4 ms·

Tangent, I can't find what "TFA" stands for. My gut tells me it's "The Fucking Article". Am I correct?

by no_time 3y ago

worble 3y ago
Yes
InvaderFizz 3y ago
Yes. TFA = The Fucking Article. Much like: RTFM = Read The Fucking Manual.
NavinF 3y ago
Yes, but in polite company you can pretend it means "The Freaking Article"
- BLKNSLVR 3y ago
  In polite company you say "The article" or "read the manual" and patiently await your reward, which is their asking "what does the 'F' stand for?", to which you reply only with a condescending look and raised eyebrow(s). That look of realisation is precious. I've manufactured this experience once or twice, and it's wonderful.
- tremon 3y ago
  Fine instead of Freaking is much nicer.
- klibertp 3y ago
  I think "Friendly" was/is popular explanation where devs tried to translate their subculture into something generally digestible.
  - evilduck 3y ago
    Digestible maybe, but swapping "friendly" in for "fucking" changes the tone and intent of someone's statement. At least "freaking" expresses similar, if muted, exclamation. A recipient who is being not-so-subtly reproached with an F-bomb acronym might misunderstand what is being implied.
    - hinkley 3y ago
      But when the person asking was management, and asking for the tenth time, there was a decided advantage to changing the tone. All of that is now wrapped up in the initialism.
- dotancohen 3y ago
  Or the fine article.
mannykannot 3y ago
As I said to my mother-in-law, the 'F' is silent.
- dotancohen 3y ago
  When Gwen Shotwell was asked about the acronym BFR on international television, she replied "Big Falcon Rocket". Lovely response, quite dependent on context!
- pxc 3y ago
  This is like how I use 'ofc' to abbreviate 'of course'. Once upon a time the 'f' may have stood for something, but I never use it that way. For me, 'the F is silent'.
qazxcvbnm 3y ago
I pretend its The Forementioned Article
- codetrotter 3y ago
  I like to read it as The Featured Article

Tangent, I can't find what "TFA" stands for. My gut tells me it's "The Fucking Article". Am I correct?

worble 3y ago

Yes

InvaderFizz 3y ago

Yes. TFA = The Fucking Article. Much like: RTFM = Read The Fucking Manual.

NavinF 3y ago

Yes, but in polite company you can pretend it means "The Freaking Article"

BLKNSLVR 3y ago
In polite company you say "The article" or "read the manual" and patiently await your reward, which is their asking "what does the 'F' stand for?", to which you reply only with a condescending look and raised eyebrow(s). That look of realisation is precious. I've manufactured this experience once or twice, and it's wonderful.
tremon 3y ago
Fine instead of Freaking is much nicer.
klibertp 3y ago
I think "Friendly" was/is popular explanation where devs tried to translate their subculture into something generally digestible.
- evilduck 3y ago
  Digestible maybe, but swapping "friendly" in for "fucking" changes the tone and intent of someone's statement. At least "freaking" expresses similar, if muted, exclamation. A recipient who is being not-so-subtly reproached with an F-bomb acronym might misunderstand what is being implied.
  - hinkley 3y ago
    But when the person asking was management, and asking for the tenth time, there was a decided advantage to changing the tone. All of that is now wrapped up in the initialism.
dotancohen 3y ago
Or the fine article.

mannykannot 3y ago

As I said to my mother-in-law, the 'F' is silent.

dotancohen 3y ago
When Gwen Shotwell was asked about the acronym BFR on international television, she replied "Big Falcon Rocket". Lovely response, quite dependent on context!
pxc 3y ago
This is like how I use 'ofc' to abbreviate 'of course'. Once upon a time the 'f' may have stood for something, but I never use it that way. For me, 'the F is silent'.

qazxcvbnm 3y ago

I pretend its The Forementioned Article

codetrotter 3y ago
I like to read it as The Featured Article