Am I the only one bothered by the term "T's?"

[MikeC]

I've always had a small twinge whenever I hear or see "T" used to describe a tarantula.
Yes, I understand it's supposed to be an abbreviation, and Internet-speak is all about shortening things for convenience.

That said, I've been calling my shirts "T's" for ever, and since I don't wear my spiders on purpose, it gets under my skin.

 

[BobGrill]

I absolutely hate it. If you pay attention, you'll notice I never use that term in my posts. I just say tarantulas. The term doesn't really make much sense IMO either. So if a tarantula is a "T", then would a scorpion be called an "S" ?

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[ophidia]

Also not a fan. I usually just call them my spiders. It's easier to say than my tarantulas.

 

[Beary Strange]

Getting all hot and bothered about an abbreviation when we have people who are native English speakers that clearly do not have a grasp of the language seems silly to me. I try not to use it too much, but sometimes, it's just faster to type. And sometimes I just feel I've used 'tarantula' too much in one sentence or paragraph, so I use 'Ts' instead to avoid it sounding too redundant.

 

[MikeC]

I absolutely hate it. If you pay attention, you'll notice I never use that term in my posts. I just say tarantulas.

I can't say I notice too often when folks don't use it, but I sure as all heck notice when they do!
Glad I'm not the only one. I'm always using either "spiders", "tarantulas", or even "critters" as designation.

The term doesn't really make much sense IMO either. So if a tarantula is a "T", then would a scorpion be called an "S" ?

This. This, so very much. You, sir, win at this thread.

Or: "T. T, SVM. Y, S, WATT." Since we're on the internet.

---------- Post added 09-17-2015 at 01:48 AM ----------

Getting all hot and bothered about an abbreviation when we have people who are native English speakers that clearly do not have a grasp of the language seems silly to me. I try not to use it too much, but sometimes, it's just faster to type. And sometimes I just feel I've used 'tarantula' too much in one sentence or paragraph, so I use 'Ts' instead to avoid it sounding too redundant.

I certainly feel I'm much more lenient towards folks without English as a native language.
I'd even be okay with misspellings like "tarnachula" and whatnot. I can respect the effort.
It's when people start using being on the Internet as an excuse to intentionally type like a third grader that starts bothering me.

I think I'd explode if someone used "LOL" in a real life conversation.

The redundancy issue I understand as well. I try and avoid that myself, but there are a lot of other words to be used before I start using individual letters.

 

[viper69]

Am I the only one bothered by the term "T's?"

I'm a native English speaker and writer. I LOVE using the abbreviation T!!!!!! Because I can't be bothered typing out the actual term.

I don't call them spiders, because technically there are spiders and Ts, they aren't the same at all. I'm shocked that people have an issue with a logical abbreviation but have no issues calling them spiders!

Critters is such a generic term. One could be referring to snakes and not Ts.

 

[petkokc]

When I first heard it I also hated it so much, but with time it grew on me. I sometimes use it cause it seems more appealing.

 

[MikeC]

I'm a native English speaker and writer. I LOVE using the abbreviation T!!!!!! Because I can't be bothered typing out the actual term.

I don't call them spiders, because technically there are spiders and Ts, they aren't the same at all. I'm shocked that people have an issue with a logical abbreviation but have no issues calling them spiders!

Critters is such a generic term. One could be referring to snakes and not Ts.

Tarantulas are a variety of spider. I fail to see what your point was there?
I could just as well call them animals, arachnids, fauna, even arthropods. Do you have issues with those too, even though they're all technically correct terms?

Logical abbreviation or not, it bothers me because I associate it with laziness. (And shirts)
I'm shocked that, as a writer, you don't see an issue with it.

Can you picture passages from a well respected novel reading out like:
"Rofl," exclaimed the distinguished gentleman. "That was a wonderfully titillating joke."
The clown replied, "That it was, my good man. NEways, do u no the 1 about the dog with no nose?"

Critters is generic. I see no problem using it especially if it's obvious what the conversation is referring to.
While I primarily keep tarantulas, I have a variety of other things as well so it comes up in conversation a lot.

---------- Post added 09-17-2015 at 03:23 AM ----------

When I first heard it I also hated it so much, but with time it grew on me. I sometimes use it cause it seems more appealing.

Out of curiosity, what's appealing about it?

 

[Tomoran]

Nope, I use it all the time, especially when I'm writing about them. There is only so many times I can write the word "tarantula" before it starts to sound redundant, so I like to mix it up. It's not a lazy thing at all and I don't think it's even in the same ballpark as a SMH, u for "you", or any of the other text-based or social media-based acronyms and shortcuts folks use. It's part of the common language of a hobby. I guess folks should also stop using nicknames or abbreviations like "GBB", "OBT", "LP", "pokies", "Tappis", and the like as those would also be "lazy" shortcuts?

I guess to each his or her own.

 

[TsunamiSpike]

Technically tarantulas are a variety of arachnid, not spiders. Just like spiders are a variety of arachnid, not tarantulas. I don't see issue with it myself, though I try to use it sparingly myself. If o use it I tend to be on my phone where typing tarantulas in a hurry is irritating at best.

 

[MikeC]

Nope, I use it all the time, especially when I'm writing about them. There is only so many times I can write the word "tarantula" before it starts to sound redundant, so I like to mix it up. It's not a lazy thing at all and I don't think it's even in the same ballpark as a SMH, u for "you", or any of the other text-based or social media-based acronyms and shortcuts folks use. It's part of the common language of a hobby. I guess folks should also stop using nicknames or abbreviations like "GBB", "OBT", "LP", "pokies", "Tappis", and the like as those would also be "lazy" shortcuts?

I guess to each his or her own.

Again, I understand the redundancy. And again, there are plenty of words you can use before resorting to a single letter.

I find it pretty much exactly the same as "SMH", "U", and "LOL." Shortenings of words and phrases to save time.

In a perfect world, I'd prefer that someone would take the time to type out Pterinochilus Murinus or Chromatoplema Cyaneopubescens, but those are much longer and more complicated than "tarantula." It's that specific instance that bothers me the most for some reason.

This wasn't intended to turn into a heated debate. I originally posted with some humor regarding that it reminded me of t-shirts.

---------- Post added 09-17-2015 at 05:14 AM ----------

Technically tarantulas are a variety of arachnid, not spiders. Just like spiders are a variety of arachnid, not tarantulas. I don't see issue with it myself, though I try to use it sparingly myself. If o use it I tend to be on my phone where typing tarantulas in a hurry is irritating at best.

Tarantulas are indeed a variety of spider. They belong to the Theraphosidae branch of the spider family, which in turn falls under arachnids.
All tarantulas are spiders. All spiders are arachnids. Not all arachnids are spiders. Not all spiders are tarantulas.
Very similar to the Jacuzzi name. Since it's actually a brand, all Jacuzzis are hot tubs, but not all hot tubs are Jacuzzis.

Incidentally, I don't have a working computer these days so all my online stuff is done via phone.

 

[Tomoran]

Again, I understand the redundancy. And again, there are plenty of words you can use before resorting to a single letter.

I find it pretty much exactly the same as "SMH", "U", and "LOL." Shortenings of words and phrases to save time.

In a perfect world, I'd prefer that someone would take the time to type out Pterinochilus Murinus or Chromatoplema Cyaneopubescens, but those are much longer and more complicated than "tarantula." It's that specific instance that bothers me the most for some reason.

This wasn't intended to turn into a heated debate. I originally posted with some humor regarding that it reminded me of t-shirts.

---------- Post added 09-17-2015 at 05:14 AM ----------



Tarantulas are indeed a variety of spider. They belong to the Theraphosidae branch of the spider family, which in turn falls under arachnids.

Incidentally, I don't have a working computer these days so all my online stuff is done via phone.

Point well taken. I work with freshmen students on writing, and I spend the majority of my time trying to explain why they can't use "2" for "to" and u for "u" in their formal writing, so I can definitely appreciate the annoyance factor.

And, to support your T shirt association, I have a habit of using "Ts" when discussing my tarantulas at home. I also happen to wear T shirts under my dress shirts at work, and am constantly trying to find clean ones. The confusion caused when I'd use "Ts" for the tarantulas did create some humorous misunderstandings.

 

[MikeC]

Point well taken. I work with freshmen students on writing, and I spend the majority of my time trying to explain why they can't use "2" for "to" and u for "u" in their formal writing, so I can definitely appreciate the annoyance factor.

And, to support your T shirt association, I have a habit of using "Ts" when discussing my tarantulas at home. I also happen to wear T shirts under my dress shirts at work, and am constantly trying to find clean ones. The confusion caused when I'd use "Ts" for the tarantulas did create some humorous misunderstandings.

It does seem to be a newer generation thing. I doubt our grandparents had the same habit writing letters before email and electronic communication (barring telephones) showed up.

I can definitely see mixing "T's" into a conversation with someone who didn't know offhand what you referred to having some hilarious outcomes.

"Honey, I need to check on the T's." "Oh, I just folded them on the counter." "You did WHAT??"
"Shoot, my T escaped." "Did you check the hamper?"

It could go the other way, too.

"Man, this T is dirty." "Wait for it to molt."
"Oh, no! I ripped my T!" "If it's on the abdomen, superglue should help."



Edit: I feel like I should address this separately.. The whole "tarantulas aren't spiders" topic was not something I was expecting to have to refute on this forum. That astounds me.

 

[KristinaMG]

Well, I am often typing from my phone. At 30, I do not have the speed master skills of the younger folks on my phone's keyboard, so abbreviating to "T" is really helpful. Especially since AB is not particularly mobile-friendly website.

 

[MikeC]

Well, I am often typing from my phone. At 30, I do not have the speed master skills of the younger folks on my phone's keyboard, so abbreviating to "T" is really helpful. Especially since AB is not particularly mobile-friendly website.

That's a fair argument.
I'm 27, so I'm not too far behind you. I didn't occupy the generation where 10 year olds got cell phones, but the few years I've had with one of them fancy newfangled smartphones certainly helped my small-screen typing ability.

I do think they should make this forum a bit more mobile friendly.

 

[BobGrill]

Getting all hot and bothered about an abbreviation when we have people who are native English speakers that clearly do not have a grasp of the language seems silly to me. I try not to use it too much, but sometimes, it's just faster to type. And sometimes I just feel I've used 'tarantula' too much in one sentence or paragraph, so I use 'Ts' instead to avoid it sounding too redundant.

Hot and bothered? Not at all. Just a minor gripe. Still fun to discuss though.

Btw I didn't have a cell phone until my sophomore year in high school and I'm 22.

Also for those who love using this term so much, what do you call scorpions or centipedes? [emoji14]
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[MikeC]

Also for those who love using this term so much, what do you call scorpions or centipedes? [emoji14]

"S's" and "C's" of course!


Or, if they're called scorps and pedes, why not call tarantulas tulas?

 

[petkokc]

Out of curiosity, what's appealing about it?

I really can't tell, it's not about laziness. But I can totally relate since I also hated it

 

[shawno821]

I call them spiders,tarantulas,bugs,and T's. I love the term "T",if nothing but for the sake of laziness.How could such a silly little thing even be irritating? You must hate urticating hairs! Or "U hairs" as we lazy people call them.

 

[BobGrill]

I call them spiders,tarantulas,bugs,and T's. I love the term "T",if nothing but for the sake of laziness.How could such a silly little thing even be irritating? You must hate urticating hairs! Or "U hairs" as we lazy people call them.

It's just a pet peeve that's all. We all have minor unimportant things that bothers us. No one here is saying that it really makes us angry or anything.

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