I get it. Communication--the method of transmitting thoughts and ideas--is organic. Confining it to a set of rules is futile.
That is why languages evolve. Slang, terms, phrases, and abbreviations emerge out of use and familiarity. And the digital age, where messaging has taken on binary codes, usually limited by capacity (and effort), shortening words and phrases, fueled by laziness and convenience, took a truck-load of steroids.
I get it.
But for the most part, I refuse to accept the use of abbreviations if not absolutely necessary. Preferring to use abbreviations when you've got a complete keyboard at your disposal is indefensible.
Here's my personal list of abbreviations and shortened words that I cannot and will not stomach:
1. OMG - short for oh my God. Commonly used to express surprise and shock. Firstly, I am assuming that mankind has, with enviable deliberateness, chosen to shun the 10 Commandments. That argument aside, I am left with no other explanation for the frequent use of the term (mostly online) other than a lack of a good vocabulary to adequately express themselves.
2. GBU - short for God bless you. Come on, people. This must be the lowest and saddest form of wishing someone well. I often wonder if most users have injured or mangled their fingers to the point where they are unable to make good use of them.
3. Congrats - short for congratulations. Oh joy. This has been around for ages. It leads me to think that users believe that this is the true form of the word and that congratulations is some archaic long-forgotten word. I mean, if you're going to say it, might as well use the complete word, right? Not a despicable half-assed excuse for convenience's sake. This laziness breeds illiteracy.
4. Merry Xmas - short for Merry Christmas. It can take many forms, each as damnable as the rest. I know the usual excuse: it's not the form that counts, it's the message. Riiiiight. See, that's why I feel that we're on a down-hill ride to illiteracy: people actually accept that excuse. I know, I'm terribly old-fashioned, and I'll take that as a complement. At least back then, people held each other to a certain standard. Respect and reason were ingrained and used regularly. Maybe this age, which espouses interpersonal communication on a scale never before imagined, delimiting and limiting interaction at the same time, has made it too easy for us to get away with lowering the standards.
5. Tnx - short for thanks, which was shortened from thank you.
Thank. I like that word. It's so beautiful in its own right. It conveys gratitude and recognition. It's something that you'll never hear from a self-entitled ingrate.
6. HBD - this abbreviation is the reason I chose to hide my birthday on Facebook for the longest time. What would be a thoughtful greeting has been turned into something that deeply exasperates me. I've been told to to not sweat the little things. Wrong. It's the little things that enrich our lives. Three letters to take the place of a greeting which is intended to realize and celebrate a person's existence and importance. Three letters. Is using 'Happy Birthday' too much of an effort? How can you willingly reduce a person's birthday to three letters? I'd like to think if the person means anything at all, a little effort won't really hurt your fingers.
If you're going to say something, you might as well mean it. Sincerity matters. Or just don't say it at all. Because this laziness is unacceptable.
Praytell, what other abbreviations piss you off?
