Why is it people are using this strange abbreviation "NOLA" for New Orleans? And similar.

It's a trivial enough point, but it somehow seems disprespectful, and what the hell is the hurry that abbreviations like that need to be used?

Even if it wasn't the case that they aren't too readily understood - I mean why shouldn't NOLA just as easily be "northern Los Angeles", or more likely the name of a pole dancer in Las Vegas?