Acronyms used on the Poly list (and elsewhere on the Net)

There have been many suggestions that there be a list of common acronyms maintained in an FAQ or WEB page. Well, if not me, then who? Enjoy.

Other resources from The Polyamory Society

Definitions of poly terms

Glossary of poly terms

 Acronyms

AFAIC

As Far As I’m Concerned

AFAIK

As Far As I Know

AFAIWC

As Far As I Was Concerned

AGDoA

A Great Deal of Affection

AKA

Also Known As

ARG

Alternate Relationship Geometries

BBW

Big Beautiful Woman

BDSM

Bondage/Discipline/Sadomasochism B&D does not necessarily imply S&M, nor does S&M imply B&D but there is enough overlap and common ground that the two groups are generally lumped together.

BTDT

Been There Done That

BTDTMT

Been There Done That Major Time

BTW

By The Way

BYKT

But You Knew That

BYKTA

But You Knew That Already

DADT

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell

DOMA

Defense of Marriage Act

D/s

Dominant/submissive relationship, another facet of B&D/S&M type relationships. Some people only do emotional D/s without and B&D or S&M.

EG

Evil Grin (Thanks Deb)

EPID

Every Person Is Different

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions – a list of information people wish others knew, posed in the form of questions and answers

FF

A dyad where both partners are female

FFF

A triad with three females, possibly a V centering on the middle female

FFM

A triad of a Female, another Female, and a Male, possibly a V centering on the middle female

FMF

A triad of a Female, a Male, and another Female, possibly a V centering on the middle male

FMM

A triad of a Female, a Male, and another Male, possibly a V centering on the middle male

FWIW

For What It’s Worth

FYI

For Your Information

G/L/B/T or GLBT

Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgendered

GMTA

Great Minds Think Alike

HBB

Hot Bi-Babe, a term used in wannas by men looking for sex with two women at the same time. It is also used (affectionately) by some poly people who feel that they (or others they know) really are Hot Bi-Babes. This term can be used for either sex.

HNG

Horny Net Geek Something resembling a wanna. (Thanks Deb)

HPS

High Priestess (a Wiccan/Pagan term not frequently used on this list)

IANAL

I Am Not A Lawyer. Often followed by but and some pseudo legal advice.

IIRC

If I Recall Correctly

IME

In My Experience

IMHO

In My Humble Opinion

IMNSHO

In My Not So Humble Opinion

IMO

In My Opinion

IYO

In Your Opinion

IRL

In Real Life (see RL)

LDR

Long Distance Relationship

LOL

Laughing out loud

LMAO

Laughing My A** Off

LTNS

Long Time No See

MFF

A triad with a Male, Female, and another Female, possibly a V centering on the middle female

MFM

A triad with a Male, Female, and another Male. Possibly a V centering on the middle female

MMF

A triad with a Male, another Male. And a Female, possibly a V centering on the middle male

MMM

A triad with three males, possibly a V centering on the middle male

MOTAS

Member Of The Appropriate Sex

MOTOS

Member Of The Opposite Sex

MOTSS

Member of the Same Sex

MPW

My Poly Weekend (what happened good or bad over the weekend)

N

4 person relationship. Four people are having sex. Everyone may or may not have met each other or be friends but they know they exist. See Z

NRE

New Relationship Energy That lovely euphoria you experience when you become involved with a new love; the world seems brighter, people seem more beautiful and chocolate tastes even better. – (Thanks Llyra)

NTS

New Toy Syndrome (see NRE)

ODD

Not even. Weird. Strange. Applies to most of us.

OMG

Oppressive Majority Group (apparently coined by [roy])

OPW

Our Poly Weekend

ORE

Old Relationship Energy or the valuable stuff you get from years of digging together

OSO

Other Significant Other (coined by Deborah Lipp)

OTOH

On The Other Hand

PC

Politically Correct, Personal Computer

PDA

Public Display of Affection (or Personal Digital Assistant)

PIV

Penis In Vagina (a certain type of sex)

PLL

Poly Locator List (Phase Locked Loop if you're a geek)

PMR

Poly Mixed Relationship, one or more polyamorous, one or more monogamous (coined by Roy 9 June 1997, we’ll see how much it gets used)

PNW

Poly NorthWest, I mean Pacific NorthWest

PWP

Poly Wanna Potluck, a gathering of polyamorous people for food and conversation

RL

Real Life, i.e. not on the computer

ROFL

Rolling On Floor Laughing

ROTF

Rolling On The Floor

ROTFL

Rolling On The Floor Laughing

ROTFLMAO

Rolling On The Floor Laughing My A** Off

ROTFLMAOSTC

Rolling On The Floor Laughing My A** Off Scaring The Cats

SISL

Stranger In A Strange Land – Book by Robert Heinlein

SO

Significant Other

SQO

Some Quantity Of

SSO

Secondary Significant Other

TOCOTOX

Too Complicated TO eXplain

TPE

Total Power Exchange. A BDSM acronym for a master – slave relationship that includes all of life, not just sex.

TTFN

Ta Ta For Now

WRT

With Regard To

V

A relationship of three people where one person has two partners, but the partners do not have a strong bond. Two dyads having one person in common. The bonding between the people on the ends of the V can vary wildly depending on the people involved. Example, a triad may sexually be a V but emotionally an equal triad. Or a triad may be sexually and emotionally a V where the partners would split if the focus of their relationship left them.

YMMV

Your Mileage May Vary or Your Maya May Vary

WEG

Wide Evil Grin (Thanks Deb)

Z

4 person relationship. Four people are having sex. Everyone may or may not have met each other or be friends but they know they exist. See N

Data for the initial version of this page culled from a mailing list archive by Keith to whom I am grateful.

For some alternate takes on a few computer industry terms, click here

Comments, additions, quibbles, flames and praise to: joe@polyamory.org Updated 2/27/2000