Reymmã
The OP makes a valid point. I've been puzzled by it too.
But I think it's to clarify they are talking about the topic rather than addressing the person, much like the titles used in courts serve to underline everyone's institutional role. A formality used to create impersonal distance.
To the OP: I seem to see it less on these forums, where regulars know each other. (By avatars, but consistent avatars.)
A blog that gets updated on a geological timescale.
Indecisive pumpkin
@OP: People usually do that when they're building off of things said in the first post, regardless of whether the person who made it has changed their opinion.
‽‽‽‽ ^These are interrobangs. Love them. Learn them. Use them.
Lesbarian
. . . Nah, too easy.
In all seriousness, OP can mean original poster or original post. The distinction can be important.
edited 2nd Jul '12 4:59:05 PM by Exelixi
Mura: -flips the bird to veterinary science with one hand and Euclidean geometry with the other-
Just awesome like that
The OP appears to believe that the use of the term "OP" is dehumanizing. Interesting.
Insert witty and clever quip here. My page, as the database hates my handle.
Shut up!
The OP makes a valid point...
Oh, you two are hilarious. Saw that coming... :D
I guess that makes sense, but at times (on one forum I frequent in particular) it's obvious they're referring to the poster and not the post. That's different.
Thank you for your restraint. :D
Maybe I should pay more attention to the context.
Fear is a superpower.
Zzzzzzzzzz
It may also mean that they poster doesn't recall the name of the person who made the Original Post, and for whatever reason isn't inclined to look back and see who it was.
...if you don’t love you’re dead, and if you do, they’ll kill you for it.
I do it because it seems like the accepted norm. Also, it's often faster and easier to type than @Post #1 or the user's handle.
Space Wizard
Yeah, I'd agree with what was said already:
| ● You don't "know" the thread's author (e.g. most Image Boards) |
| ● You refer to the post, not the author |
| ● You don't care about the author and/or it's faster than to otherwise refer to him or the post |
| ● You just use it as a typing quirk |
edited 2nd Jul '12 6:26:36 PM by Lock
Programming and surgery have a lot of things in common: Don't start removing colons until you know what you're doing.
Just awesome like that
Option 5: The OP actually uses "OP" as their username.
Option 6: You down with OP, P? Yeah, you know me!
Nemesis
Yeah, I think it tends to refer to the post rather than the person.
A brighter future for a darker age.
Shut up!
In most cases, I guess it does. Still, there are a few instances where it's definitely talking about someone like they're not there, which is the part that bugs me.
Thanks for all the replies. :)
edited 3rd Jul '12 10:49:41 AM by resetlocksley
Fear is a superpower.
Ignore this post
edited 3rd Jul '12 4:59:46 PM by LightArrow
Shut up!
Ugh. I just experienced another instance of someone speaking insultingly about me on a forum rather than to me. That's the kind of thing that really bugs me, whether it's directed to the OP or not. It's one thing to say "he/she said X." It's a totally different thing to talk about someone in an insulting way like they aren't there, like they have nothing to do with the discussion. It really ticks me off.
Fear is a superpower.
Explain something to me. On a lot of forums, it seems like people forget that "the OP" is a person. Why is that? Threads are full of comments like "the OP seems to believe..." or "the OP obviously doesn't..." and so on. It's one thing to be addressing your comments to someone else and mention "the OP" since you're not talking directly to them. But why is their such reluctance to address comments directly to the Original Poster?
I'm not speaking about this particular forum, I haven't noticed it very much here. Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on why this happens.
Fear is a superpower.