Every time I see IMO or IMHO, I will drown one of these kittens

[SWBaxter]

For the record, I don't like IMHO - the "humble" is really a way of saying "I think this but I'm better than you because I'm being humble."

I usually use (and read) IMHO as "in my honest opinion." Which still commits the sin of being repetitive, but IMHO IMHO scans better than IMO so I prefer to use IMHO for aesthetics. YMMV.

 

[Ranger REG]

Thus, by decree, for every instance where "IMO" or "IMHO" appear on these boards, I will mercilessly drown one of these furry bundles, watching the whole time in detached coldness.

I'll demonstrate my seriousness by preemptively sacrificing the cutest of the bunch, one with rabbit-like feet I named Thumper.

This is as hard for me as it is for you.

Actually, it's quite easy for you! I'm asking that you type less, not only for linguistic purposes, but also to save the life of a kitten. Adorable feminine feline "Petunia" is the next to go. Do you really want to be responsible for her drowning?
IMHO, your conscience wouldn't allow for you to do that.

* searches for his own conscience and empathy for domesticated felines *

Nope, not there.

IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO IMHO

 

[Elephant]

IMHO, drowning kittens is cruel. You should be ashamed of yourself! Ashamed!

 

[Ranger REG]

IMHO, drowning kittens is cruel. You should be ashamed of yourself! Ashamed!

It's much cleaner than nuking it. You know how hard it is to get the remains out of the microwave?

 

[Merkuri]

I agree that IMO is not necessary in any sort of "professional" writing. Anyone who uses it in a school paper deserves to be shot (well, not shot, but graded low). But online I think it's a necessity. Like others have said, some people consider it part of polite conversation to put an "IMO" in their online posts and will leap on the poster for making generic and untrue statements.

For example, if someone posted this here:

Elves are better than halflings.

They'd get people leaping all over them and arguing, and it would probably be like the online version of a shouting match. But if they had said,

IMO, elves are better than halflings.

They might still get arguments with that, but they wouldn't be accused of flaming, and the conversation would be about the qualities of halflings versus the qualities of elves, as opposed to a flame war about which was better.

Saying "IMO" just makes that potentially flamatory statement into a polite expression of opinion.

 

[Awakened]

See Merkuri, that's where you and I disagree, and we disagree because of two reasons.
1) First off, I can't see why the second idea would change anything. "Elves are better than halflings" is clearly a subjective thought, why would anyone ever have to elaborate that the thought was born of his or her own opinion? Of course it's an opinion. Show me the loser who would respond "YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING IN THE PHB ABOUT ONE RACE BEING BETTER THAN ANOTHER, YOU RACIST, SAY IMO NEXT TIME" and I'll drown him or her too. For his or her own good. For him or her.

2) Elves are better than halflings.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

I dunno, I've been chastized for my "difficulty understanding the implied IMO" in posts with phrases like "the only rational decision is" and "you are simply wrong". I have chosen not to do the work for posters who can't say "In my game" instead of "In D&D", "I like" instead of "It's better", or for that matter, "imo, it is" instead of "It is".

(the quoted beer barrel may in fact be a master of the English language who masterfully expresses those things he believes to be facts vs those he holds subjectively, but for most people it's easier to write clearly than teach the world how you imply things. (but harder than blaming the reader for any failure of your message to get across)).

I am no master of the English Language and I do use "IMO" in posts. When I first started posting on ENWorld I got flamed a few times in a really big way, such that I added a disclaimer to my signature that all of my posts were solely my own opinion.

On the flip side, I also discovered that it was much better for my blood pressure to "do the work for the posters" and remind myself that they are posting based on their personal opinions from their personal experiences. If it turns out I am wrong and someone is actually trying to suggest that their opinion is the correct one, I just make a mental note and ignore their rants - something I can easily do online. Perhaps it will let someone think they "won" the point, but I don't really care. I can't think of anything I post online that is worth the stress of worrying about whether I "lose."

 

[buzzard]

I'd have dropped one of the IMO cluster bombs to take out the kittens, but that appears to be taken care of already.

buzzard

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I'm going to petition my cousin to rename her twins Imo and Imho.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

I'm going to petition my cousin to rename her twins Imo and Imho.

Better those names than IYKWIM and IKTYD.