August 28, 2006

By Julie Kay Smithson propertyrights@earthlink.net

http://www.PropertyRightsResearch.org

I have a wonderful pet, a dog that herds his toys instead of the cattle for which his breed is named. Wiggles is the only pet I own, but another pet has set up housekeeping in my daily life, and it's one I'd rather would find somewhere else to live.

Fact is, if the little bugger would simply disappear, I'd be delighted!

This new pet's name is Peeve, and it surfaces whenever someone in the news, on the computer or radio, or in a book or article, refers to an organization or phrase by its acronym without first spelling out (explaining) the organization's name or the phrase.

Peeve seems to be unaware that its appearance is neither solicited nor wanted, visiting several times each and every day.

It's a fifty-fifty split whether I'll be able to figure out what an acronym means when it is not first explained. Being a researcher, I am imbued by an "I've got to know what that means ASAP!" gene. I dunno whether that gene would show up as part of my DNA, but it's there, nonetheless.

DNA? Most people know DNA, to which I refer by its acronym, far better than its spelled-out version, Deoxyribonucleic Acid, but AcronymFinder.com shows 49 other explanations for that little three-letter acronym. ASAP has a mere 96 other explanations besides As Soon As Possible.

Heck, even my first name has an acronym -- JULIE -- and an explanation: Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators.

Acronyms are occasionally referred to as "alphabet soup," and it's easy to see why that's not my favorite kind of soup. Even "alphabet" has an acronym: ABC. Soup? Yep, four of 'em: Solar Optical Universal Polarimeter (experiment), Software of Unknown Pedigree, Students Organized to Unite People, and Spectrum Orbit Utilization Program. Pet, too, is an acronym for 48 different phrases.

To prove the complexity of figuring out what an acronym means if it isn't first explained, "PC" might mean "politically correct" or "personal computer," but it also has -- are you sitting down? -- 251 other meanings!

There's no point in climbing on a soap (23) box (1) over Peeve, but doesn't it seem like Peeve would be an acronym for something? Nope. Peeve is simply a pesky, extra effusive vermin extraordinaire.

Oh, no! I've used an acronym without first explaining it! Peeve, please leave! I only want and need one pet!