One rule on this forum which is frequently quoted in response to newbie posts is not to use textspeak abbreviations like pls and u. I believe this is specified in the forum rules. But I have noticed a whole sheaf of acronyms that are widely used by experienced posters; indeed I sometimes use them myself because they're convenient. Things like afair/afaik, tl;dr, imho, even pebcak. These I know, but from time to time I notice new ones that I have to google.

I assume that some of these are old hacker terms from wayback, but what actually makes them different from the kind of abbreviations that we are told (and tell others) not to use? Are we being inconsistent here?

Nothing different at all in my humble opinion.

I truly find myself very much ready to use the shorter version of that and typically catch myself to either write it out or not use it at all.

If you re-review the rule entirely:I didn't write it, but I agree with it as the recommendation which it is.

It is in the poster's best interest, to make the question as clear as possible, therefore, it is best to use standard English.

Good question, but I think there actually is difference. Abbreviations like AFAIK are not shortened words, they came into use to denote often used word combinations. While 'u' for you, '4' for for and similar were invented with text messaging when it was severely limited to make messages shorter and easier to type. In first case I find abbreviations useful, in second case I think it is outdated and childish (as in cool) to use, as a matter of fact I believe they can cause confusion among non-english speakers. Which makes them rude, my personal opinion, again.

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Yes, I'm guilty of using many abbreviations, but if they're less common, something like UUOC, DOTADIW, DRY, or PEBKAC, I'd usually provide a link to the definition/explanation.

As you can see from above, I use them not as time-savers (finding and copying a link doesn't save me any time), but rather as a reminder that the situation at hand is typical or common, so common in fact that a special abbreviation was invented for this.

I plead guilty... because I can be a very lazy typer. In any case, the rules say "it's recommend you don't use text-speak", it doesn't actually say "it's against the rules to use text-speak". So to me that's a gray area that could be interpreted in different ways by different people. Is it a big deal? Well to me, as long as I can understand them and they can understand me, then there's no issues in my mind.

That said, I do try and be as clear as I can with the noobies here, because I want them to understand me rather than sitting there thinking "what in the hell is this guy on about??!".

Abbreviation is sometime like gesture, mimic, waving hands, shrugging shoulders - way of expression. And we are limited here.

Not everyone here feels the same way as you. I have often noticed newbies getting their knuckles rapped for using sms spellings. That's fair enough if it's done consistently but it looks a bit like special pleading if we exempt the abbreviations we use ourselves.

That's what smilies are for.

I get your point, but like I said before... it's a gray area. Not helped by unclear rules or as you say, inconsistently applied.

At the end of the day, we're probably all guilty of doing it at some point. Like I said, I try and use full words if I'm talking to someone that doesn't have as much knowledge or experience as myself (esp. if they are new to Linux). But on the other hand, and like yourself for example, I know you would understand if I said something like "to make any changes to any OS related files, you'd need to use sudo (depending on your distro) or be root". Know whata I mean?

Just my opinion either way.

Myself I prefer words than icons. To learn new words. To extend vocabulary. Not many people are capable to use words precisely. To describe thoughts, feelings, moods. Have some fun: such person (fictitious) is Fall From Grace. It is character from "Planescape: Torment" RPG game. She is mistress of "Brothel of slating intellectual lusts". But it is real pleasure to hear (read) her dialog. Language can be source of pleasure.

Despite numerous curious expressions of guilt, I'm not sure anyone is actually saying abbreviations are inherently bad?

I take the LQ Rules excerpt in post #2 as about maintaining a minimum standard of language and clarity, which is quite different from policing language.

i.e. It's intended to allow functional abbreviations that are a natural part of the language, whilst discouraging ugly laziness (like "u" instead of "you") or confusing atypical use (like uppercase "PSE" instead of "please").


Perhaps we look at too many different threads, because I don't often see new users being bashed - can you provide examples?

Journalism uses USA, UNESCO, OPEC, etc. all the time. Have you seen "pls" in a newspaper?

There is another aspect. There is someone asking for assistance. And there is someone ready to help, a volunteer. They are not acquainted, they know nothing about each other. The help request is also introduction to the poster, to his/her personality. Now, this helper is not doing it for profit, yet doing it has to be rewarding in some way. When I see illiterate, sloppy posting, what do I think? After asking and answering questions for three decades (started on Usenet) I can tell, helping sloppy posters is too often not rewarding. Nowadays I simply ignore them. I cannot believe I am the only person on this planet who thinks this way, am I?

i have used u and ur and other same kind of words, didnt know it is forbidden (or is it?) :P
to me it is grey area like jsbjsb001 said ^there.

EDIT: what about : imo imho lol lmao asap pita, those are what i use most in other forums, like gaming forums.
i understand that : "imo ur allowed to speak liek u want bcus there is freedom of speech" is too much.

I also very confuse about this rule.
Sometimes, abbrevation is OK, sometime it against rule. It is not fair for new bee.