I love acronyms. They make life easier, save time, provide a way to remember organizations, events, programs and campaigns. On a large campus like the University’s, acronyms rein in the chaos. ASUO is much preferred to Associated Students of the University of Oregon, and Woodmen of the World Hall@@http://www.wowhall.org/@@ means nothing to the average Eugene resident — it’s the WOW Hall, in case you were curious.
Acronyms (or initialisms, for those who want to get technical) help to define many on-campus programs. The Sexual Wellness Advocacy Team@@http://swat.uoregon.edu/@@ is better known as SWAT, and MEChA gives non-Spanish speakers a fighting chance at recalling Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan@@http://pages.uoregon.edu/mecha/@@. But occasionally groups will latch onto an acronym or initialism for reasons beyond its representation of the group. When the acronym brings to mind messages other than that of the group it supposedly represents, it can be easy to take that group less seriously.
At the beginning of the school year, signs displaying a large “STFU” were put up around campus. The signs advertised how the University will be smoke-free in fall 2012, with STFU standing for Smoke and Tobacco Free University@@lol they styled it wrong https://www.facebook.com/stfuo@@. It’s an admirable campaign, and one that students should be aware of. However, the only thing these signs, other memorabilia and references to this campaign inspired was giggles.
Any internet-savvy person can tell you what STFU means and has meant since immature teenagers began taking advantage of instant messaging: Shut the fuck up. Now, if the acronym was used with this knowledge, and if it actually meant something to the campaign — say, for instance, it was a campaign to end racial slurs or promote a quieter library atmosphere — then it would fit nicely, taking advantage of a double meaning in a clever way.
Instead, however, it proves to confuse a person. What does shutting up (in quite a foul manner, I might add) have to do with a tobacco-free campus? Sure, I’ll remember the acronym for your organization, but for all the wrong reasons.
There are two reasons this may have occurred. One might be coincidental — perhaps whoever coined the group’s go-to initialism had no idea what it meant. Perhaps the people it went through after that, those who OKed it, who designed the poster, who printed the posters, who put the posters up on walls, honestly didn’t know. Then it’s just a funny (though unfortunate) happenstance.
That same thing cannot be said for the Proudly Oregon@@http://www.facebook.com/events/219340974832434/@@ function, and I believe it is guilty of the second reason. Those around The Duck Store will have seen the signs displacing a large “PO’d” in festive colors. That P and that O stand for Proudly Oregon, an event where the store advertises interesting and talented Oregonians while selling products.
Nothing to be angry about, right? Then why use “PO’d,” a common and well-aged slang for being pissed off?
In cases like this, it seems more like event organizers were attempting to attract and relate to a slang-using generation — our generation — in order to make more popular the event. But it gives the wrong message. This event should not inspire thoughts of annoyance and rage, so why use an acronym that does?
These groups and functions are interesting and useful. They give students information and provide different opportunities for meaningful experiences on campus.
My suggestion is to think before using a kitschy phrase or series of letters simply because they may “relate” to the group of people you’re trying to attract. You may be sending the wrong message.
Bouchat: Checking the slang of the acronym is worth it
Daily Emerald
May 4, 2012
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