dlc444
Just consulted SWMBO about this, and she told me to STFU.


-.---.----.. -.---.----.. -.---.----..
It seems to me that any law that is not enforced and can't be enforced weakens all other laws.
May 18, 2019, 04:35 PM
jhe888
Agreed. It is just showing off or cluelessness.




The fish is mute, expressionless. The fish doesn't think because the fish knows everything.
May 18, 2019, 04:53 PM
DoctorSolo
IT people are the worst.

If you don't fix my calendar subscriptions I'll DHCP into your DNS with a BFH and give you a KITA you POS.

Joking, our IT guy is cool...
May 18, 2019, 05:25 PM
Puckpilot78
Excuse me, sir. Seeing as how the V.P. is such a V.I.P., shouldn't we keep the P.C. on the Q.T.? 'Cause if it leaks to the V.C. he could end up M.I.A., and then we'd all be put out in K.P.



Mongo only pawn in game of life...
May 18, 2019, 05:52 PM
sigmonkey
Some acronyms provide better communication of meaning than the words of which they are made.

Radar, Sonar, Humvee, ZIP code, laser and such.

And sometimes acronyms are well known in certain groups that they have become as familiar to the people in the conversation as the above examples to general dialog.

It is not always snobbery and self absorbed causation.




"the meaning of life, is to give life meaning" Ani Yehudi אני יהודי Le'olam lo shuv לעולם לא שוב!
May 18, 2019, 05:54 PM
MitchbSC
OMG. LOL. BTDT. FML.




They don't think it be like it is, but it do.
May 18, 2019, 06:06 PM
ZSMICHAEL
quote:
Some acronyms provide better communication of meaning than the words of which they are made.

Radar, Sonar, Humvee, ZIP code, laser and such.


As I read your comment I am reminded of the enlisted guy who was a typist in Saving Private Ryan. Everyone told him that FUBAR was a German word. I honestly had no idea that SNAFU was an acronym until Ted Koppel mentioned it on a Nightline broadcast.
May 18, 2019, 06:45 PM
sigfreund
quote:
Originally posted by sigmonkey:
Some acronyms provide better communication of meaning than the words of which they are made.


The issue is knowing which is which and using them appropriately.

There are countless acronyms and abbreviations, such as the ones you mention, that are known to virtually all Americans. This thread is about the use of those that are not.




6.0/94.0

To operate serious weapons in a serious manner.
May 18, 2019, 07:04 PM
12131
I don't find it annoying. Really. I find it a fun challenge for me to look things up and learn something new.


Q






May 18, 2019, 07:35 PM
henryaz
 
The military seems pretty good at coming up with acronyms that are pronounceable. Sometimes it seems they stretch a bit just to achieve that.



When in doubt, mumble
May 18, 2019, 07:43 PM
vthoky
Over and over again I ask --> could we have a stickied thread in which the acronyms are listed and explained? Maybe even alphabetized? Great gosh, that would help so many of us!

That said, member Bisleyblackhawk posted a link earlier that looks like a great resource: Here it is.




God bless America.
May 18, 2019, 07:47 PM
PHPaul
And while we're on the subject, can we use common names for airports instead of the three letter designation?

I mean, I get that it makes you sound all cool and pilot-y and shit, but I have no fucking idea where KCO (or whatever) is, and it might just have some bearing on the post, ya know?




Be careful when following the masses. Sometimes the M is silent.
May 18, 2019, 07:47 PM
ZSMICHAEL
10 Unintentionally Hilarious Military Acronyms Such as PMS

LINK with pics: https://www.military.com/daily...litary-acronyms.html
May 18, 2019, 07:50 PM
ZSMICHAEL
quote:
I mean, I get that it makes you sound all cool and pilot-y and shit, but I have no fucking idea where KCO (or whatever) is, and it might just have some bearing on the post, ya know?


Seems that was a recent THREAD title. My snarky comment in the thread was ignored.
May 18, 2019, 08:34 PM
mcrimm
“Excuse me, sir. Seeing as how the VP is such a VIP, shouldn’t we keep the PC on the QT? ‘Cause if it leaks to the VC he could end up MIA, and then we’d all be put on KP.”

– Robin Williams playing Adrian Cronauer, Good Morning Vietnam



I'm sorry if I hurt you feelings when I called you stupid - I thought you already knew - Unknown
...................................
When you have no future, you live in the past. " Sycamore Row" by John Grisham