others look forward to your comments on a given subject, or miss you when you don't post. I always look forward to your words, on whatever subject.
You mentioned the use of acronyms - interestingly, I didn't intend this thread to address that, but as I mentioned to Park, I find that extension of the topic fascinating.
I tend to look at acronyms and lingo fairly forgivingly; it can be shorthand; shorthand for specialists; signals to other specialists and insiders (which, I can imagine, can be (mis) understood as exclusionary, elitist, snobbish, show offy, and rude) Under the last two, I can see how it might be looked at harshly by some.
On a more abstract, meta level, I also see language as a living thing, so to me, the infiltration of IMO or LOL or Kleenex into the casual lexicon is no more "offensive" than Anglicised Japanese like "batt-eli" or "hoteru" which finds frequent, common usage in Japan and Taiwan. Yes, I know there are Nihon-go purists, and Francais purists, and ...In this case, I think my aversion to dogma and "slavish devotion to the old ways" wins out, so long as the person using colloquialisms, slang, lingo, and yes, new media neologisms, also knows the proper, formal form of expression.
I constantly tell my daughters (so much so I'm sure they are sick and tired of hearing it, but as I tell them in response to that, "listen and take it to heart, and I'll stop repeating it!") that sure, it is fine to use the outer fork first, or inner one; hold the fork in the right hand or left; use neologisms. Just be sure you know the proper terms and correct manners first. Knowing the "proper way" or rules or laws is pre-requisite to discretionary adaptation of them. (one of my few "rules")
Of course, I realize that even this is fraught with potential problems - inconsistent rules; stupid (ie, counterproductive to stated purpose) laws; obsolete or antiquated conventions or terms - are they necessary to know?
Cheers, Mr. Stewart.