Acronyms

While reading BLF posts, they are often peppered with military-style acronyms. Some I figured out from the context, but some I’m either half guessing or have no clue. ‘PID’ is the latest one.

Is there a post or a page somewhere that could serve as a dictionary and reveal the mysteries behind some of the spells?

PID Proportional Integral Differential

It’s a term/method used in feedback control systems. For acronyms I don’t know I just google it. I don’t think there is a dedicated page. For typical slang I advise urbandictionary.com

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Urban Dictionary: Flashlight :grin:

p.s. Not to be confused with the definition of the word ‘torch’ from the same dictionary.

I used to do technical writing for the Air Force (US). The rule was that if using any sort of acronym, the first time it is used it must be defined. Obviously to avoid any potential confusion… or causing the reader to have to go outside of the document for a definition.
Unfortunately, as you have noticed, this rule is almost never followed online.

Even using the search method, it is often difficult to find a definition that fits…
I have seen sites that had a specific topic that defines often used acronyms for the site. If BLF has one, I haven’t seen it.

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There are some acronyms I am not familiar with as well.

On the spectrum, I’m closer to a casual user than an enthusiast/modder. But I like to be continually more informed and I certainly like getting nerdy about whatever I’m interested in.

Seems like several of us would benefit from a tagged thread of acronyms and meanings.

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If I encounter an acronym (or anything else) that I don’t recognize, I google it.
If google doesn’t explain it to my satisfaction, I usually just ignore it and carry on with my life.
It’s pretty rare when I ask what something means.
I figure if google doesn’t know the answer, I don’t need to know. :grin:

YKTV got me last week.
i am so “behind the times”.

AcroNiMH

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Had to look that one up also.

I like the original ones like IMHO, AFAIK, etc.

I was more concerned with flashlight-related technical terms and acronyms with layman’s (but not lobotomised) explanations as to what they mean and why it matters, collected in one accessible place for easy reference. Something similar to the intro in this post, but even broader:

Maybe we could start a new society - APRA. The Association for the Prevention of Repetition of Acronyms.

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prior art.

https://www.apra.gov.au/