to think all this DH/DS/DD business is very twee?

[MardyBra]

Yes, I'm a hypocrite. I use the abbreviations.

But is hunning, hugging and lolling is frowned upon on MN, how come we're all talking about our "darling" family members.

Or is it being used in an ironic sense?

"Particularly reference to another persons 'DC' - why would you say that? You would never say it in RL so IMO, no, YANBU because it is ridiculous and I will not be using it here."

Love it - irony missed or what?!

I would never use...

• RL
• IMO
• YANBU

...in real life either. The whole point is that they are simply an abbreviated or shortened way of writing out a word in full, and as this is a 100% written medium, we take the recognised short-cuts.

Surely everyone just sees 'husband' when they read DH, in the same way as they see 'in my opinion' when they read IMO...?

I don't have a problem with acronyms in general. It's just the D-ness.

Because 'H' in the middle of a sentence or paragraph isn't always contextually obvious.

If you have to go back and re-read to make sure of who or what someone is referring to, it gets time-consuming and annoying.

But yeah, if it's that important that you avoid the 'D'....

GP could be Grandparents....or General Practitioner...

Like how the thread keeps your mind ticking over

Yep, first YABU

Apologies though, I should have elaborated. It's just a shorthand, as the thread shows, there's not even a consensus on what the D stands for. It's just instantly recognisable who people mean (apart from dsis, that one does annoy me). Am I the only one who says the letters in their head in RL though? I caught myself walking towards the living room this afternoon thinking 'hmm, I wonder if dee-ess would like a snack?'

When speaking about my partner or step sons the D invariably stands for dumbass (in my head anyway).
When speaking about my mother it means 'insane old bag whose life's goal is to drive me completely fecking barking' but IOBWLGDMCFBM is a bit of a ballache to type

I always just right mum, dad, partner, whatever.

Also find it horribly tweeeeeeee.

It's alright Whispers. I can take it.

"My OH won't DTD with me tonight :(!!!!"

Yes, because your twee eggs are making his sperm want to hide in his balls forever.

YADNBU

dtd isn't do the deed is it?

dtd should be twin daughter.
that's just wrong (as is the phrase do the deed anyway - where the fuck doesthat come from? like it's obligatory to have sex, you're not doing it out of choice?! )

thought it stood for 'dear'

To me it's just a MN thing, I avoided it at first because it's really annoying, but it seems to be part of the MN language and I use it albeit reluctantly.
Just go with the flow, it's harmless.

I never use them, I agree, its really twee. Who came up with it anyway?

I get easily confused when I read about a DD2 - and start to get all twitchy about the amount of running around they are doing for a child, and then realise that it's because the child is 2 years old, not their 2nd daughter

Once upon a time someone on t'interweb decided that DH et al was a fine and dandy acronym for their husband/daughter etc and a great deal quicker to type and probably that H, S and D looked a bit, well, naked I suppose.

And everyone didn't like to tell them they were being a daft mare and went along with it. Those of us behind the curve don't have the time or energy to swim against the tide to persuade a whole community to change such a small thing. Baaaa!

It's not an MN thing it an internet thing - lots of sites use the same acronyms.

I haven't even thought about what it stands for (sheeplike), but easier and a bit less formal than, 'well my middle daughter had a row with my eldest daughter about who would get to help my son etc etc...'

Oh and what does OH stand for?

I'm with you OP. I hate the DD, DS, DH stuff as well. It makes me wince typing it but I fear that I wouldn't be understood otherwise

I always think of it as Dear in a 1950's kind of way. Like you all have perfect children with girls with plaitsand pinafores, and boys with smarmed hair wearing grey shorts.

Hey, when did you meet my son and daughter! Sounds just like them as they head off for school! (although DS does have messy boy hair rather then smarmed) ;)

Too late, it's an established convention now. Same as 'Dear Sir' or dear whoever when writing a letter. I realise as I write that this now seems a bit strange too, and it's ages since I wrote a 'proper' letter, but nonetheless, you still write 'dear' be it prime minister, your worst enemy, or in a love letter.

I agree - I haaaate it. I especially hate when someone types ' my DCS were playing..' why not type 'my kids were playing' it is just shit and twee.

I like it! In my head it is darling husband, when he is being sweet and lovely and dumbfucker husband, when he is not!

Seriously, I think the darling/dear is tongue in cheek.

I hate it, but use it now for the sake of ease < brainwashed>

However, when I first looked on MN about 4 years ago I was HORRIFIED by all the DH 'ing, and didn't come back for quite a while. It puts people off.
I say bin it.

I don't see the point in all the "D"s. When everything has a "D" in front of it the "D" is pointless. Why not just H,S D SS etc. I usually write the word.