Lets call him John

[ErNope]

AIBU to be really annoyed when I see this?
Especially as most cases they will name the people in their thread then never use the name and just refer to them as DD/EX/DP/FIL/FIL'S Friend/whatever. seems rather pointless to me
Prepares for a flaming

I suppose that makes some sense, but I get irrationally annoyed when they say 'We'll call FIL's friend john'' then just refer to him as FIL's friend, for example.

Yes! They're always really long posts too so by the time I've read the huge second paragraph I've forgotten who is who and have to go back to the start to remind myself. Always lose track.

The acronyms are there for a reason.

I prefer names when there is about 6 people involved. For some reason it makes more sense in my head.

I do find that a bit weird, especially if the name is something like Alicia or Berenice - not a name that just springs to mind. But what really drives me mad is the use of "think" - Eg I work from home, think making lavender filled Minions and selling them at the local market, or I live in a large Scottish city, think place beginning with e that has a ruddy great castle and is famed for its New Year celebrations. Why do we have to think? You have been specific enough to tell us exactly what it is you want us to think, why not just say it???

High five Partially.
Another annoyance that I didn't feel strongly enough about to start a thread
I have found my people

I am high fiving you but I am calling you Maurice.

Yes! I understand when there are several "characters" in the story and it could get confusing so you call them Alice and Lisa and then go on to explain without crossed wires.

However, it annoys me when someone says "let's call them Dave" and then "Dave" is never referred to again

Yes! This really grates on me - I don't know why except it seems somehow so contrived and dramatic. What's with "Let's call him John" "Let's call her Sue" etc. Who gives a shiny one? Just call him John, call him what the fuck you like - we're never going to know if that's his name or not are we and nor are we going to care. Just make up a name - no need for the flowery preamble. Just do it. Fuck's sake - I need coffee!

I think the OP should just tell her/his story. Everyone will assume that the OP won't be stupid enough to use the real names of the people involved. If, by some infintely tiny chance, there are real people who coincidentally match the circumstances of the OP's account, then MN should award them a prize.

Names are useful, I find, if it's a complicated set-up involving more than just a small dramatis personae.

Also, if they're given names I can picture them much better.

I'm not sure. What does irritate me though is friend A friend B and friend C. I can never follow what's going on. Although agree that people using DS for son/sister and DF for friend/father/ etc. is also confusing.

I think it depends. There's no point naming FiL, DS1, DP etc, but those threads about friendship groups are much easier to follow if they're named Claudius, Jimmy and Horatio than if they're DP's Friend1, Friend2 etc.

Yes, both of these things annoy me.

As do "friend A, B, C". I know we need delineation but it is hard to follow "A spoke to B, who told C that A said this, and B phoned me to tell me that C responded in this way, AIBU to think that A is out of line?"

I also dislike when someone refers to a "hobby". Unless it is crafting artisanal marzipan fruits to sell at a famous Christmas Market (think a city in Somerset famous for it's Roman Pools), it's not likely that sharing details of your hobby will out you.

Yes!

I can't cope with a large cast of characters in a thread. I don't care that your neighbour's dog-walker's sister Mathilde was wearing pink and eating a custard cream unless it directly relates to why you hate your MIL / you don't want to live in Stevenage / you think you should go to A&E.

I agree with that Hipho - I can't follow those either. I think by all means give them names but just give them bloody names for fuck's sake! Any names - nobody cares. I always think "Let's call him......" makes the story sound too contrived and cooked up and I start from a point of not believing it.

(I know it's not the same thing, but I needed a rant.)

YABU

Most people who post in chat forums aren't professional writers, so if they don't manage to get every detail, every nuance, every fact down in their first post and remain consistent in every subsequent post, particularly if they're in an emotional state, I think we should let them off.

I remember when a poster came on and said ' lets call him John, because that is his name'

It made me smile!

I prefer having made up names, much easier to follow.

Ha ha. I mostly agree.

On a side note, I'm always amazed how many posters have "hobbies". I've had to make up that section of my CV since I was about 15 I think.

I know it's not what they mean by hobbies but I always imagine their DH spending every Saturday at a découpage class or them being out every Wednesday evening for flower arranging in the town hall.

I'm with you, OP. I always think people have made the whole thing up if they start with the 'Let's call...' business.

DDog, Dfish, Dnext-door-neighbour (etc) always makes a post hard to read. Just write 'dog' - we will assume you hold it in very high regard anyway.

Oh wouldn't that be wonderful. My late M, not DM. My F, not DF. Could we stretch to Fr for Friend and Fi for fiancé/e? Clarity is on the horizon.

Whenever a poster has a husband with a time consuming hobby that has ruined their life, I always think CYCLING.

I prefer names to friend A, B and C. I find it easier to follow. And if the poster just says John, without mentioning that they are using a fake name, someone will be along to point out they have used the real name.
And DD etc is fine, but I can't be the only poster who used to wonder why the doctor (GP) was going to be minding the children / coming on holiday etc.

The only one that annoys me slightly is 'reader'...'reader, I married him'. I don't know why, just sounds a bit pompous or something.

I should add LIGHTHEARTED to all of the above ...