Alfa [sic], Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliett [sic], Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu. A while ago, I took the time to memorize these guys. It was easy, and the utility was obvious to me, given that nobody knows how to spell my first or last name. But I've generally been unsuccessful when I've tried to use this alphabet. People either don't recognize that when I say "Sierra" I mean "S", or they don't want to be bothered with this sort of translation, so either I have to use the usual letter names with all their ambiguous pitfalls or I have to use even wordier constructions like "S as in Sierra". And at least one ignoramus has snickered at me for saying "Whiskey".
The whole phenomenon reminds me of the state of the art in Web design: pervasive mediocrity and brokenness due mostly to people's unwillingness to learn the relevant standards. Even people who have to spell out arbitrary strings as part of their day job tend to use ad-hoc systems rather than NATO's.
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"You blockhead!" -Cheez
People can't spell my name for beans even when I spell it out slowly for them. You'd THINK people would recognize the name for an Irish whiskey rather than assuming my name is something idiotic like "Dumphry." I mean, really.
I'll have to try this alphabet. I'm sure people will end up being stupid about it as well. Just something new to try, I guess.
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Holy **** we're in the Matrix? - Willis
One more warrior for the cause! The one trick to be aware of is that "Oscar" and "Victor" are officially pronounced "OSS CAH" and "VIK TAH".
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"You blockhead!" -Cheez
I just say the letters out. Works every time. They are by definition optimally phonologically distinct after all...
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Seth: What are you making?
Evan: I'm just drilling holes. Last two weeks, **** it.
I don't think these are even meant to be used by your average civilian. There are disciplined professions (soldier, physician, emergency dispatch) that probably use them very well.
From: AzumarillMan
I just say the letters out. Works every time. They are by definition optimally phonologically distinct after all...
This is actually how Apple proponents think.
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I think I have experience enough saying each letter clearly enough and STILL having people misspell it enough to say that doesn't always work, Aman. Especially over the phone. My biggest peeve is people changing the "n" to an "m." It's really hard to get the difference of sound across over the phone.
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Holy **** we're in the Matrix? - Willis
I'm sure if you enunciate they'll get it.
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Seth: What are you making?
Evan: I'm just drilling holes. Last two weeks, **** it.
My family name has started with "N as in Nancy" for a while. I don't love the name, but it flows better than "N as in November." Unless you're a professional like Alex mentioned, I don't think there's much of an advantage in using a NATO alphabet word over any other word with the same initial that sounds distinctive to whoever you're talking to.
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Shake your windows and rattle your walls.
I think word choice matters much more when, for example, you just say "November" as opposed to "N as in November".
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"You blockhead!" -Cheez
Yeah, over the phone things get difficult, especially when there is background noise. I enunciate loudly and clearly, but it still doesn't prevent the occasional s -> f, or m -> n
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Dangers of that exact system, here, ~16:20 ff:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/128958/archer-skytanic#s-p1-so-i0
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