C'mon guys & gals...be kind to us please!!!

[DA Aquamaster]

At least in scuba, the same acronym is not mormally used for two different things as is often the case in government so context is less important.

The real fun is understanding all the social cliques - much like learning the mores and customs of a never before discovered indiginous tribe. For example understanding the subtle philosophic differences between HOG, DIR GUE and now UTD as well as the not so subtle differences between those three and the traditional NJ wreck diver. Then there are the dork divers...

And we can't forget the many issues of endless and often pointless debate...

Is it ok to overfill low pressure tanks in Florida? (Yes)
Are split fins good or the root of all Evil? (root of all Evil - Jet Fins are still the peak of fin evolution)
Should I buy a piston or diaphragm regulator? (if diving cold water - sealed diaphragm)
Should I buy on-line or from a Local Dive Shop? (LDS)
Which reel design is better in a cave - Halcyon or Larry Green/Ralph Hood? (Personal preference but I use Larry Green reels.)
Is it ok to go below an END of 100'? (Depends on the person, the day and the dive, unless you are GUE in which case the answer is no.)
Is a mask on your forehead really a distress signal? (No)
Should I wear a BP/wing or a poodle jacket? (BP/wing)
What signing system should be standardized for diving? (basic Cave signs - since they already have been)
I solo diving safer than buddy diving? (depends on the buddy)
Are 6351-T6 alloy aluminum tanks unsafe? (not if properly inspected)
When did the rum tote first appear at the Megadive? (known only to God)

And more recently...

Is nitrox a deep diving gas? (depends on how you define "deep".)
Should a diver with limited experience really be a DM? (No)
Should agencies stop teaching decompression tables? (No)

You will note I have conveniently provided the correct answers.

 

[Doc]

You have very little room to complain, Cap....

U.S. Navy acronyms - For Dummies

Try saying AFFF one time fast.

Appendix:Glossary of U.S. Navy slang - Wiktionary

You'll get hep to our jive-cat lingo in a short.

 

[spectrum]

Yes, we certainly have an idiom.

The key is to become a ScubaBoard junkie a year before you really need the information. By then it is starting to all make sense.

Knowing that for every poster there are many many more lurkers reading and gleaning it never hurts to write so the meaning is self evident.

Point taken. Don't expect the world to change but it may tip on it's axis a little for you.

Pete

 

[tridacna]

And we can't forget the many issues of endless and often pointless debate...

Is it ok to overfill low pressure tanks in Florida? (Yes)
Are split fins good or the root of all Evil? (root of all Evil - Jet Fins are still the peak of fin evolution)
Should I buy a piston or diaphragm regulator? (if diving cold water - sealed diaphragm)
Should I buy on-line or from a Local Dive Shop? (LDS)
Which reel design is better in a cave - Halcyon or Larry Green/Ralph Hood? (Personal preference but I use Larry Green reels.)
Is it ok to go below an END of 100'? (Depends on the person, the day and the dive, unless you are GUE in which case the answer is no.)
Is a mask on your forehead really a distress signal? (No)
Should I wear a BP/wing or a poodle jacket? (BP/wing)
What signing system should be standardized for diving? (basic Cave signs - since they already have been)
I solo diving safer than buddy diving? (depends on the buddy)
Are 6351-T6 alloy aluminum tanks unsafe? (not if properly inspected)
When did the rum tote first appear at the Megadive? (known only to God)

And more recently...

Is nitrox a deep diving gas? (depends on how you define "deep".)
Should a diver with limited experience really be a DM? (No)
Should agencies stop teaching decompression tables? (No)

You will note I have conveniently provided the correct answers.

You forgot:

Spare Air?
Types of Alternative Air Sources?
How big should my wing be?
Is is safe to visit Roatan?
How big should my pony be?
and countless others...

 

[BettyRubble]

Oh Captain, how I feel your pain!

I've found a few key posters and I sorta follow them around and read their posts because they get the 'newbie' thing. Their posts are informative and lack the 'club speak'.

I can't tell you how many PM's I've sent with a "stupid question that's too stupid to post" to folks asking them to help me figure out what the acronymns and such.

Most folks mean well, they just forget what the early days of diving are like.

Now, if we could just find a way to reduce the pissing matches that happen in so many threads, then maybe the walls of SB (scubaboard) would not be that funny shade of yellow . . .

 

[D_B]

I think the "does not notice what forum your in while posting a reply" is common

Betty has a good idea, if you have a question, and you dont want to post it .. PM the person .. I bet you'll find them most willing to help

 

[racedude1984]

This kind of reminds me of watching people use text messaging. The phrases lol, brb, ttyl, rofl, lmao, asl all come to mind. If you ask a person why they don't just write the whole phrase out they say it's quicker to shorten it because they are on a phone and usually trying to do something else in the process.

Now that people sit in front of a computer and have a full keyboard in front of them and don't type it out baffels me.

 

[Cave Diver]

Oh Captain, how I feel your pain!

I've found a few key posters and I sorta follow them around and read their posts because they get the 'newbie' thing. Their posts are informative and lack the 'club speak'.

You may be following the wrong people...

 

[Sas]

This kind of reminds me of watching people use text messaging. The phrases lol, brb, ttyl, rofl, lmao, asl all come to mind. If you ask a person why they don't just write the whole phrase out they say it's quicker to shorten it because they are on a phone and usually trying to do something else in the process.

Now that people sit in front of a computer and have a full keyboard in front of them and don't type it out baffels me.

I like the look of some of the acronyms in typing. I just like the look of 'oic' and 'nfi' and so forth. I hate 'lol' though, some of my friends even say it outloud.... Also I post a lot from my phone (IMs, forums, etc) and it is faster to shorten things. Though in forums I tend to type out full words apart from select acronyms and restrict 'text speak' to IM (ok 'instant messaging'). I don't really feel the need to type out 'local dive shop' or 'backplate and wing' all the time. Acronyms allow someone to transmit the same information more quickly and it allows me to process what people are saying more quickly when I see things shortened.

I think with new divers, it is naive to expect people to remember to type things out in full in the New Divers forum. I often do not look at what forum I am posting in for one thing, and also it really does not take people long to learn the slang. If you are stuck look at one of the acronyms explained threads that I posted earlier. And if you get stuck just message someone or post it in the thread. The majority of people will answer.

 

[TheScubaBOB]

Learning the acronyms is part of learning to Dive! If nobody used them in the New Divers sections then how would the newbies ever learn them?