Is "BO" an accepted way of saying Obama? (ed to add: Intent matters)

[uppityperson]

Curious because I just started noticing him being called BO and was wondering. Thanks.

Edited to add, thank you for answering, I guess I am not just jumping to a conclusion and it depends on the intent. Peace and onward with working towards getting mrbushandhisevilminions out of the white house.

[NightWatcher]

1. I think it is derogatory. BO= body odor. call him by his name

[uppityperson]

2. That was my first take on it too but was wondering if I was jumping to a false conclusion.

[NightWatcher]

5. it's probably a rush talking point. how hard is it to type "obama"?

[Danger Mouse]

23. it can be, as i said...

at least one poster says 'bo stinks'

[uppityperson]

30. Thanks, hadn't seen that. Problem of doing too much

dissing of either candidate is what will stick after one is nominated as official Dem candidate. Seems immature and whomever gets the nomination sure won't need any extra shit on them from other Dems. Made me do a big eyeroll seeing it for the first time. Hope it doesn't get picked up and taken out into the greater world. sigh.

[babylonsister]

61. I agree, and think that's the intention, so I ignore it. nt

[Window]

64. Although it, too, reminds me of body odor, those are his initials,

[jlake]

3. I don't see what is wrong with it....but the GOP will probably use deoderant

sticks or some other lame gimmick in the GE should he be the nominee.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

12. Thank god for an impartial opinion.

:eyes:

[jlake]

15. Yeah - that was an impartial opinion.

I don't like the guy, but don't know what his initials have to do with anything.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

19. Feigned ignorance is quite compelling.

[jlake]

27. Whatev gets you through the day - people like you are the reason I could never support him.

[uppityperson]

39. You won't support a candidate because of anonymous internet posters?

FWIW, I am not declaring which of the top 2 I support more since it really doesn't matter and will go with whomever gets nomination. I just really hate the immature stuff from those doing it.

[jlake]

43. No, I have seen the same bullying tactics in person and think that with so many

similar people supporting a candidate, there is something in that candidate's value system that encourages it.

[uppityperson]

52. Maybe they are assholes posting just to stir things up and manipulate you.

I'd go with what someone personally has done in the past as well as some of what they say they will in the future. Assholes exist and sometimes pretend they support someone they don't to manipulate others into not supporting them. Just a thought.

[Name removed]

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[jlake]

46. I went from Edwards to Obama to Biden to Clinton.....based on the person I thought

would be best for the job. But the way other supporters acts plays a role in how I perceive the candidates.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

4. Obama fans pitched a fit over people abbreviating to BHO, so now it's BO

I think BO is less dignified than BHO, but I defer to the judgment of supporters on the matter

[Alexander]

14. This supporter doesn't care about BHO. It's just like HRC or JSM3.

I think what most supporters don't like is calling him "Barack Hussein Obama". For obvious reasons.

[JuniperLea]

16. I like BHO much better

It's standard practice to use GWB or HRC, so what the heck is wrong with that?

It's his name, fcol. And no one should be ashamed of their own name. You can't expect or accept that the world would hate a kid named Adolf... or George.

BHO is right... it is silly season.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

79. I agree, but expect trouble if you use it

[JuniperLea]

82. I'm used to getting into trouble by doing the right thing...

Being fair across the board is my thing right now, especially since I have no dog in this race. I already voted, and it wasn't for HRC or BHO. Shame on anyone who makes a big deal over the H.

[rodeodance]

6. its his initials.unfortunately

[Alexander]

7. I'm an Allman Brothers fan, and that's Berry Oakley's nickname.

I don't mind it being applied to Obama, but then again there are the implications of calling someone "BO".

[BeatleBoot]

8. BHO

Kind of like JFK or RFK or LBJ or RMN

Then you don't get the "Body Odor" thing going.

And he says he's not afraid of his middle name, Hussein.

So BHO is cool....

[Danger Mouse]

29. RMN? I'll probably feel really stupid, but who...?

[HCE SuiGeneris]

53. Tricky Dick

[ronnykmarshall]

9. It stinks!

:hide:

[FlyingSquirrel]

21. Bad. Bad.

:spank:

In my line of work, "BO" stands for "Bad Order". That's a slip you write up for the mechanics when something's wrong with the vehicle & needs repair.

I use BO but usually only when I'm in a big hurry or have a long analysis that needs to abbreviate the names 'cause they're being used a lot.

Don't see how either abbrev would be a prob.

BO people might.

;)

[Catherine Vincent]

10. I was saying it a while back and the O supporters didn't like it.

They didn't like BHO either. There's no pleasing these people.:)

[goldcanyonaz]

20. Ain't that the truth.

[Bongo Prophet]

66. Many were attacked by Clinton supporters for using "Hillary"

Even though Senator Clinton uses it herself as her brand name.
So for a short while, I used Senator Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton.
Too long, I almost thought of making a macro for that.

I try to be fair, and use Sen.Clinton if i am using Sen. Obama, Hillary=Barack, etc. and even make sure i don't miss a capital letter.
So sensitive, so oppressed, so petty.

These same people often use Obamaite, Hillbot and more.
At that point, it just shows they are not serious at all.

Yeah, "these people" and "those people" are not in amy one camp.
They are childish hyperpartisans, some presumably in adult bodies.

[Auntie Bush]

80. BO supporters can say everything nasty about Hillary...but heaven forbid

if you say anything they perceive as derogatory about BO or all hell breaks loose. How can such sensitive people be so insensitive when they bash Hillary? It's hard to fathom.

[Cameron27]

83. Honestly, it's getting crazy around here.

I used BHO once and got attacked, so I started using BO when I didn't feel like typing his name. Now they don't like that either? Incredible.

[sandnsea]

11. The worst of his opponents have been doing it for a while

I just take it as a signal of a disruptor and put them on ignore now.

[NYCGirl]

13. Only for those who are too lazy or stupid to type five letters. NT

[HCE SuiGeneris]

17. Seems Hillary supporters have the greater voice on this so far.

I think it is lazy and disrespectful.

[EFerrari]

18. It sounds like a lot of ten year olds post to this forum.

Reflects on them, not on Obama.

[Danger Mouse]

22. one particularly obnoxious anti-Obama person says

'BO Stinks' on a regular basis.
i'm a little touchy about 'BO' because of this poster.
:shrug:

[11 Bravo]

25. Where do you stand on "Billary"?

[Danger Mouse]

33. it betrays the user's double digit IQ.

[tavalon]

24. I can see how it might be seen as derogatory

I've been trying to use consistency with my references to the both of them, so if I mention Hillary, I'll call him Barack, if I mention Clinton (which is obviously problematic), I'll call him Obama. I've settled on Senator Clinton and Senator Obama, but had I used HRC, I would have used BO, and wouldn't have thought of it as a slur. Just my take on it, as someone who has been trying to be evenhanded with the two of them, at least name wise.

[knixphan]

41. that's the way, tavalon

[Beausoir]

26. I don't use it.

It reeks.

[derby378]

28. It's only acceptable if you're a FReeper

Although I know a lot of FReepers are gnashing their teeth over McCain right now...

[Greyskye]

31. It's a drive-by swipe

I believe that many, if not most people are familiar with B.O. being short for "Body Odor". My feeling is that people who are using "BO" when referring to Obama are doing so quite deliberately. If you say something about it, they get all indignant and deny it of course, using it as an opportunity to bash the person who points it out.

But when virtually all of the posters who use "BO" when referring to Obama have Hillary avatars, it gets a little obvious.

I've simply been ignoring it (up until now) and using it as a way of identifying people who it's of no practical use to debate with.

[elixir]

32. It's easier in threads to say BO and HRC...saves space.

[eShirl]

40. because there's a limit on the number of text characters we are permitted to use per day

right?

[rodeodance]

50. you got it. good for you

[eShirl]

34. it's juvenile

but that's the point of the people who use it

[Kokonoe]

35. I like BO

:shrug:

[Muttocracy]

36. sorry if it was offensive in my other post; was trying to fit a long post title

with several candidate names and I abbreviated them all. Guess I don't assume initials are insults?

[Danger Mouse]

37. it's all in the intent, imho.

[Jamastiene]

I agree

HRC or BO is just shortened for their initials for many of us. If someone says BO stinks, that's definitely not a good use. But, if someone says BO is not my candidate, then they probably do not mean anything by it.

[Bongo Prophet]

69. Early in the campaign, I used intitials- before I saw some were insulted by it.

Because of repetitive stress damage in my wrists, it hurts to type too much.
So it seemed to be no problem, JRE, DK, HRC BO, etc. - but i don't want to add to the rancor here, so made the adjustment.

If I don't correct my laptop typing errors, people will pop off about bad spelling or whatever.
So it goes.

For all the good it has done, I am better off not posting at all.

[Danger Mouse]

71. meh, some people are never satisfied...

i'm sensitive to BO, but i don't get pissed unless i can tell it's meant as an insult...

[Bongo Prophet]

74. Same here - I finally recognized the schoolyard aspect, and changed at that point.

Some just feign outrage to score points, too.

won't post much for a while.
Too crazy in hyah.

[uppityperson]

48. It is in the intent I think. OK to use initials if it is for all like that.

No offense taken at that, just noticed it in a couple other places and wondered if I was assuming it was sometimes meant with a negative connotation, as in BO stinks. Intent.

[Jamastiene]

51. Same thing I said too.

Some use HRC and some use BO. If they used BHO, it could be used as a slap against Muslims, so they shorten it. I've done it two or three times, just the BO, but my intent was never the stinky form. I'm sure he smells nice. :)

[Jamastiene]

38. Yes, I don't see why not.

Many people use HRC to refer to Hillary. What's the difference?

[Muttocracy]

44. I started to type HRC and then figured I should use two for each of them

to be equal and then that got me in trouble too :cry:

[Jamastiene]

It's GD:P. Just always remember to duck and wear Kevlar.

You could start a thread saying the sky is up and get flamed and hated viciously by supporters on both sides at this point, probably.

[FrenchieCat]

42. As long as they address him as President BO, I don't give a shit.......

but of course, those who use it do it out of disrespect.

But what is one to do....when disrespecting someone who is bringing hundreds of thousand into the Democratic party fold seems like sport to some. :shrug:

[PseudoIntellect]

45. I've never made the connection between BO and body odor when reading these forums.

I normally just assume it means Obama. I've never seen anything derogatory about it; it's the equivalent of HRC to me.

[The Anti-Bush]

47. I don't have a problem with it.

I've seen both Obama & Cliton supporters refer to him as that. I would like to think that we are not THAT childish.

[Muttocracy]

63. That assumption periodically falls apart! ;-) nt

[Saturday]

49. I'm quite sure it's Hillary's fault Obama's initials are BO.nt

:sarcasm:

[rodeodance]

55. i say that without the sarcasm (at least the way she gets blamed around here)

[uppityperson]

58. Golly gee, thanks for answering my question "Is "BO" an accepted way of saying Obama?"

without doing any dissing. I really appreciate thoughtfulness where I can find it.:hi:

[Guava Jelly]

54. I don't care for it

.

[eShirl]

56. personally, I prefer THE BIG "O"

wait, what were we talking about?

[HCE SuiGeneris]

60. Origami

:shrug:

[Catherine Vincent]

57. Bobama. How's that?

nt

[anonymous171]

59. OK, Mrs. Clinton it is.

[uppityperson]

62. What? I asked if something is accepted and this is what you answer?

Makes no sense.

[indimuse]

65. i think rush might take it further...

..like....

[AZBlue]

67. Yes, but only in rare instances.

For example, I've used it myself in posts here on DU. I've always said "Barack Obama" or "Obama" first in my post, but then I'll abbreviate to BO just like I'll abbreviate to HRC (after using "Clinton" or "Hillary Clinton" first). I use the same rule as other acronyms - you use the full name first and then you can use the acronym. I would never say it out-loud or in any type of formal use (ie, I don't think it would be appropriate to use it in a news story).

I use the same "rule" in personal and professional e-mails with friends and co-workers that I'm referring to.

[Mezzo]

68. Since some have made a stink about his middle name, BO was just a way to abbreviate.

We don't want you to think if we say BHO, it'd mean we're saying Baraack HUSSEIN Obama, like the rightards will.

This thread is a bit silly.

[uppityperson]

73. Silly to ask if something is accepted practice?

Thanks for letting me know that my seeking information is silly. I'd rather ask than assume though and do appreciate those who took time to politely reply and actually answer my question. I've found from reading replies that intent matters, so thank you.

[Prefer]

70. I smell victory for B.O.

it's in the air!

[SayitAintSo]

72. I do that - it's my shorthand ......n/t

[MagickMuffin]

75. I noticed hillaryis44 uses that term all the time, then they come to DU to muddy the waters

I had NEVER seen it here at all.

Then someone directed my attention to the hillaryis44 site, and I couldn't believe the vile shit they post there against a Democratic candidate.

[Occam Bandage]

76. BO is fine. BHO is fine. Move on.

[SoxFan]

77. Speaking as a "PMS"...

I don't think he has any right to complain!

[Muttocracy]

78. :-) I sometimes think parents forget to check that! nt

[SoxFan]

81. I don't think it was a big issue in 1967!

[Muttocracy]

87. yep, such things have gone from taboo to boring in our lifetime! nt

[calico1]

84. I don't see anything wrong with it as long as

the person is using it to abbreviate his name. You can usually tell by the content of the post.

[mculator]

85. YES, 'cause Bo don't know Diddley!

[rinsd]

86. I try not to use it for the obvious unintended comedy.

Though the campaign did in the summer host an unfortunately named "BO Experience" rave/dance thing to appeal to young voters.

[Political Heretic]

88. I think you're really grasping... I abbreviate BO sometimes

[SaveOurDemocracy]

89. Why not? I routinely write HRC and BO when referring...

to them in my posts. There is no intent behind it other than a simple shortcut.

I gotta laugh, though ... all the derogatory bullshit names I've seen HRC referred to on this board ... and THIS is an issue for some? givemeafuckinbreak.