While it’s now considered a given rather than a skill, I can touch type.
And like many people my age I didn’t need a course in order to learn, I am part of a generation that learnt to type via the majesty of Messenger. Whether it was MSN or ICQ (I’ll never forget that “uh oh” sound), like so many others I sat up night after night talking to my friends and incidentally honing my typing skills.
While this ability has proved useful in the real world, there are a few negative side effects from being raised in ‘Generation Messenger’; if anyone knows what BRB, WTF or my personal favourite ASL means, then you will know that our generation are the most prolific users of acronyms in history...or so I thought until I started working in media.
Joining an agency not only means making new friends and mastering a new craft, it often means learning a new language – the language of "Acronymese". Dialects can vary from client to client and often changing roles or moving groups will require an entirely new tutorial in order to decipher a simple client email.
“Please send the GNP over to MDO, ASAP.” With a simple reply of “NP”. I’ve sat in meetings and had people flaunt their acronym knowledge in front of me as if to say, “Look how intelligent I am, I know all these fancy letter arrangements!”
There are some that might argue that this almost secret code within work and social environments gives people a sense of belonging. That using ridiculous language to shorten a 2 syllable sentence down to 2 letters can actually help a group of people bond. We see it at school, University, sporting groups and of course at work, but there is another theory – laziness!
But to be honest, we have NFI the reason behind the rise of the acronym, nor do we GAS, but OMFG it is bloody annoying and feel that it has reached epidemic proportions...
FYI to all in FMCG companies, it doesn’t make you sound more intelligent and it doesn’t make the conversation easier. You have till EOP to WB or I'll assume you agree with our POV.