An explanation for yesterday's question

[gnomi]

Thanks to all who responded to yesterday's question. Where the question came from is this: I sent e-mail to beths_stanley that contained a Very Bad Pun. At the end, I signed it with my name and typed "GDR," intending it to mean "grinning, ducking, and running." I then realized that Stan may take it to mean Germany, so I spelled out the initialism. I then wondered whether I was the only one who thought of both meanings of GDR simultaneously. So I brought it to the braintrust.

That was all...again, thanks to everyone who participated in my random survey.

Comments

[zsero.livejournal.com]

I missed the question yesterday, but yes, my first thought would be German Democratic Republic.

A funny one is RPG. To me, the first association that comes to mind is Report Program Generator, the second is Rocket Propelled Grenade, and Role Playing Game comes third. Unless the context immediately suggests a game, of course. I wouldn't immediately expect a program item at a con to be about an old programming language, or about a weapon (though of course it *could* be).

[dpolicar]

Not only would I not have thought of Germany, when you said Germany I scratched my head thinking "no... that's DDR... or BRD... what is she thinking?" until it occured to me that you were referring to Germany in English. I may be the only person I know who would find it odd that you, an English speaker, were using the TLA for an English phrase in an English sentence when writing for an English-speaking audience.