Too Many Acronymns!

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Like it or not, acronyms are the language of message boards - not just this one, but all of them.

Posting on a message board asking for everyone to stop using acronyms because you can't be bothered to learn them is like going to France and asking everyone to stop speaking French.

When you are the newcomer, you learn the language. And if you have questions while you're still learning, just ask. I've been on message boards for many years and there are still times when I don't understand what someone is saying. So I ask. When you're polite, people are willing to help you. When you come charging in expecting everyone to start doing things your way, it's very off-putting.

Simply untrue. I owned a very popular message board for 8 years that was sports related and assure you we have never used any acronyms aside from traditional sports related ones that even the most casual fan would know like RBI.

To the OP, it is daunting when you first join this site. My suggestion is keep the acronym page minimized and just pull it up when needed. The one issue I have found is people use them just for the sake of using them and about 50% of the ones used on here aren't on the list. In those cases I just bail from the thread.

 

[Maleficent Dragon]

I have been on the Disboards since 2004 (previously a different username) and though I do know what they are when I see them (minus a few), I would agree the abbreviations are out of control. I personally do not even like to use CM for Cast Member or MS for Member Services. Perhaps that is just my retentiveness when it comes to English/Grammar.

 

[Alesia]

Simply untrue. I owned a very popular message board for 8 years that was sports related and assure you we have never used any acronyms aside from traditional sports related ones that even the most casual fan would know like RBI.

Those acronyms are still a created language. There are probably plenty of people who don't know what RBI stands for. What if one of those people suddenly decided to learn more about sports and joined your board? Would it be acceptable for them to demand that you stop using all acronyms and abbreviations? The people on your particular board didn't create those acronyms, but they were still created by a community of people and are not always understood by non-sports fans.

Who gets to determine which acronyms are acceptable? Most people here would say that even the most casual Disney fan would know that MK stands for Magic Kingdom. What about referring to the Polynesian resort as the Poly? Is that too difficult for most people to understand? I don't think so, but I'm sure there are people who don't know those things right off the bat, and if they can't figure it out they should either look it up or ask.

The point is, the members of any community (online or off) will end up creating their own language over time. When you join that community, you're going to get a lot more help from people if you try to learn the language (asking for help when needed,) than you will if you come in demanding that they start speaking your language instead.

 

[Alesia]

I have been on the Disboards since 2004 (previously a different username) and though I do know what they are when I see them (minus a few), I would agree the abbreviations are out of control. I personally do not even like to use CM for Cast Member or MS for Member Services. Perhaps that is just my retentiveness when it comes to English/Grammar.

I hate DH. And all of the other D[insert abbreviation for person here] abbreviations.

In general it means "Dear Husband," which is lame. Around here, people say it means "Disney Husband," which just makes me cringe.

So I don't use those particular abbreviations. I just type out "husband," or "daughter," or whatever. What I don't do is ask other people to stop using them.

 

[dae3dae3]

But instead of just asking, which is the polite thing to do, the OP is saying that everyone should start doing things her way.

Can you not see how that comes off as rude?

I'm surprised it took this long for someone to get offended.

I know this thread isn't going to change many minds. I figured if there can be a multi-page thread complaining that Disney is including events for the most successful animated feature of all time I can complain about overuse of acronyms.

My entire point is that it leads to misunderstandings, drives people away from the forum, and in many cases does not save time. It is just poor communication. Especially when it is done in response to a question from someone who is obviously new.

To those who say I'll learn it. I know most of them. I've been on the forum since 2010. I just don't post a lot unless I see a question from someone I can answer.

 

[Alesia]

I'm surprised it took this long for someone to get offended.

I know this thread isn't going to change many minds. I figured if there can be a multi-page thread complaining that Disney is including events for the most successful animated feature of all time I can complain about overuse of acronyms.

My entire point is that it leads to misunderstandings, drives people away from the forum, and in many cases does not save time. It is just poor communication. Especially when it is done in response to a question from someone who is obviously new.

To those who say I'll learn it. I know most of them. I've been on the forum since 2010. I just don't post a lot unless I see a question from someone I can answer.

I'm not offended. I just think your posts have been coming off as rude and a bit unreasonable. I also think that it's unintentional.

I was just trying to explain the other side of things.

 

[dae3dae3]

Those acronyms are still a created language. There are probably plenty of people who don't know what RBI stands for. What if one of those people suddenly decided to learn more about sports and joined your board? Would it be acceptable for them to demand that you stop using all acronyms and abbreviations? The people on your particular board didn't create those acronyms, but they were still created by a community of people and are not always understood by non-sports fans.

Who gets to determine which acronyms are acceptable? Most people here would say that even the most casual Disney fan would know that MK stands for Magic Kingdom. What about referring to the Polynesian resort as the Poly? Is that too difficult for most people to understand? I don't think so, but I'm sure there are people who don't know those things right off the bat, and if they can't figure it out they should either look it up or ask.

The point is, the members of any community (online or off) will end up creating their own language over time. When you join that community, you're going to get a lot more help from people if you try to learn the language (asking for help when needed,) than you will if you come in demanding that they start speaking your language instead.

I'm not demanding anything. If you don't want to be understood that is your business. I fully expect that some people reading this thread are going to double down and their posts for the next week are going to be completely unintelligible alphabet soup just out of spite.

I'm seeing a lot of strawman arguments being stood up in here. "Poly" isn't an acronym. It is also enough of the root word that most people would be able to figure it out easily. If you use CBR or POR with no context then you're doing what I'm talking about. Once again, context is king. If you are in a thread about Caribbean Beach Resort and use "CBR" or are responding to a question where it is already established as the subject then go ahead. It is clear and appropriate usage.

Actually, I'm waiting for someone to point out that none of these are acronyms. They are initialisms. However, I intentionally used the incorrect but commonly used word "acronym" because nobody would know what the heck I was talking about if I used the correct word.

 

[mesaboy2]

I'm not demanding anything. If you don't want to be understood that is your business. I fully expect that some people reading this thread are going to double down and their posts for the next week are going to be completely unintelligible alphabet soup just out of spite.

I'm seeing a lot of strawman arguments being stood up in here. "Poly" isn't an acronym. It is also enough of the root word that most people would be able to figure it out easily. If you use CBR or POR with no context then you're doing what I'm talking about. Once again, context is king. If you are in a thread about Caribbean Beach Resort and use "CBR" or are responding to a question where it is already established as the subject then go ahead. It is clear and appropriate usage.

Actually, I'm waiting for someone to point out that none of these are acronyms. They are initialisms. However, I intentionally used the incorrect but commonly used word "acronym" because nobody would know what the heck I was talking about if I used the correct word.

I use acronyms a lot, not only here but in my profession. On these boards, I figure some 80-90% of the readers understand them. The other 10-20% can either figure them out or ask. If an acronym is all that's preventing a reader's comprehension and they don't bother to ask what the acronym means, I figure they didn't care about the answer that much anyway.

This board is specialized towards all things Disney, so after a time the language here develops its own shorthand to make communication more efficient for most. If one cares enough about the subject matter, they'll pick up the acronyms after a time.

 

[dae3dae3]

I use acronyms a lot, not only here but in my profession. On these boards, I figure some 80-90% of the readers understand them. The other 10-20% can either figure them out or ask. If an acronym is all that's preventing a reader's comprehension and they don't bother to ask what the acronym means, I figure they didn't care about the answer that much anyway.

This board is specialized towards all things Disney, so after a time the language here develops its own shorthand to make communication more efficient for most. If one cares enough about the subject matter, they'll pick up the acronyms after a time.

In other words. RTFM.

I always hated that response as well because unfortunately it is rare for anyone to keep TFM updated. It is an attitude that is dismissive to people that come here asking questions for the first time. It drives people away and reduces participation. Most people aren't going to ask because it can be intimidating to do so. If this is like most internet forums about 90%+ of the traffic to the site is from people who never create an account. Actual posters will be a small percentage of that final 10% and a smaller percentage of that would be bold enough to break in and ask what PoTC stands for because they don't want to look dumb.

If you've actually read my posts you'll see that I'm not recommending that acronyms aren't used at all. Keep in mind the context of who you are responding to and write as appropriate.

I think I'm going to stop responding to this thread. I've made my point and anything further I would just be trolling to keep the thread bumped to the top. People are getting offended and taking this as a personal attack on them.

 

[molliewalks]

My opinion is most of the acronyms are fine, but I do think some people over do it, making their own acronyms up, simply to make people have to sit there wracking their brains. ECFWFG.... now what could that stand for?

epcot food and wine festival grub?

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[skent10]

To those who say I'll learn it. I know most of them. I've been on the forum since 2010. I just don't post a lot unless I see a question from someone I can answer.

Expect that on Mama Steph's thread titled "Major Score!" you'd didn't answer anyone's question. Instead, your contribution was more like a reprimand:

You used so many acronyms I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.

I'm reading two contradictory statements from you. Do you know most of the acronyms or not? Do you post just to answer people's questions, or to start a debate? Make up your mind.

 

[satman1962]

I certainly don't mind if anyone wants to use POFQ or MNSSHP to keep things simple, but if you're going to complain about your experience last week on SM, at least clue me in to which mountain you're referring to.

 

[W.E.D.]

I think everyone should always type Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow from now on when talking about EPCOT because it's been getting too confusing lately.

Nice!

 

[FLchick415]

I certainly don't mind if anyone wants to use POFQ or MNSSHP to keep things simple, but if you're going to complain about your experience last week on SM, at least clue me in to which mountain you're referring to.

LOL That's why I usually say Splash and/or Space

 

[W.E.D.]

Epcot hasn't stood for that for quite some time.

Lies!!!

Current or recent Disney management will never change that name. Never I say!!

 

[siskaren]

I hate DH. And all of the other D[insert abbreviation for person here] abbreviations.

In general it means "Dear Husband," which is lame. Around here, people say it means "Disney Husband," which just makes me cringe.

So I don't use those particular abbreviations. I just type out "husband," or "daughter," or whatever. What I don't do is ask other people to stop using them.

I hate ones like brekkie, ressie, or hubby. They just sound too cutesy to me.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

LOL That's why I usually say Splash and/or Space

Me too! I can usually figure them out, but what is RTFM and TFM?

 

[siskaren]

Me too! I can usually figure them out, but what is RTFM and TFM?

I assume RTFM is Read The F---ing Memo and TFM just drops off "read".

 

[W.E.D.]

I really miss 20KLUtS.

 

[dae3dae3]

Expect that on Mama Steph's thread titled "Major Score!" you'd didn't answer anyone's question. Instead, your contribution was more like a reprimand:



I'm reading two contradictory statements from you. Do you know most of the acronyms or not? Do you post just to answer people's questions, or to start a debate? Make up your mind.

Hey, it took until post 51 for someone to start trolling through all my posts looking for ways to personally attack me. I feel like I'm on the real internet now.

Yes, I posted that shortly before I started this thread. It was one of about four threads I found shortly before I started this where use of acronyms either made it very confusing or outright started an argument about what the poster actually meant. It was also the only post like that I've ever made on this forum. I intentionally didn't name anyone personally in this thread because it wasn't meant to be a shot at any one person since in my opinion it is very wide spread. Just remember, you're the one bringing up specific posts by people doing it now. I was trying to leave it as generic as possible.

Here is the full quote. I've redacted the username. Tell me this isn't confusing.

Made a last minute decision to do 2 park days while we are in FL this week. I ordered tickets online but didn't have them in hand until I arrived at my parents house last night. Scanned them in to MDE so I could start making FP+. As I predicted, nothing too great. I went with the mountains at MK and TSMM, ToT and LMA at HS. Decided it couldn't hurt to keep checking. This morning I was able to get A&E for me but not my dd. I was able to get SDMT for her but not me. Kept playing and finally ended up with SDMT at 11:45 for both and A&E for both of us at 1:45!! We figured we would never get A&E and were willing to do standby for SDMT. So excited to get these so late in the game!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

At least I can see it was sent from a phone which makes me feel understanding of the person not wanting to type it out but it is still unintelligible.

Edit: Also, I looked at the pages I was given links to in the first couple posts of this thread. Several of the used acronyms aren't listed. This is why RTFM is not an appropriate response. TFM is never up to date.