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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate these god awful acronyms people use on Mumsnet?!

233 replies

gentlemum · 29/04/2023 20:39

I'm new to Mumsnet and clearly this is how things are done on here, but does no one else cringe at the ridiculous acronyms people use on here?! Why can't you just say my son, my husband etc.. just something that irks me! 🙃

OP posts:
Brefugee · 29/04/2023 21:46

gentlemum · 29/04/2023 20:46

Oh I definitely won't be using them as I'm not a sheep and don't need to write cringey acronyms because everyone else does! More just saying it's annoying reading posts and having to decipher acronyms and read everyone being called 'dear something..' 🙃

Show quote history

new here and insulting people already, nice.

You seem nice.

FWIW: the internet was using acronyms like this when i first started using it even before i had my DCs. who are in their mid 20s.

AbreathofFrenchair · 29/04/2023 21:46

Chocolatelabradorsarethebest · 29/04/2023 20:47

The ‘D’ stands for Dear? I always thought it stood for Darling! I’ve learnt something new tonight!

Could easily stand for dickhead when people are ranting about their husbands/partners/inlaws/neighbours 🤣

MeinKraft · 29/04/2023 21:46

MyrrAgain · 29/04/2023 20:49

Yep

Especially if none of the people being described appear particularly "dear"!

The D can also mean dickhead

Whyarewehardofthinking · 29/04/2023 21:48

gentlemum · 29/04/2023 20:46

Oh I definitely won't be using them as I'm not a sheep and don't need to write cringey acronyms because everyone else does! More just saying it's annoying reading posts and having to decipher acronyms and read everyone being called 'dear something..' 🙃

Show quote history

Most of these have been internet standard for at least 15 years, some going on 25 years. Nowt to do with being a sheep, more to do with reducing characters and increasing typing speed.🐑

MissHavishamsMouldyOldCake · 29/04/2023 21:48

Growlybear83 · 29/04/2023 21:37

I completely agree. I've used internet fora for many years and have never come across so many daft acronyms. It really does make it quite difficult to decipher some posts.

Show quote history

Seeing as we're getting the petty niggles off our chests may I chime in with my dislike of people using 'fora' (or 'stadia' or 'referenda' etc.)? Gives pompous know-it-all vibes.

Thursdayschild7 · 29/04/2023 21:50

Stickworm · 29/04/2023 20:48

odfod

oh do fk off dear 🤣

I actually quite like that one

Yep, one of the better ones.

Hugasauras · 29/04/2023 21:50

DDog is my favourite Grin

Denise82 · 29/04/2023 21:50

I always thought the D was for Darling, which doesnt make sense when its someone asking if their "darling" husband was cheating.
But I also thought STBXH meant "son of a bitch ex husband" I think it actually means "soon to be ex husband"
Am I right 🤔

N0tANOoDl3He4D · 29/04/2023 21:51

In the nineties everything online was made into acronyms due to the speed of chat and simplicity it created.

LOL, BRB, BBL, NVM, U, 4, 2, NP, plus all the u.u. >.< o_O and so on.

Different forums and chat channels created more and different acronyms, shorthand, and there was also the nerd computer languages and l337 speak.

It's not new, it's super old, and I like that certain acronyms exist - but then I'm a languages freak.

PrettyMaybug · 29/04/2023 21:52

It's not just Mumsnet. These acronyms have been used for about 20-23 years now. These were used on the Loose Women forums and iVillage forums, and they are used on other 'mums' and 'women's' forums..

I don't mind them sometimes - now and again like DH for husband, DD for daughter, DS for son and DC for children or child, or MIL for mother in law...

But it does get a bit much when it's like, DSS for 'dear step sister.' DSD for 'dear step daughter.' Then DSS for dear step son, (so you don't know if they're on about the step son or step sister!!!) Then DF... is that dear father, or dear friend, or dear fiance??? I have got so confused reading some threads, when it's an ambiguous acronym!!!

My personal absolute pet hate on here is when people say Dniece or Dnephew or Dcat or Ddog. FuxSake. Just say niece, nephew, cat, or dog!!! I also HATE it when people put LO for their small child (little one!)

Camablanca · 29/04/2023 21:52

unvillage · 29/04/2023 20:41

I don't mind most of them, it's the site's culture, but ddog makes me cringe. You're just typing an extra letter for no reason! Just say dog!

OMG yes!
Also if you're typing on a phone all the acronyms are slower than letting autocorrect type the full word.
Funniest is when people are ranting about their husbands and unironically continue to call them DH 😁

saveforthat · 29/04/2023 21:53

Chocolatelabradorsarethebest · 29/04/2023 20:47

The ‘D’ stands for Dear? I always thought it stood for Darling! I’ve learnt something new tonight!

It is darling

Brefugee · 29/04/2023 21:53

Whyarewehardofthinking · 29/04/2023 21:48

Most of these have been internet standard for at least 15 years, some going on 25 years. Nowt to do with being a sheep, more to do with reducing characters and increasing typing speed.🐑

Show quote history

I remember them being used on the old CompuServe and AOL fora/bulletin boards. I assumed it was generally a US thing, and it just crept in.

Use them or not. Netiquette was always "hang around first, get a feel for a forum then start posting" not "barge in and insult everyone, double down, and think you're so cool and edgy they'll all want to be your friend"

BlackeyedSusan · 29/04/2023 21:53

Dilligaf is one of my favourites. And pertinent to the thread.

Vergingontheridiculous · 29/04/2023 21:54

They're not acronyms. Acronyms make words in their own right.

SauvignonBlanche · 29/04/2023 21:54

gentlemum · 29/04/2023 20:39

I'm new to Mumsnet and clearly this is how things are done on here, but does no one else cringe at the ridiculous acronyms people use on here?! Why can't you just say my son, my husband etc.. just something that irks me! 🙃

HTH

https://www.mumsnet.com/i/acronyms

The irony of posting in AIBU is clearly lost on you 🙄

Acronyms List | Mumsnet

What exactly does AIBU mean? Read the full list of acronyms and abbreviations you will find on our forums, including both Mumsnet specific and general terms.

https://www.mumsnet.com/i/acronyms

Brefugee · 29/04/2023 21:54

bloody norah, I'm getting iVillage flashbacks now!

GoodChat · 29/04/2023 21:55

@AuntieStella it's 'fuck the'

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 29/04/2023 21:55

So, @gentlemum - do you usually arrive in an established group, tell the members you think what they are doing is all wrong, and then insult them by calling them sheep? And do you expect that to be well received?

Comeonbarbiebrianharvey · 29/04/2023 22:00

MissHavishamsMouldyOldCake · 29/04/2023 21:48

Seeing as we're getting the petty niggles off our chests may I chime in with my dislike of people using 'fora' (or 'stadia' or 'referenda' etc.)? Gives pompous know-it-all vibes.

Show quote history

Keeping with the loose theme of petty niggles can I add...

"You do you"

It makes me physically cringe. I'd take an acronym any day over this. Sorry I digress, but it is the most annoying phrase on the internet.

Brefugee · 29/04/2023 22:00

gosh do you remember when eejits used to barge into a forum to be told to RTFT?

WallaceinAnderland · 29/04/2023 22:02

AuntieStella · 29/04/2023 21:45

What's the first FT in that?

Show quote history

Fuck The

Original poster
gentlemum · 29/04/2023 22:03

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 29/04/2023 21:55

So, @gentlemum - do you usually arrive in an established group, tell the members you think what they are doing is all wrong, and then insult them by calling them sheep? And do you expect that to be well received?

It's an opinion.. something I find mildly irritating and just don't understand the point of. And by the comments appears I am in no way the only one. As you and other people have commented, I'm new and not part of your established club with, I quote, 'fun rules' (didn't read these rules anywhere..) so it shouldn't matter to you what I think 😌

OP posts:
PrettyMaybug · 29/04/2023 22:03

You do you is a wanky phrase I agree @Comeonbarbiebrianharvey

Anonymous48 · 29/04/2023 22:04

Couldn't agree more. There is no reason to type DH instead of husband. It literally takes a split second longer if that.