[DL] Acronyms & Abbreviations [OT]

[Richard A Ranallo <toadpooka@juno.com>]

On Thu, 28 Mar 2002 14:23:21 -0600 "Lord Jobe" <lordjobe@bigfoot.com>
writes:
> > > OTBSW is another good rule for higher point games.
> 
> OTBSW?

OK, this really should be sent to the entire Internet, but I'll just
start here for now.
Acronyms are meant to shorten the amount of reading and writing necessary
to communicate an idea.  While it may seem like a good plan to acronymize
an entire paragraph, and your finger joints thank you in the short-term,
this is not true.
If you use an acronym or abbreviation that requires over half the people
who read it to post messages asking what the hell you mean, then you have
to respond by explaining yourself, you have not shortened anything. 
You've multiplied the effort needed to read your writing by about 400%. 
Please, for the future of mankind and the English language, stop it.

Now, BTYRSP...

From Whom It May Concern,
Rich Ranallo

"Rock and Roll will be the new planetary culture, believe it or not."
-Prof. Michio Kaku