Tooltips for acronyms and abbreviations

**sitemaster** · February 21st, 2012, 2:16 PM

Acronyms are frequently used on this site, and I'm aware there is a whole thread dedicated to the subject. What do you think of the idea of having some code on site that would allow you to hover over an acronym or abbreviation and be presented with a tooltip explaining what it means? I haven't yet researched if there is already an available vBulletin plugin to do this. Would it be worth implementing?

**Clinton** · February 21st, 2012, 2:43 PM

sitemaster has already raised this with me by PM and I suggested he start a thread. I'd be interested to see what others have to say as my priority is, as always, to do what's in the best interests of members.

**tke71709** · February 21st, 2012, 2:44 PM

http://www.thevbgeek.com/geekmart.ph...ayproduct&id=2 would do this.

Not sure if the nuisance factor outweighs the usefulness factor though.

**JJMcClure** · February 21st, 2012, 2:52 PM

Let people Google them, ask what they are, or work it out from the thread content. Tooltips are really annoying IMO.

**TheodoreK** · February 21st, 2012, 2:58 PM

My main concern is that even if the tooltip explains that, for example, PR stands for Page Rank, it does not explain what PR actually is, so I am with JJ on this one. People are better off searching or asking since tooltips of that sort are not actually educating, just informing.

**sitemaster** · February 21st, 2012, 2:59 PM

Originally Posted by tke71709

http://www.thevbgeek.com/geekmart.ph...ayproduct&id=2 would do this.

Not sure if the nuisance factor outweighs the usefulness factor though.

Thanks for the link. At least I now know someone has done the work. Those on the demo page are much more annoying then what I had imagined.

Originally Posted by TheodoreK

My main concern is that even if the tooltip explains that, for example, PR stands for Page Rank, it does not explain what PR actually is, so I am with JJ on this one. People are better off searching or asking since tooltips of that sort are not actually educating, just informing.

Good point! Clinton also pointed out via PM, these acronyms are mostly problematic for newbies.

It's not horrible that we're forcing them to do some research and learn something in the process.

**KenW3** · February 21st, 2012, 3:44 PM

Originally Posted by sitemaster

Thanks for the link. At least I now know someone has done the work. Those on the demo page are much more annoying then what I had imagined.

@tke71709, Thanks for that link. Wow, that was much more annoying than I had thought they'd be, considering they weren't in-text advertising. (I've always found in-text ads to be an aggravation. I don't return to sites with Infolinks, Kontera, VibrantMedia pop-ups, and often hit the back button if G sends me to one.)

Every industry has its own semantics. Communication is enabled by understanding of the words and acronyms specific to the industry. For example, trending means one thing in investing and another in advertising. Learning the semantics is part of the learning curve. Providing information helps, giving people shortcuts and easy answers does not help.

**Clinton** · February 21st, 2012, 3:47 PM

Even the OP doesn't seem so keen on the idea after seeing that implementation. OK, we'll leave it for now.

sitemaster, thanks for coming up with this suggestion. I really appreciate it when members take the time to offer their ideas.