# Attn Newcomers - Abbreviations List **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 30, 2000, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-newcomers-abbreviations-list/27395 "2000-07-30T02:37:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![2sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e47774/32.png) [@2sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2sense)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2000, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-newcomers-abbreviations-list/27395/1 "2000-07-30T02:37:38Z")
Hi there new person. Welcome aBoard! This is the wonderful land of the Straight Dope Message Board ( SDMB ) Here are some of the abbreviations that we use here. Just for fun I organized them according to the forum where you might expect to find each one. Of course, some of these are so common that they are in all of the fora. ::::::::::::::::::::::: The Fora ( Forums ): * * * ## ATMB - About This Message Board (where you are right now) CCC - Comments on Cecil’s Columns CMA - Comments on Mailbag Answers GQ - General Questions GD - Great Debates IMHO - In My Humble Opinion MPSIMS - Mundane Pointless Stuff I Must Share BBQ or the Pit - The BBQ Pit (flamers welcome!) ## **ATMB** : FAQ -[Frequently Asked Questions](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/index.php?action=faq) OP - Original Post ( The post that starts a thread ) OT - Off Topic ( a hijack ) Sig. - Signature (the little quote people stick at the bottom of their posts) Reg. - Regular visitor Newbie - That’s you TM - Teeming Millions UBB - Ultimate Bulletin Board ( old board software ) vB - vBulletin ( new board software ) Attn - Attention ## **CCC** : ROFL - Rolling On Floor Laughing ROFLMAO - Rolling On Floor Laughing My Ass Off LOL - Laughing Out Loud LSHIPIMP - Laughing So Hard I Peed In My Pants LSHIGRBUMN - Laughing So Hard I Got Root Beer Up My Nose (It happens) ROTFLMAOSTSOOTC - ROFLMAO + Scaring The Shit Out Of The Cat. ## **CMA** : IIRC - If I Recall Correctly or If I Remember Correctly AFAIK - As Far As I Know FWIW - For What It’s Worth IOW - In Other Words IDL - International Date Line ## **GQ** : WAG - Wild Ass Guess SWAG - Scientific Wild Ass Guess BP - Before Present CE - Common Era BCE - Before Common Era IKOWBIDWTLSSIDA - I Kind Of Wondered But I Didn’t Want To Look Stupid So I Didn’t Ask. GIGO - Garbage In, Garbage Out HTML - Hypertext Markup Language FTP - File Transfer Protocol or Fuck That Pal ISP - Internet Service Provider AOL - Almost OnLine ASOL - America Sometimes OnLine ( IOW- just plain asshole ) SIEUI : Search Is Easy, Use It ## **GD** : PC - Politically Correct / Personal Computer YMMV - Your Mileage May Vary (meaning that things may be different in different circumstances) NIMBY - Not In My Back Yard GGD - Great God Debate (it’ll last longer than cockroaches) TANSTAAFL - There Aint No Such Thing As A Free Lunch ( courtesy Robert Heilein ) DOMA - Defense of Marriage Act TWIAVBP - The World Is A Very Big Place DYPMTTUAYGA - Do You People Make These Things Up As You Go Along? NATO - Not Able To Organize ## **IMHO** : IMO - In My Opinion IMHO - In My Humble Opinion IM®HO - In My (Rarely) Humble Opinion POV - Point Of View IDIC - Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations (live long and prosper, eh?) BILC - Because It Looks Cool. FMAIHP - Feel My Ass, It Has Powers ## **MPSIMS** : 3124 - This was [WallyM7’s](http://fathom.org/teemingmillions/wally.adp) final post count. IRL - In Real Life BTW - By The Way D&R - Ducking and Running ( usually after a smartass comment ) GD&R - Grinning, Ducking and Running MOLOSTER - MOst Last pOSTER ( a thread killer ) SSM - Same-Sex Marriage DP - Domestic Partnership FOAF - Friend Of A Friend WYSIWYG - What You See Is What You Get SWMBO - She Who Must Be Obeyed ( the wife ) TYP - Thank You Partner TYA - Thank You All TTYA - Thanks To You All NORWICH - Nickers Off, Ready When I Come Home ( WW2 soldiers acronym ) MST3K - Mystery Science Theatre 3000 (sorry, had to include it) SW-TPM - Star Wars - The Phantom Menace ( yes, below MST3K ) ## **BBQ** : DNFTT = Do Not Feed The [Troll(s)](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mtroll.html) ( don’t let this be you ) WTF - What The Fuck? LDS - Latter Day Saints ( Hell yes, **pepper**. I put the Mormons in the Pit;) ) WOMBAT - Waste Of Money, Brains And Talent YOYO - You’re On Your Own PITA - Pain In The Ass. POS - Piece Of Shit TDA - Terminal Dumb Ass HUA - Head Up Ass PHD - Pop Has Dough TANJ - There Ain’t No Justice ( SciFi author, Larry Niven ) CYTWAB - Cute Young Thing With A Brain. SNAFU - Situation Normal, All Fucked Up TARFU - Things Are Really Fucked Up FUBAR - Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition or Fucked Up Beyond All Repair DFY- Dumb Fucking User BOHICA - Bend Over, Here It Comes Again. OTL - Out To Lunch LOTH - Leaning Over Toilet, Hurling BMDB - Bite Me Dough Boy (Drew Carey) USSC - US Supreme Court ( the Supremes ) Here are some of the other sites in the community: 3FMB - Fabulous Forums of Fathom Message Board ( [OpalCat’s Board](http://fff.fathom.org/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi?action=intro;BypassCookie=true) ) TMHP - [Teeming Millions HomePage](http://fathom.org/teemingmillions/) ( also courtesy of **OpalCat** ) SDPP - [Straight Dope People Pages](http://www.geocities.com/sdpeoplepages/) ( courtesy of **Shayna** ) LBMB - The Left Behind Message Board ( [leftbehind.com](http://cgi.leftbehind.com/cgi-ubb/Ultimate.cgi) - if you don’t know, don’t ask) UL - Urban Legends ( see [snopes.com](http://snopes.com/) ) ::::::::::::::::::::::::: I hope you find this useful. If you find more acromyms and abbreviations please post them here so we can share in your wisdom. Anyways - Happy Posting ---
**Author:** ![CnoteChris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@CnoteChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CnoteChris)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2000, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-newcomers-abbreviations-list/27395/2 "2000-07-30T02:41:03Z")
A must read for newbies. Myself included. I wish I’d seen that when I came on board. “FMAIHP - Feel My Ass, It Has Powers” Gotta love it. I can’t wait to use it. ---
**Author:** ![Fanny\_May](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3be4f8/32.png) [@Fanny\_May](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fanny_May)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2000, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-newcomers-abbreviations-list/27395/3 "2000-07-30T04:05:32Z")
(There may be some duplicates with the above, but I’m tired of collecting them, just to have someone start a new thread, so I’ll just quote myself.) > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fanny May \* > Many are from this thread: > **[Molosters](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=24126)** > > moloster - For those of you who haven’t seen the “thread killers” thread, a moloster derives from and is defined by the words MOst Last pOSTer. > UBB - the “old” bulletin board software > vB - the “new” bulletin board software > Sock - short for Sock Puppet, a extra screen name created by a poster, usually to support an argument. > newbie, oldbie, middlebie - relative number of posts on this board. > Troll - a regurlar poster or a sock puppet who disagrees with you. You must shout him down if you are a Troll Buster, another form of troll. > ATMB ~ About This Message Board > CCC ~ Comments on Cecil’s Columns (sounded like a govt. dept.) > CMA ~ Comments on Mailbag Answers (sounded like hardware) > GQ ~ General Questions (It made no sense as the magazine) > GD ~ Great Debates (thought it was swearing) > IMHO ~ In My Humble Opinion (sounded like a non-board term) > MPSIMS ~ (still have no idea about this one) > BBQ or Pit ~ The BBQ Pit > And here’s some local ones from this thread: > > This is the forum Fanny May missed: > MPSIMS - Mundane Pointless Stuff I Must Share. For general chatter, great thoughts, etc. > DNFTTH - Do Not Feed The Troll Hunters either. They are both playing the same game of tag, to the detriment of the board. > AFK - Away From Keyboard > SWAG - Scientific Wild Ass Guess > and my own invention, UAFSE - Use A Search Engine, useful when people start threads asking what a troll is and whatnot. > This reminds me of RTFM, a customer support favorite … Read The F\*ing Manual. > Here’s a new one. UTPF - Use the Preview Feature. > SIFEUI : Search Is Easy, Use It ---
**Author:** ![2sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e47774/32.png) [@2sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2sense)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2000, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-newcomers-abbreviations-list/27395/4 "2000-07-30T04:45:38Z")
Sorry **Fanny May** , I forgot to give credit to those posters that came up with these; including you. Thank you all. :: wonders if he should include sig… grins ruefully :: * * * 2sense - Journeyman of the obvious ---
**Author:** ![MysterEcks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@MysterEcks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysterEcks)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2000, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-newcomers-abbreviations-list/27395/5 "2000-07-30T21:22:24Z")
See, **2sense**? I’m reading it this time. > [@](#): > > **GQ:** […] IKOWBIDWTLSSIDA - I Kind Of Wondered But I Didn’t Want To Look Stupid So I Didn’t Ask. I made this up on the spur of the moment to be funny–are you telling me it’s actually gone into general usage? (And the one time I used it was in a Pit thread, not GQ.) I also used **IWFAIDWP** in that thread, which Commander Fortune correctly interpreted as I Will Feed Anybody I Damn Well Please. I bring this up mainly because I didn’t get back to that thread before it was locked, so I couldn’t post that he was right. If anybody sees the Commander, tell him I said so. > [@](#): > > **GD:** […] TANSTAAFL - There Aint No Such Thing As A Free Lunch ( courtesy Robert Heilein ) Just a typo, but he’s one of my favorite writers, so I’m gonna correct it–the late, great Robert A. Heinlein. > [@](#): > > **MPSIMS:** […] MOLOSTER - MOst Last pOSTER ( a thread killer ) I would just like to modestly (yeah, right) point out that I coined this term, which has actually gained a certain amount of usage on this board. Indeed, the Molosters thread was something of an attempt to jump on the bandwagon–“moloster” originally came from the Threadkillers thread. To be accurate, a moloster is _not_simply a thread killer (the last poster to a thread before it falls into complete oblivion). A moloster is one who does this _intentionally_to _many_threads (hence the “MOst” in its derivation), to gain the glory (such as it is) of being listed as the “Last pOSTER” on a whole bunch of dead threads. Not as effective as painting your name on the side of an Interstate bridge, maybe, but a lot easier. (Why do I think anyone should care about all this? Hey, you gotta take your 15 minutes of fame wherever you can get it.) From **Fanny May** (or at least from her post): > [@](#): > > Here’s a new one. UTPF - Use the Preview Feature. Let me second this one. In fact, let me third and fourth it, too. Entire posts that come out as quotes in underlined bold italics are distracting as hell, and it’s easy enough to do. If you take a couple of seconds to hit preview, you can catch these things. Here’s one I don’t see, so I’ll make it up– **SQTHFP** = Stop Quoting The Whole Fucking Post. It’s fine to quote the whole thing if you are actually replying to the whole thing, but a lot of people here take it too far. **Example:** Say **DumbAsARock** wants to dispute a point I made in this post–he wants to claim that he coined the term “moloster.” The best way to present this would be to quote the appropriate section and make his point, like so: [example post] **MysterEcks** said: > [@](#): > > I would just like to modestly (yeah, right) point out that I coined this term I made this term up over a year ago on the Ignorant Wankers Message Board FakeWebsiteDon’tBother. MysterEcks is a plagerizing peabrained putz! [/example post] But some people here think they gotta quote the whole frigging post to make one or two points. This is distracting, detracts from the point you’re trying to make, and (especially in GD and the Pit) makes for unnecessarily long posts. Note that this is not aimed at newbies, except in the sense that I hope they don’t adopt the style. There are folks of every registration era and post count who do this. (Also note that I am by no means the first one to bring this point up–I’m just the first one in this thread. Like I said before, you gotta take your 15 minutes of fame wherever you can get it.) ---
**Author:** ![tshirts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@tshirts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tshirts)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2000, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-newcomers-abbreviations-list/27395/6 "2000-07-30T21:34:34Z")
**[hijack]** = [sub]commenting on off-topic or tangential point[/sub] **…** **…** **[/hijack]** = [sub]returning to main topic now ---
**Author:** ![2sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e47774/32.png) [@2sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2sense)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-newcomers-abbreviations-list/27395/7 "2000-08-01T02:10:39Z")
Sorry to disapoint you **MR X** , but many of these are just made up or obscure so you shouldn’t expect to see them ofter or ever. But I thank you for “MOLOSTER”. It is an elegant term. If anyone else is responsible for some of these they can post here and I will personally thank them. **tshirts** , Good explanation of a “hijack”. ---
**Author:** ![MysterEcks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@MysterEcks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysterEcks)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2000, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-newcomers-abbreviations-list/27395/8 "2000-08-02T01:00:09Z")
Damn…I thought I was on my way to being famous or something. ---
**Author:** ![Lux\_Fiat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc79bd/32.png) [@Lux\_Fiat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lux_Fiat)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2000, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-newcomers-abbreviations-list/27395/9 "2000-08-02T08:16:47Z")
> [@](#): > > If anybody sees the Commander, tell him I said so. These are enlightened times; I was under the impression that the good Commander is a woman. ---
**Author:** ![2sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e47774/32.png) [@2sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2sense)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-newcomers-abbreviations-list/27395/10 "2000-08-03T06:16:20Z")
I found this on 1 of the boards that spun off from the LDMB due to their current troubles: WWJP - What Would Jesus Post? ---
**Author:** ![MysterEcks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@MysterEcks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysterEcks)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-newcomers-abbreviations-list/27395/11 "2000-08-03T07:21:00Z")
**Lux Fiat** said: > [@](#): > > These are enlightened times; I was under the impression that the good Commander is a woman. \ My deepest apologies, Commander, wherever you are. ---
**Author:** ![2sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e47774/32.png) [@2sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2sense)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2000, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-newcomers-abbreviations-list/27395/12 "2000-08-27T15:06:36Z")
**NFBSK** - Not For British School Kids. ( A warning that content may not be appropriate for everyone. ) ---
**Author:** ![Hi\_Yo\_Ag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c77e96/32.png) [@Hi\_Yo\_Ag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Yo_Ag)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2000, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-newcomers-abbreviations-list/27395/13 "2000-08-27T16:43:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by waterj2 \* > I am one of those “ **Pitties** ” or whatever, and have been known to use search for Pit material. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CnoteChris \* > So stick your righteous, arrogant, platform that people who research are automatically **pit dwellers** looking for dirt. There are other reasons. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ¦:•) \* > The only people who “research” you are **pit weasles** , and I don’t care if they have to work a little harder to slur people. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BarnStormer \* > A quick check shows CnoteChris does seem to be one of the “ **Pities** ”, but “pit weasle” is too pejorative. Since there doesn’t seem to be a consensus, I’m going to start suggesting possibilities \*\* Pitsters Pitiful Pitiable Pitiless Pitizens BBQ-ers Skewer Crew Coal Rakers Pit Meisters The Piteous Pitted Prunes \*\*And going a little farther down the dictionary page, \*\*Pituitous **(Containing, discharging, or resembling mucus)** Pit Vipers Pityriasis \*\*(flaky scales) ---
**Author:** ![Esstriol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cab0a1/32.png) [@Esstriol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esstriol)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2000, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-newcomers-abbreviations-list/27395/14 "2000-08-28T00:28:19Z")
Thanks…i’m new and that info will be helpful Esstriol ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2000, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-newcomers-abbreviations-list/27395/15 "2000-08-28T09:10:00Z")
ABS: Already Been Said (to be used when someone jumps in at the end of a thread and acts rudely.) Sunch: Sucker Punch. Used in a friends’ RPG campaign. Describes an argument/flame tactic that’s meant to distract everyone else from the real issue (like if I were to make fun of someone else’s poetry when people call me on some obnoxious behavior). (sp?): Technically short for “spelling?”, it means “I don’t know if I spelled that right, but I think you should be able to figure it out.” Put it in right after the mystery word. ITAF: “Is That A Fact?” Used to refer to material of questionable inegrity. In other words, “Provide a cite”. Speaking of which… PAC: Provide A Cite. Dogmament: I forget exactly where I found this, but it’s used to refer to arguments about faith/religion, especially silly ones like “Which is better, Judaism or Buddhism?” That’s all I can think of for the time being. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2000, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-newcomers-abbreviations-list/27395/16 "2000-08-28T09:12:57Z")
Oh, and to clarify **Hi Yo Ag** ’s question… I believe that most of the Pit’s regulars prefer to be called “Pitizens” (at least, that’s what Lynn and Alphagene call us from time to time). Things like “Pit Weasel” are usually used as derogatory terms (but now always). And I want to add one more to my list… Middies: Not newbies, not regs… people who know the mechanics of the board, but have yet to get to know a lot of people (made this one up myself). ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2000, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-newcomers-abbreviations-list/27395/17 "2000-08-28T14:08:15Z")
IANAL = I am not a lawyer Used when someone other than a lawyer is offering some kind of legal WAG. ---
**Author:** ![Candlelight\_and\_wine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@Candlelight\_and\_wine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candlelight_and_wine)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2000, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-newcomers-abbreviations-list/27395/18 "2000-08-29T07:13:46Z")
If the **Pit** has **Pitsters** and the **Great Debates** has **Great Debaters** , and the **Comments on Cecil’s Columns** has **Teeming Millions** Then what are the people right here at **ATMB**? Should we just re-structure the acronym as **Atom Bees**? **ATM Boardsters**? **Test Junkies**? ---
**Author:** ![Candlelight\_and\_wine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@Candlelight\_and\_wine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candlelight_and_wine)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2000, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-newcomers-abbreviations-list/27395/19 "2000-08-29T07:21:29Z")
**In My Humble Opinion** could have **The Opinionati**. **Mundane Pointless Stuff I Must Share** could have **MP Stuffers**. **Comments on Mailbag Answers** could have **Bagmen (bagpeople)** or **Teeming Hundreds of Thousands**. \*\*General Questions \*\* could have **G Questors**. Not there yet. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Eyke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Eyke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyke)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2000, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-newcomers-abbreviations-list/27395/20 "2000-08-29T16:55:00Z")
My thanks to all! Even though I’m a newbie SDMBer, I’ve been around the block a time or two. Most of the generic TLA’s I know, but FWIW, I learned a few more. IIRC had me stumped the other day and now I find out what it means. Also the definition of [hijack][/hijack] helped. I should link to this thread to refrain from getting the SIEUS post. 🙂 ATFATI Cheers! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-newcomers-abbreviations-list/27395.md?page=2)