F.Y.I.

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the origins and historical usage of abbreviations, specifically the acronym FYI ('For your information') and other three-letter acronyms (TLAs). Participants explore the timeline of these abbreviations, suggesting they may predate the internet.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Historical

Main Points Raised

  • One participant initially believed that FYI was an internet creation until discovering its use in an episode of The Twilight Zone.
  • Another participant notes that many TLAs have existed for a long time, implying a broader historical context.
  • A participant mentions that 'lol' might also have origins before the internet, suggesting a similar trend in abbreviation usage.
  • Further, a participant provides an example of 'lol' in medical shorthand, indicating that abbreviations have long been used in various fields.
  • Another participant discusses the historical use of Morse code telegraphy, highlighting how abbreviations were utilized in the 19th Century and continue to influence modern practices.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that many abbreviations, including FYI and lol, have historical roots that predate the internet. However, the extent and specific contexts of these usages remain open for further exploration.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not resolve the exact origins of each abbreviation or the full scope of their historical usage, leaving some assumptions and definitions open to interpretation.

paulb203
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I thought, until just now, that the FYI abbreviation for 'For your information', was an internet creation, but I just heard it on episode 2 of the first series of The Twilight Zone.
 
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paulb203 said:
I thought, until just now, that the FYI abbreviation for 'For your information', was an internet creation, but I just heard it on episode 2 of the first series of The Twilight Zone.
Many TLA's have been around for some time.
 
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PeroK said:
Many TLA's have been around for some time.
Yeah. Turns out 'lol' might even be pre-internet.
 
paulb203 said:
Yeah. Turns out 'lol' might even be pre-internet.
Correct. In medical shorthand a lol in nad signifies a "little old lady" in "no apparent distress".

Morse code telegraphy from 19th Century abbreviated and contracted every possible word. Remnants persist such as Morse radio beacons broadcasting airport recognition symbols (DEN for Denver) and stock market chirons displaying corporate abbreviations originally printed on paper ticker tapes (NBC on NYSE).
 
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