Why Do Quorans Rely on Acronyms Without Explaining Their Meanings?

Many Quorans casually drop acronyms and abbreviations in their posts, assuming that the rest of the community is familiar with their meanings. This practice, while common, can be frustrating for newcomers and those less knowledgeable about specific jargon. Why not just elaborate or spell it out?

The Case of FIIK...

While it can be confusing initially, most Internet users, especially frequent posters, are familiar with common abbreviations and acronyms. There’s no shortage of resources available to help understand these terms. Clicking the unknown expression to learn something new should be seen as a simple and beneficial process.

Understanding Acronym Usage in Forums and Internet Communication

There’s a learning curve to every community, and forums are no exception. When you start lurking, you’ll gradually get a sense of the acronyms and jargon used. This process involves reading extensively before participating actively. If you’re new to forums, you’ll find that the content becomes clearer over time as you familiarize yourself with the community’s language and common abbreviations.

Be Nice Be Respectful (BNBR): Navigating Acronym Use

The principle of being nice and respectful in online communities is crucial, as it promotes a positive and inclusive environment. When using acronyms, it’s often helpful to explain them at least once, especially those that might be less familiar to new members or readers.

Explaining Acronyms: A Personal Approach

I, for one, try to explain acronyms the first time I use them in a post. This practice is particularly important when an acronym has multiple common meanings. Here are a few acronyms I frequently use and explain:

Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) Approval Voting (AV) Condorcet Voting (CV) Winner Take All (WTA) First Past the Post (FPTP)

Three of the acronyms I mentioned - AV, CV, and ETA - have alternative meanings that are more likely to come to mind for other readers unless they are explicitly defined. For example:

AV - Often used for Audio Video CV - Often used for Curriculum Vitae ETA - Ubiquitous for Estimated Time of Arrival, at least in American English

Why Acrylic Usage Matters

There was an instance where I mentioned that Dawn dishwashing liquid is safe and effective for use on kittens too young for pharmaceutical flea treatments. A commenter, excited to learn something new, thanked me and admitted that as an RVT, she was ashamed to have not known it. When she Googled “RVT,” she found out it stands for Registered Veterinary Technician.

This story demonstrates two points:

It’s perfectly normal for newcomers to be unfamiliar with acronyms used by the community. Instead of scorning users who rely on acronyms, we should be more proactive in seeking to understand new terms.

Isn’t the purpose of Quora to facilitate learning and knowledge sharing? Isn’t it the 21st century, where looking something up online is as simple as clicking a button on a search engine?

Conclusion

Acronyms and abbreviations are a part of online communication, but they shouldn’t come at the expense of inclusion and mutual respect. Whether it’s a newcomer to the community or someone less familiar with certain jargon, taking the time to explain or spell out acronyms can foster a more positive and informative environment. After all, isn’t the true spirit of Quora about asking questions and learning from each other?