# OP -- Original Post or Original Poster? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 12, 2016, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/op-original-post-or-original-poster/774560 "2016-12-12T22:22:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2016, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/op-original-post-or-original-poster/774560/1 "2016-12-12T22:22:52Z")
This could matter: if it’s Original Post, I might get away with saying, “Wow, that OP was really dumb.” But not if it’s Original Poster. I learned (on another discussion board entirely) that OP mean Original Post. Is there a solid consensus here? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2016, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/op-original-post-or-original-poster/774560/2 "2016-12-12T22:25:45Z")
There is not, and it’s led to at least one warning in the past. But to spell it out. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2016, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/op-original-post-or-original-poster/774560/3 "2016-12-12T22:35:14Z")
To be safe, always say “the OP is incoherent puerile gibberish” rather than “the OP is dumb”, then there is no risk of causing offense. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2016, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/op-original-post-or-original-poster/774560/4 "2016-12-12T22:37:39Z")
Yes. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2016, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/op-original-post-or-original-poster/774560/5 "2016-12-12T22:39:11Z")
The OP is confusingly written, factually inaccurate on several points, and has a stupid face. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2016, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/op-original-post-or-original-poster/774560/6 "2016-12-12T23:40:36Z")
Grin! Thank you for the answer! (The OP is a big poody-head. Oh, wait…) ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2016, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/op-original-post-or-original-poster/774560/7 "2016-12-13T00:06:40Z")
From the **Beginner’s Guide to Glossary of Terms on Straight Dope Message Boards** : > [@](#): > > **OP** – “ **O** riginal **P** ost,” meaning the post that started a thread. It is sometimes used to refer to the original poster (the person who started the thread.) Nothin’ like a little ambiguity in what it means. > **[Beginner's Guide to Glossary of Terms on Straight Dope Message Boards](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=320298)** > > There are a number of terms commonly used on the Straight Dope Message Boards, that are basically “in-jokes” or references. There are several threads listing such, I have tried to compile them all into one post here. If anyone has additions or... ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2016, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/op-original-post-or-original-poster/774560/8 "2016-12-13T00:21:28Z")
Ambiguity makes the world interesting … ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2016, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/op-original-post-or-original-poster/774560/9 "2016-12-13T01:35:51Z")
Time flies like an arrow. She bears each cross patiently. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2016, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/op-original-post-or-original-poster/774560/10 "2016-12-13T01:52:32Z")
Fruit flies like a banana. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2016, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/op-original-post-or-original-poster/774560/11 "2016-12-17T00:02:02Z")
It means either one, if you need to disambig, you can use TC, Topic Creator, for the person. I don’t like it myself, but it’s around enough that I’m resigned to the fact it’s not going anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2016, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/op-original-post-or-original-poster/774560/12 "2016-12-17T02:31:15Z")
Everything is context. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2016, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/op-original-post-or-original-poster/774560/13 "2016-12-17T04:36:04Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > It means either one, if you need to disambig, you can use TC, Topic Creator, for the person. I don’t like it myself, but it’s around enough that I’m resigned to the fact it’s not going anywhere. I’d never heard it before, and, yeah, it’s clunky and I don’t like it either. Ah, well! > [@dropzone](#): > > Everything is context. Everything is food food food food food. Everything is food.