Why are thread starters called "the op"?

[sallythemac]

It seemed to spring from nowhere, but everyone seems to be calling thread starters "the op". What is it short for? Seems quite rude, a bit derogatory - like calling someone "her" or "him". What's wrong with calling people by their user/names?

[ziggyonice]

Original Poster.

[Blue Velvet]

It means the 'original poster' and is usually a shorthand for the thread starter instead of scrolling all the way to the top of the thread, copying and pasting their name into your post. The mods will use it as well; it's not meant to be rude.

[alexbates]

If a thread has a ton of posts, no one wants to figure out who the user is that people keep talking about. So why not just say original poster

[sallythemac]

Oh right, thanks for your replies.

"Original poster" doesn't sound as rude. It's just for some reason "the op" came across to me as a label, and a derogatory one at that. But original poster is bearable :).

[dukebound85]

Oh right, thanks for your replies.

"Original poster" doesn't sound as rude. It's just for some reason "the op" came across to me as a label, and a derogatory one at that. But original poster is bearable :).

im curious as to why you thought it was rude?

[Osarkon]

im curious as to why you thought it was rude?

Yes, what did you think it stood for? :p

[Peace]

Yes, what did you think it stood for? :p

The "Other Person" ? Or "That One" ? :confused::p

[sushi]

im curious as to why you thought it was rude?
Likewise.

I've used the term OP for so long that I can't think what else it might refer to.

[sallythemac]

I had no idea what it stood for, so i couldn't say.

The reason i thought it was rude was... well, maybe the context it was used. You see threads with where a member is replying to a commentor rather than "the op" (see, i'm getting into it now), and it would be like "What i think the op is trying to say is..." and "I don't think it's helpful to the op for you to say that..." etc. It just comes across as if the thread starter is some kind of... well, lower-being. Either they can't reply for themselves or they need standing up for.

Ah, it's just popped into my head what it's like. It's like a man calling his partner "the wife" or "the misses". Like they don't have a name, they are just a "thing". It's just rude, demeaning.

That's what i likened it to. Not a biggy, that was just the first thing that popped into my head.

[iJohnHenry]

And notice you now have a nice, safe, Thread Starter under your handle. :D

[sushi]

I had no idea what it stood for, so i couldn't say.<snip>
Thanks for the explanation.

No worries.

And notice you now have a nice, safe, Thread Starter under your handle. :D
Yep, the OP is the TS. :)

[Mr. Giver '94]

The rudest things I could think of for OP were Obnoxious Person and Obnoxious P****



Don't worry, it just means Original Poster. :D

[Mr. lax]

I'm sure its been said but: Original Poster, some of the big threads, like the Desktop threads, have like 20 pages, and so its just convenient to say op, no disrespect what so ever.

[QuantumLo0p]

Perhaps in spanish it might be PO?!

Ja ja ja.
;)

[michael.lauden]

just like in gangs,

the OG is the original gangster

you white mac geeks!

just kidding - i too am a cracker