A Whackadoodle Acronym That Really Got my Student Distressed: GYAITMFHRNBIBYA
She saw it on Facebook, and wanted to know why...
“What does GYAITMFHRNBIBYA mean?”
“Sounds like a stupid internet acronym that keeps some people feeling more in the know than others. Probably designed to get your attention.” I said. “Why do you ask?”
“Well,” she hesitated. “There was this post on Facebook. It asked if I knew what GYAITMFHRNBIBYA means, which I didn’t, so I did what you’ve taught me. I did a search, and I found out that it’s an acronym for…” she couldn’t say it. She passed me her notes… ‘Get your ass in the mother f**king house right now before I beat your ass.’” She looked at me expectantly. “I really don’t know what that means.”
“Well, it kind of depends on which house the person who posted it was talking about.”
“Huh?”
“Well,” I paused. “Was she talking about her own house, or was she talking about the US House of Representatives? One never knows on Facebook.”
“What would be the difference?”
“Well, if she was telling the House of Representatives to not go home for the holidays, but to stay in Washington to get some work done, that’s one thing. If she was yelling it down the street at her escaping child, that’s another.”
“The meme said, ‘If you know what GYAITMFHRNBIBYA means, you know you’re a parent,’” she added.
“Well, I suppose that would mean it was referring to a parent yelling at their kid.”
“What kind of parent would yell that, let alone create an acronym for it?” She seemed genuinely distressed.
“Why did you even respond to the meme?” I asked. “What made you look GYAITMFHRNBIBYA up.”
“I wanted to know what it meant.”
“You do know that Facebook is a place where some people blow off steam, don’t you? They tell inside jokes that only they understand. Their memes often misquote people. Their facts aren’t usually sourced. Sometimes they try to start a trend, so you will buy their product. Oh sure, it’s a great place to hear from friends and see their latest photos, but it’s not really a place to go for insight.” I said with emphasis. “So why do you care what GYAITMFHRNBIBYA means? Do you have any doubt whether or not you’re a parent?”
“No.”
“Do you think your parents know what GYAITMFHRNBIBYA means?”
“No.”
“Are they still your parents even thought they don’t know what GYAITMFHRNBIBYA means?”
“Yes.”
“Then why do you care about that meme?”
“Because why should a parent want to,” she paused to whisper, “BYA?”
I had to look back at the translation in order to remember what BYA meant before responding, “Some people think that ‘Beating Your A**,’ is the only way to discipline anyone. Some people even think it’s funny that others of us don’t think it’s funny. Some people just want to sell you a t-shirt.”
“Do you think like that?”
“No,” I smiled. “And evidentially, neither do your parents.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because they probably don’t know, or even care what GYAITMFHRNBIBYA means,” I said, reaching out my hand. “And I think that’s probably a good thing.”