Mumsnet please stop with the abbreviations..

[2026newbie]

I actually stop reading some posts because I can't be arsed to try and work out what is being said. Why do people put DS instead of son? What is STBX?

I thought that meant stupid bastard ex, when I first saw it :)

Don't we all just work it out from the context? I haven't been on Mumsnet that long in the grand scheme of things but it's pretty obvious what STBX means. I find DH, DD etc quite tiresome and write the actual words myself but you can't really dictate that other people can't use shorthand.

And why is there no 'Z' in onesie - when there IS an 'L' in Noel?

I recently bought myself a beautiful, treasured pet elk - even though she did cost me £1million.

Nobody is going to stop me from writing her letters beginning DDDD.

I read STBXH as stupid bastard ex husband for a good while. I think I prefer it actually.

@2026newbie - do you think it is reasonable to join a long-established group, and immediately start insisting the group changes its well established habits for you? Because, imo, that is exactly what you have done.

I’ve been here for some time now but have never really got used to the ridiculous abbreviations and I’ve certainly not started using them myself, with the exception of OP, which I think is pretty common across internet forums. I’ve been on various forums for over 25 years now and I’ve never known anywhere else thst uses so many abbreviations, particularly ones like ddog.

Backpedal, backpedal …. If it’s “light hearted” the usual protocol on here is to say “lighthearted” in your title or OP. That means opening post in this context, not Original Poster. But you’ll know that of course, having now perused the acronym list supplied!

Such a beautiful welcoming to such a lovely forum 🤍

So much sourness

Is the poster who’s done this in the room with us?

Anyone that uses 'Ddog' needs a slap round their fair weather walking, dry robe and ugg clad, furbaby chanting chops.

The pet ones are the best, I’ve even seen DFish on here.

Dopey Herbert! 😂

😂 Or DCat, DNiece, DNephew, DUncle, DAunt etc etc.. I have even seen DRabbit and DGoldfish. What in the everloving fuck?! It's batshit! 😆

Yep I have too. And it was recently.

Haha, I can get on board with that.

But DH, DD, DS Dwhatever I find very twee and I think most people just jump on the bandwagon because it’s the done thing on here. Fuck knows why!

Dear Dead Husband I read DDH as 😂

I prefer the original. FOTTFSOFAWYGTFOSM.

Yes.
IKWYM it's incredibly anno.....oops IA isn't it? (Remembers when someone was complaining bitterly about her next door neighbour and I assumed NDN meant neuro divergent niece...)

I’ve been using them for so long that I sometimes use them in RL! Almost used Dh on Facebook recently!

I think what I said applies to physical/in-person groups and virtual ones, or ones online, @ADHDdiagnosis.

The thing I find hard is when posters start talking about real people, like actors or politicians or some other well known person, and refer to them by their initials. Sometimes if you scrabble about a bit on the thread, you might find who it is. But often there’s no mention and yet EVERYONE seems to know. Except me. And I don’t want to ask because I don’t want to get my (albeit virtual) head bitten off😅

I think with this one the initials are more to avoid deletions when discussing things about famous people that may be eg under legal proceedings or unsubstantiated rumours

DS is dear son. Dsis is dear sister.