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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to hate this "D"C, "D"H, "D"D business

172 replies

kitnkaboodle · 23/08/2013 20:01

... and wonder if everyone else hates it too and is just to afraid to break the cycle! I'm a relative newcomer to posting on forums, and I'm sure there is some hilarious origin to the tradition. But:

  • it now just looks and sounds twee
  • it isn't humorous in any way
  • you'd all save yourselves a keystroke if you just typed D, H, P, M, C, etc...?? Still perfectly understandable

There are some ambiguities I guess - S for son or sister? but that's still there whether or not you drop the D anyway ..

Go on .. I dare you ...

OP posts:
RustyBear · 23/08/2013 20:21

As TheDoctrine says, DH etc really is clearer than just H etc, because after a short while you automatically register that the two-letter combination beginning with D means a person, and it makes it much easier to skim-read.

CreatureRetorts · 23/08/2013 20:22

You see, when I type DH or DD, I don't think in my head "dear husband". He's just DH and that's that. Which probably tells you I've been on MN too long.

meditrina · 23/08/2013 20:23

"But instead some posters put DD3 to mean their DD is 3 years old. More confusion!"

It's probably a newbie - and the error will probably be pointed out (nicely, one hopes).

Acronym guide is at the top of the page (just to the left of FAQs)

SpottyDottie · 23/08/2013 20:23

"D" also stand for dratted, damned, dastardly, dreadful (add your own here).

See I only ever read DH as Dear Husband, Not even Darling Husband!

Merrylegs · 23/08/2013 20:24

It's standard internet forum shorthand. Not exclusive to MN. (Ikr. Amazingly MN did not invent the internet)

BaronessTeapot · 23/08/2013 20:25

DH is now DH in real life so I can't change, sorry.

coffeeinbed · 23/08/2013 20:26

I don't mind that.
I do however hate bro with a passion.

BaronessTeapot · 23/08/2013 20:27

I draw the line beyond immediate family. DN could be niece of nephew or nan so is too confusing.

Beamae · 23/08/2013 20:30

I'm not a fan. And it is ridiculous to suggest that if you choose to type 'husband' you should fuck off to another forum.

PumpkinPositive · 23/08/2013 20:30

I don't like it either, it gives me the dry boak. Angry

EndoplasmicReticulum · 23/08/2013 20:31

I don't do it.

I refer to "son 1" "son 2" and "husband". Doesn't mean I don't like him because he is not a "D" husband.

In fact he said only about five minutes ago "the only time you call me Dear is when you're being sarcastic".

Relaxedandhappyperson · 23/08/2013 20:32

Yanbu, it's silly, but you don't have to use it. I don't.

AdoraBell · 23/08/2013 20:33

Personally I like the fact that I can use the first D to mean anything from Darling to Dreadful depending what I'm posting. It's not compulsory, you decide whether to use it or not.

thebody · 23/08/2013 20:33

who the fuck cares!! use what you like.

Glittertwins · 23/08/2013 20:33

I just CBA to type it out. The D is just the abbreviation to me, I have never called him 'darling' although 'dear' is often used sarcastically. I came across these abbreviations online way before I discovered the delights of this place!

Tee2072 · 23/08/2013 20:35

So don't use them.

But they are not MN special. They've been used on the internet for years before MN even existed.

MN did not create the internet or acronyms.

2old2beamum · 23/08/2013 20:35

Prefer OF (Old Fart) rather than DH but we are old Grin

LostInWales · 23/08/2013 20:37

Ah but then where would we be when we wanted to drop the 'D' to signify that 'H' was no longer in the good books?

Man I have been here too long, this must be the 5,000th thread I've seen like this, I only came on to play 'reply bingo' with myself. Meditrina thank you so much for enlivening it with the fabulous 'idiolect' that is a great word which I am going to be desperate to shoe horn into conversation, now has anyone seen any threads where a man comes on and mansplains to us where we are all going wrong? It's a quiet evening and I need some entertainment.

Justforlaughs · 23/08/2013 20:39

I didn't use it when I first started using the page but soon realised that it was easier to understand what other people were talking about if I got into the habit. Now I sometimes type things out in full, esp if I am referring to several people with the same acronym (such as niece/ nephew), or I use DSis for sister etc. It can get a bit confusing at times when there are lots of characters being mentioned.

Mosschopz · 23/08/2013 20:41

I hate it, always have since I started using message boards (10+ years, so not a newbie) and it smacks of tweeness even though I use it.

I cannot bring myself to use the acronym BD (baby dance). -Vomits into a bucket

MammaTJ · 23/08/2013 20:42

Use it/don't use it, I don't care!! I really don't!! Sorry for you that you feel so strongly about it that you had to start a thread in AIBU about it though.

Yes, YABU!!

candycoatedwaterdrops · 23/08/2013 20:43

Jesus, some of you are unwelcoming bastards. Telling someone to fuck off because they dared to criticise your beloved forum is pathetic.

ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee · 23/08/2013 20:43

pianodoodle (and others) no one cares if you choose to type out husband, son, daughter etc - they only care when someone whinges about an internet wide abbreviation or when they type things like hubby. bubba, little man etc.

Lilacroses · 23/08/2013 20:43

I don't mind them and use them but don't if you object, you don't have to!

Bowlersarm · 23/08/2013 20:45

You are just wrong!

I even think DH, DS, DMil etc. in my head. I have to be careful in RL not to give the game away.