YAPAMNTDS

March 15, 2012 7:09 AM

YAPAMNTDS (Yet Another Post Asking MeFites Not To Do Something)

Seriously, if you're going to start using abbreviations and then have to immediately tell us what they stand for, why not just write out what they stand for instead? This thread is the latest example from Ask. But I've seen it for single link posts on the blue too.

It's low on the importance scale, I'll admit that. But it's still annoying.

posted by theichibun to MetaFilter-Related at 7:09 AM (94 comments total)

IDTTIAPBICSWIMBA
(I don't think this is a problem, but I can see why it might be annoying)
posted by Grither at 7:16 AM on March 15, 2012 [6 favorites]

Also, that's rather fun to say. Go ahead, try it!
posted by Grither at 7:17 AM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

I interpreted that as humour. It in no way annoyed me.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 7:18 AM on March 15, 2012 [5 favorites]

Just the other day, I noticed that the posting page on AskMe has the following sentence on it:

Before you ask, please try searching for previous threads about your topic. Pick the most unique keyword you can and you're likely to find earlier questions that are identical or very similar.

and the phrase "most unique" made me twitch a little, just ever so slightly, but I didn't make a MetaTalk post about it. I did make a MetaTalk comment about it, though, and it is this one, so glass houses and all, I guess.
posted by FAMOUS MONSTER at 7:20 AM on March 15, 2012 [5 favorites]

Maybe MeTa should have opening hours, say 1-2 am every other Friday under a crescent moon, to make sure that posters really care about the stuff they post.
posted by Foci for Analysis at 7:28 AM on March 15, 2012 [3 favorites]

I hate glass houses. You know how much good curtains cost these days?
posted by Splunge at 7:28 AM on March 15, 2012

But it's still annoying.

Are new notations of your ideas never guaranteed?

next word, guaranteed
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:31 AM on March 15, 2012

MeTa used to be a gladitorial arena for competitive flameouts. Now it's just a place where we post our low priority whining, like an office break room.
posted by Think_Long at 7:31 AM on March 15, 2012 [13 favorites]

I'd prefer an unambiguous demand that we immediately stop doing this.
posted by Meatbomb at 7:32 AM on March 15, 2012 [6 favorites]

I'd prefer a lot of things.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:33 AM on March 15, 2012 [19 favorites]

Tell us more, cortex - reach out and share your feelings.
posted by Meatbomb at 7:34 AM on March 15, 2012 [2 favorites]

I'd prefer a medium amount of things.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 7:34 AM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

Splunge: "I hate glass houses. You know how much good curtains cost these days?"

Obviously the irony went above your head. Much like most things for me. Since I'm short and work with a bunch of tall people.
posted by theichibun at 7:36 AM on March 15, 2012

I'd prefer a lot of things.

Shut up, Bartleby.
posted by yerfatma at 7:44 AM on March 15, 2012 [6 favorites]

I (and 80+ others) am with flatluigi.
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:45 AM on March 15, 2012

oneswellfoop: I (and 80+ others) am with flatluigi.

No way, man. Those are definitely bookmarks so people can come back to that comment later and dissect it when they have more time.
posted by gman at 7:48 AM on March 15, 2012 [3 favorites]

kgoml
posted by ardgedee at 7:54 AM on March 15, 2012

ASSES
posted by Burhanistan at 7:54 AM on March 15, 2012

And what's the deal with airline food?
posted by The Whelk at 8:03 AM on March 15, 2012

British Airways served me some delicious sea bass last month in business class, that's what.
posted by Burhanistan at 8:06 AM on March 15, 2012

Virgin Atlantic serves up surprising good curry.
posted by The Whelk at 8:15 AM on March 15, 2012

Note: Everyone needs a hug.

Note: But not all the time.
posted by tommasz at 8:21 AM on March 15, 2012

"Low priority whining." I'm sure I'll be able to work that phrase into a conversation here at the office in the near future.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 8:21 AM on March 15, 2012 [2 favorites]

The only meal you get an Aeroflot is a potato and yelled at.
posted by griphus at 8:25 AM on March 15, 2012 [7 favorites]

theichibun: “Yet Another Post Asking MeFites Not To Do Something”

This is what annoys me. There needs to be a moratorium on this.
posted by koeselitz at 8:28 AM on March 15, 2012

Oh yeah? I demand a moratorium on moratoria.
posted by griphus at 8:30 AM on March 15, 2012

I demand a demand.
posted by The Whelk at 8:35 AM on March 15, 2012

I remand your bland demand.
posted by griphus at 8:38 AM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

Add more salt, that should help.
posted by theichibun at 8:39 AM on March 15, 2012

Too much salt ruins kelp.
posted by The Whelk at 8:46 AM on March 15, 2012

Kelp me!
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:49 AM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

P[reviously].

Also, if I may quote George F. Babbitt, DSSDMYPDF.
posted by languagehat at 8:53 AM on March 15, 2012

FWIW, NBD IMHO.
posted by GooseOnTheLoose at 8:56 AM on March 15, 2012

WITIDE
posted by Devils Rancher at 8:57 AM on March 15, 2012

I'd prefer a lot of things.

I'd prefer blondes, but it turns out I'm not a gentleman.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 9:00 AM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

I wish the cow would give us some milk
posted by The Whelk at 9:01 AM on March 15, 2012

I too would prefer a lot of things.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:06 AM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

I'd prefer just a few things, but of superb quality.
posted by Decani at 9:07 AM on March 15, 2012 [4 favorites]

Lot's of things annoy me too!
posted by h00py at 9:12 AM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

(That apostrophe, for instance)
posted by h00py at 9:12 AM on March 15, 2012 [5 favorites]

A millisecond after hitting post. A millisecond, I swear.
posted by h00py at 9:13 AM on March 15, 2012 [2 favorites]

YCAGWYW
posted by crunchland at 9:14 AM on March 15, 2012

IMAB IMAB IMAB IMAB IMAB IMAB


You'll thank me later.
posted by Think_Long at 9:25 AM on March 15, 2012

I would prefer not to.
posted by koeselitz at 9:27 AM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

I would prefer not to.

Get the fuck back to work before I kick your ass you pathetic scrivener!

(Sorry, just always longed to say that)
posted by tyllwin at 9:38 AM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

A lot of things.
posted by drlith at 9:43 AM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

SWIFT EU 202's and 210's DK IRR due to UN mandate.

Decode that, bitches.
posted by rich at 9:46 AM on March 15, 2012

I can't decode that, but some old dude in playing checkers in a VA just got a sudden and irresistible urge to kill Brezhnev.
posted by griphus at 9:50 AM on March 15, 2012 [3 favorites]

YJDTSTATAPTYACA (APFASR [TTBF])

You just did the same thing as the Ask poster that you are complaining about (and probably for a similar reason [trying to be funny]).
posted by TheCavorter at 9:55 AM on March 15, 2012 [4 favorites]

I blame Rachel Ray and her "EVOO Extra Virgin Olive Oil" shit for this.
posted by mkultra at 9:57 AM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

I blame Rachel Ray for all evil.
posted by Burhanistan at 10:01 AM on March 15, 2012 [4 favorites]

You're making me think of Acrophobia. God, so many hours spent on that site. I don't care what you intend to say when you put letters up as a comment, I will attempt to interpret them using every revolting thought that I have at my possession. I may not post it but I'll think it.
posted by h00py at 10:03 AM on March 15, 2012

The only meal you get an Aeroflot is a potato and yelled at.

The most delicious meal on Aeroflot is the one you eat after you have managed to walk away alive.
posted by elizardbits at 10:06 AM on March 15, 2012 [3 favorites]

I prefer somethings at some times more than other things at other times, except when somethings occur at other times and other things occur sometimes.

But mainly ILJ (I Like Jam)
posted by edgeways at 10:09 AM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

TILDAR!
posted by jeffamaphone at 10:14 AM on March 15, 2012

I know Aeroflot takes a lot of crap, and yeah, I've flown them, so I get the joke, but damn, you should see some airlines of poorer countries in Asia or Africa. Here's a photo of an internal flight I took in Cambodia to get to Ratanakiri province. You'll notice the very square looking occupants of the seats in the front half of the plane. Biman Bangladesh is nothing to write home about either, but they're cheap as fuck. I've even been on Egypt Air flights in the past ten years where the last three rows were still smoking. I've got an upcoming flight on Air Koryo, which I'm pretty psyched about. I mean, who couldn't be excited about flying on an airline whose website has been down for god knows how long.
posted by gman at 10:21 AM on March 15, 2012 [8 favorites]

Seriously, if you're going to start using abbreviations and then have to immediately tell us what they stand for, why not just write out what they stand for instead?

Hahaha, yeah, I will NEVER understand the proclivity for internet shorthand. It reminds me of perl, where readability is sacrificed for the sake of writability. I mean seriously, how hard is it to type out a few words? I feel like these abbreviations function the same way as in-jokes, in that they make desperately lonely people feel special and part of an in-crowd.
posted by Afroblanco at 10:26 AM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

h00py: "A millisecond after hitting post. A millisecond, I swear."

Don't regret regret.
posted by zarq at 10:33 AM on March 15, 2012

So, this happened.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 11:10 AM on March 15, 2012

IGTSTATSFA (I'm going to spend the afternoon torturing small furry animals.)
posted by Burhanistan at 11:12 AM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

FU.
posted by karathrace at 11:25 AM on March 15, 2012

Felix Unger?
posted by Diablevert at 11:35 AM on March 15, 2012

smh, idk, wtf
posted by Grlnxtdr at 11:42 AM on March 15, 2012

SRSLYNW?(Seriouslee now?)
AYFC(Are You For Cerial?)

Yowza, blanco, you can sure be good at being hostile to non-specific, generalized "bad people" eh (uh, where lonely=bad)?

You realize you are in-group signaling with you own comment though, right? Like there is a whole little clan o y'all (on the internet, and many seem to be bitter and lonely, so be careful with that particular slander), a 'clique' one might even say, who are TOO COOL, and thus, having SEEN IT ALL ALREADY, you can therefore crap on people or their words or their thoughts, or their knowledge base, people you don't know (*and never name, or actually address, or engage in dialogue with, just random sideways swipes at "types" of "people"... who are not evidently really real)... who exactly is this mythical "desperately lonely people", some may wonder what makes you so special that you don't face a similar human condition yourself?

If you find a blue puddle, some mechanical parts, a Burhanistan, and a pile of animals, all in an empty field, with no footprints, you need to file a TFOA Report, Aeroflot-NAVY just dropped a (BIoD) blue icicle of death (things falling off aircraft).
posted by infinite intimation at 11:43 AM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

Being found unconscious in a remote field surrounded by carcasses and covered in thawed blue lavatory ejecta wasn't one of my finest moments.
posted by Burhanistan at 12:00 PM on March 15, 2012 [2 favorites]

You realize you are in-group signaling with you own comment though, right?

No, I just prize actual communication over cutesy injokes.
posted by Afroblanco at 12:04 PM on March 15, 2012

That's a good market!
posted by Meatbomb at 12:10 PM on March 15, 2012

Burhanistan: "Being found unconscious in a remote field surrounded by carcasses and covered in thawed blue lavatory ejecta wasn't one of my finest moments."

Could be worse.
posted by zarq at 12:11 PM on March 15, 2012

IAWWPWWATSAMBLIRL

STIWHWYDEYA!
posted by cmoj at 12:28 PM on March 15, 2012

ASJGFKKFDFKGJDFG FFBONLEWJXISFDP (no idea what this means)
posted by daniel_charms at 12:30 PM on March 15, 2012

So, it has come to this...
posted by slogger at 1:29 PM on March 15, 2012

(arrives late and out of breath)

Is this where we're telling people what not to do? Awesome.

Everyone! My brothers! Stop saying kudos, munched, sipped, grab, albeit, MILF, toddler, and fap!

Okay, I'm done.
posted by Sallyfur at 2:50 PM on March 15, 2012

But what do I do when my friend, albeit a toddler, grabs a MILF while munching on kudos but after sipping his drink while I'm too busy fapping to stop him?
posted by cmoj at 3:09 PM on March 15, 2012

You go to prison, my friend. Hoosegow. The Big House.
posted by Sebmojo at 4:05 PM on March 15, 2012 [2 favorites]

Well, great.

Now I hate everything.

THANKS A LOT
posted by BitterOldPunk at 4:12 PM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

On the subject of "MILF": there's a person down the street from me who has a license plate on her or his old pickup truck that says "GOT MILF?"

If, by some very distant chance, that person happens to be reading this thread, I don't quite understand this question, and I'd like some clarification. Are you asking if I've got a mother you might like to fuck? If so, I imagine you can see why I wouldn't want to even engage my imagination in answering that question; nor do I think many people would, so I'm led to wonder if you must mean something else. But the only other thing I can think you might mean is that you want to know if I have a mother I would like to fuck; and I think everyone can probably see the problems inherent there.

In conclusion: your license plate doesn't make any sense, and causes me to wonder all kinds of things that I shouldn't be wasting time wondering. Please change it.
posted by koeselitz at 4:19 PM on March 15, 2012

Not to overthink this plate of licenses, but it may be referencing the 'Got Milk?' ads, in which it was a question from the subject of the ad (usually a celebrity), to the target of the ad, while demonstrating their consumption of lacteal fluid.

In short, the owner of the truck has or is a MILF, and wishes to know if you, too, are or posses a MILF.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 4:33 PM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

I hate the abbreviations more all the time, and just when I thought my hate had peaked. My wife was going crazy a while back trying to figure out what people were talking about on boards she frequents. They would write "DH" "DMIL" and the like for "dear husband" "dear mother in law". We were flabbergasted and incredulous when we realized that.
posted by bongo_x at 5:11 PM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

I have been less annoyed by "more unique" since I started thinking of it as an abbreviation for "more nearly unique" and allowing "nearly unique" as synonymous with "unlikely to be duplicated".

HTH. HAND.
posted by flabdablet at 6:07 PM on March 15, 2012

Just to confuse people I am going to support this initiative.
posted by cjorgensen at 6:13 PM on March 15, 2012

tl:dr thread..

really? we all get to tell everyone what not to do now?

Here's mine... stop frigging telling me what the I'm not supposed to do!
posted by HuronBob at 7:21 PM on March 15, 2012

YUBNUB
posted by George Lucas at 9:15 PM on March 15, 2012 [2 favorites]

They would write "DH" "DMIL" and the like for "dear husband" "dear mother in law". We were flabbergasted and incredulous when we realized that.

Yeah, it took me a while to get that, too.

I suspect that "husband", "wife", "daughter", and "son" are all such common words in use on those fora that they want an abbreviation. But that can't just use H, W, D, and S; single-letter abbreviations seem silly, and maybe they think that consistently using an abbreviation for someone diminishes them (?) so they tack on "dear" to kill two birds with one stone.
posted by Jpfed at 9:25 PM on March 15, 2012

Everyone! My brothers! Stop saying kudos, munched, sipped, grab, albeit, MILF, toddler, and fap!

You forgot the word methinks.
posted by MaryDellamorte at 10:27 PM on March 15, 2012 [2 favorites]

I suspect that "husband", "wife", "daughter", and "son" are all such common words...

Don’t make excuses for those people.
posted by bongo_x at 10:34 PM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

PREFER ALL THE THINGS
posted by Anything at 1:16 AM on March 16, 2012

So who else just checked when Anything joined?
posted by likeso at 3:37 AM on March 16, 2012

WWMBD?
posted by thinkpiece at 4:10 AM on March 16, 2012 [1 favorite]

The greatest deleted post ever used exactly this kind of abbreviation.
posted by Dasein at 7:29 AM on March 16, 2012

Dasein: "The greatest deleted post ever used exactly this kind of abbreviation."

And spawned this webcomic.
posted by zarq at 8:02 AM on March 16, 2012 [1 favorite]

Are you asking if I've got a mother you might like to fuck? If so, I imagine you can see why I wouldn't want to even engage my imagination in answering that question

And my mother's been dead since 1976, so I REALLY don't want to engage my imagination in answering that question.

Oh, koeselitz's neighbor, you are what my great-great-aunt Sister Mary Justina would have called "a near occasion of sin" because now I want to come to your house and rip your goddamn stupid license plate off your goddamn stupid truck. And that would be wrong.
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:39 AM on March 16, 2012 [2 favorites]

MILF does not imply your mother, just a mother. If you've got one, you know of a woman that you would like to sleep with and that woman gave birth to and/or raised a child.
posted by soelo at 11:01 AM on March 16, 2012

It's a strange source of fascination for me that so many men don't seem to hear the insult inherent in MILF or cougar. Although it is a handy-dandy weeding-out tool, I suppose.
posted by heyho at 11:11 AM on March 16, 2012

You know who else liked MILFs?

Jesse Pinkman.
posted by Burhanistan at 11:11 AM on March 16, 2012