Rant: I'm really sick of acronyms (IRSOA)

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

john l

Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2003
Messages
206
Location
slc, ut
I get so tired of reading articles in gun magazines (AIGM) where the author continuously uses acronyms(CUA) every third or fourth sentence (TOFS). These articles are usually written to let the poor retard non military personnel (PRNMP) know that the author knows a secret way of communicating (SWOC) that we the reader (WTR) don't know.
The insult is that I really don't care about what the acronym is. Just say what you are going to say, and don't put the acronym behind it (ABI). The people who don't know( PWDK) don't care, and the people who do know(PWDK) OOPS-that one won't work- ALREADY KNOW THE ACRONYM! (AKTA). Plus, think of how much shorter the article would be (STAWB), and we could all save a lot of time doing something else (SALOTDSE).
If you don't know what I mean, just read any of Pat Roger's articles. (PRAs) Who seriously does know his stuff, but his way of writing gets annoying(HWOWGA).
Rant Off(RA)
John L
 
Don't ever go to work in the medical field. Everything has at least two acronyms. Everybody throws acronyms around in many cases without even knowing what they're talking about-they just repeat something they've heard, parroting it until they figure out what it means. :rolleyes:
 
Well, I'm kinda tired of people confusing acronyms with abbreviations.

An acronym is a new word formed by abbreviating one or more words.
example: Radar (or RADAR, if you prefer) = RAdio Detection And Ranging.

Things like RKBA, NRA, and 2A are abbreviations, not acronyms. :neener:
 
remember, not every abbreviation or phrase shortened to it's initials is an acronym :what:
 
trying to decipher Jwoods post. i have this so far
---
i know what you mean, Every where you go 'tat. Tar,tmiew.'

Have Fun

Sean.
---
I am even close?
 
don't become a pilot either. you might find yourself busting and FAR if you enter a TFR if you don't check your NOTAMS or you're not paying attention because you're listening to the radio on the ADF. and and you certainly don't want to find yourself in IMC because you didn't check the METARs and the TAFs and you have to call FSS and file IFR in the air and have to contact the ARTCC so they can vetor you in for the DME arc to the ILS approach. and don't forget to watch for that PAPI before you reach DH and keep the needles centered on the OBS.

Bobby
 
Last edited:
I feel your pain. Try this website when you're at a loss http://www.acronymfinder.com/
Whats really funny is when somebody uses an acronym they get a perplexed look on their face when you ask what does that mean and they don't know what it means either.
 
We have an in-house, actual printed-in-a-book, list of acronyms at my company. It's a running joke around here.

Greg
 
The only thing worse than recursive acronyms are ones where people say one of the words anyway! Like PIN number, or ATM machine. Those bug the heck out of me.
 
Snowman ~

What's your estimated ETA?

***

John I ~

Would you really prefer the writer either just used the acronym or abbreviation without explaining it first?

I think it's really tedious to read repetitive terms like double action/single action, full metal jacket, jacketed hollow point, .22 long rifle, .45 Auto Colt Pisol, etc. All are very common terms, and just look unnecessarily long when spelled out every single time.

Most magazine writer's guidelines dictate that the writer should use such terms in full the first time, with the abbreviation in parenthesis. This is a PITA for the writer as well as the reader, but it does keep newbies from being totally lost if the writer finds it necessary to point out that the DA/SA pistol he is reviewing shoots JHPs more accurately than FMJs.

I do agree that if the term is only used once in the article, there's no need to put the abbreviation in parenthesis after the term is used. That's just silly.

pax

Don't talk to me of your Archimedes' lever. He was an absentminded person with a mathematical imagination. Mathematics commands all my respect, but I have no use for engines. Give me the right word and the right accent and I will move the world. -- Joseph Conrad
 
I've never managed fluency in the Yupanese language beyond "I'll take a box of the STHPs and one of PSPs ASAP, 10-4?"
 
The Navy published a Dictionary of Naval Abbreviations in the late 70's / early 80's

Naturally it was called the DICNAVAB

That's a no Sh*t story.... :)
 
Naval not-exactly-acronyms

The Navy has a peculiar variant of the disease--They take parts of words and string them together with the initials of words, all as capital letters, e.g. CINCPAC is Commander IN Chief, PACific; BUPERS is BUReau of PERSonnel, RADM is Rear ADMiral, etc, etc. They can build some real monstrosities that way.

Have never seen that in any of the other branches of the Service, nor anywhere else. It's no more communicative to the uninitiated.

Any form of jargon is a verbal shorthand for people who use it all the time, and is SUPPOSED to communicate more quickly and easily among the initiates, and--to a certain extent--exclude the uninitiated. Unfortunately, like most tools, it can be misused and overused.

Repeat, Highroaders: IT CAN BE MISUSED AND OVER-USED. Use any tool for its intended purpose, not just because you've got it.

You wouldn't use your .458 Win Mag double rifle for grouse, nor your Dillon 550 to discipline your dog.
 
While in the service I was briefly attached to the "COMIDEASTFOR"...Commander Middle East Forces on an LST...Landing Ship Tank, was stationed with WESTPAC...Western Pacific (Command), Spent time at several MARDET(s)...Marine Detachments, stayed for a while at MCAS Kaneohe...Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe, where I was with the 2RADBN...Second Radio Battalion, and completed boot camp at MCRD PI...Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and learned oneof my personal favorites....Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? (***?)
 
It's really no different that reading an article where they state someone's name and title. Such as "William Jennings "Sparky" Smith, XYZ Corps associate under assistant director of marketing policy for vice-presidents whose last names begin with R" or "Fred Jones, the Janitor".

Thirty-four paragraphs later, after mentioning seventeen other corporate employees they say, "Mr Smith, acting on a suggestion from Mr Jones...".

Hells Bellsâ„¢ now I have to scan back through the article in an attempt to figure out if Mr Jones is even important enough to remember.
 
Yes acronyms and abbreviations can be irratating.
I have been around Military, LEO folks, have been involved in the Medical Profession and now into Computers. Some of these acronyms and abbreviations do fall into other areas...now I have to figure out if I'm supposed to think military, medical or IT.

I appreciate reading something and having the original text written out - with the shortened version the first time. I appreciate legends and glossaries too.

I forget whom wrote " never use a big word when a small one will do" . I agree with it. Talk to the level of the person to whom you are speaking.

I recall a nurse telling the mom " X rays are okay, she just abraded her patella" turns to answer another parent's concern. Mom has that "huh?" look. I told her what that meant was the child skinned up the knee. "Oh - well why didn't she say so?'
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

A
  • Locked
Sick of an old Stereotype
2
Replies
36
Views
2K
Shanghai McCoy
S
F
  • Locked
My Letter to the Editor
Replies
1
Views
384
Winchester 73
W
T
  • Locked
Found a Pro-Gun message in an unusual place...
Replies
4
Views
464
thepenismightier
T
N
  • Locked
Really need to rant on Brady Campaign...
Replies
11
Views
967
Don Gwinn
D
M
  • Locked
Open carry article
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Replies
176
Views
7K
taliv
T
Back
Top