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Abhorrent Abbreviations

Discussion in 'Snippets of Life (Non-Fiction)' started by sln, Sep 28, 2024.

  1. sln

    sln Finest Post Winner

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    Abhorrent Abbreviations

    Recently, a close friend of mine, who was next in line after me to become the deemed chairman of the seniors' club, passed away. He was 83 but was reluctant to disclose his age on the advice of his wife. He was very active and used to play table tennis and badminton. While going up in the elevator, he collapsed and died of a massive heart attack. All the seniors were upset, and there was speculation about whose turn would be next. Friends objected when I raised my hand and expressed my willingness to follow suit, as it was an enviable end—without hospitalization or time spent in the ICU.

    Condolence messages began pouring in, and many included "RIP." I was upset that such an abbreviation was used, as the correct meaning of "rip" is to tear apart, even though in capital letters, "RIP" is accepted to mean "Rest in Peace." Are we so busy or so lazy that we can't say the full phrase "Rest in Peace" and instead use a word that can mean something entirely different? I personally feel it is highly disrespectful.

    I checked with my granddaughter (20) on the abbreviated words commonly used among the younger generation. Some of these abbreviations include:

    • HBD: Happy Birthday
    • HMA: Happy Marriage Anniversary (which could also stand for "Happy Mourning Anniversary")
    • LOA: Laugh Out Aloud
    • OMW: On My Way
    • IDK: I Don’t Know
    • BTW: By The Way
    Abbreviations came into being largely due to the restrictions on character limits enforced by social media. However, using "RIP," to my mind, is abhorrent, to say the least.

    We are also used to abbreviations when addressing people by their names. In the past, gods' and goddesses' names were given to children with the belief that calling their names was akin to chanting divine names. However, this practice has been distorted over time. For example, names like Parthasarathy, Narasimhan, Krishnaswamy, and Kothandaraman have been shortened to Pachu, Nachu, Kichu, and Kondu—God save those with these names. In the film Michael Madana Kamarajan, Kamal Hassan affectionately calls the character Tripurasundari "Tripu."

    Of course, this problem has largely been solved with the advent of shorter names, like Ashok, Suresh, Kishore, or Ramesh. In the film Server Sundaram, actor Nagesh, upon seeing a group of girls, calls out "Kamala." One girl turns around and asks, "How did you know my name?" Nagesh cheekily responds, "When there are so many girls in a group, at least one must be a Kamala." The same could be said today for names like Priya, Shreya, Shruti, and Sneha.

    Use abbreviations only when necessary, and only when there is a single, clear meaning. It is a matter of respect. Calling someone like Venkatesan "Venky" sounds abominable to me.
     
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  2. Thyagarajan

    Thyagarajan IL Hall of Fame

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  3. sln

    sln Finest Post Winner

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    I agree that RIP is in vogue earlier also and you can find it in tombstones.My anguish is using RIP in texting messages to the bereaved family.
     
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  4. Thyagarajan

    Thyagarajan IL Hall of Fame

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    I understand. But the old practice stands extended to texting too.
    In case of Hindus the belief soul never dies nor affected by emotions and it enters another body ready for reincarnation. So among hindus it may be apt/ correct to say "may his or her soul reach the feet of the Lord or merge with
    Him."
    But many hindus continue blindly texting "may his/her soul RIP."
     
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  5. sln

    sln Finest Post Winner

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    Blind texting without understanding the context is the problem.We ape Americans without understanding our culture.I reminded a telecom operator about the connection.He replied" Hi.It will take some time due to technical issues.Chill". I fired him for the disrespectful language and cancelled the order.This is the state of affairs.The trend has started after many IT professionals have come back after working abroad particularly US.
     
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  6. sln

    sln Finest Post Winner

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    My argument is vindicated when CJI fired a litigant yesterday when he replied YA YA to a question by CJI instead of yes yes. CJIsaid -what is this language-this is not a coffee shop. A tendency to practice easy informality irrespective of the situation or the age of the person.Nothing but denuding the sanctity of the language.
     
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  7. RatnaMalliswari

    RatnaMalliswari Gold IL'ite

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    Hello @sln sir
    I am here to tell my experience regarding self created abbreviations by students and some from WhatsApp texting.
    I work as computer science lecturer for undergraduate and postgraduate. I often find many abbreviations in exams,after students exams get complete, my exam begins,that is my patience examination. I get to know new abbreviations from their answer sheet like
    ↑ing(increasing),↓ing(decreasing),ATM(at the moment),bcoz(because),cmd(command)
    doc(document) many more.
    It's usual habit at work place we discuss with our colleagues,they shared few more with me A/cting(accounting), management(mgmt),Bom(business organisation management) and said perhaps more than my subject.Such type of abbreviations must be limited for class notes, but not in exam.But students are habituated to write more in abbreviated form.
    Other situation where I frequently see abbreviations is our social media platform especially whatsapp or any texting apps,I am admin for 6 WhatsApp group.My morning begins Gm and night ends with Gn(good morning and good night)in between any festival,when I give greetings,in return I receive a message stu(same to you),never mind(nvm),BB(bye bye),ty(thank you).
    When I don't respond to any message during my busy hours,I find in my WhatsApp MMB(message me back).
    People find it so difficult to type few words,I really don't understand this short way of writing, some times it will not strike to mind immediately, when we are engaged in other work.
    Above two scenarios is about people who know reading,writing still they prefer to use short way to message.My niece who is 5 year old very much eager to use whatsapp.She took mobile from my brother and typed following message,readers may ask me how could 5 year old kid can type, following is the message I got from my her
    Let me decode the message-
    My emoticon,as she is referring to me
    She want my birthday celebration with cake and all decorations
    She want chocolates and icecream
    Return gifts teddy bear and cycle.
    My reply was
    What can I say about this generation and about their heights of intelligence.

    Regards
    Ratna
     
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  8. sln

    sln Finest Post Winner

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  9. sln

    sln Finest Post Winner

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    Dear Ratna,
    Good luck toyou for being administrator of SIX whatsup groups.I can understand abbreviations if the number of characters determine the cost of sending the message.It is also important to understand the age and status of the persson to whom the message is being sent. Even otherwise the code of conduct while dealing with your seniors ie the way one greets,replies ,gets seated etc is fast disappearing.
    Your niece is clever.
    Regards SLN
     
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