words that make you grit your teeth

[Flybye]

http://www.degreegirl.com/Girl/Default.aspx


More Grrrrr from me.

I have read all of the arguments on the issue of whether or not it is offensive to say "Oh my God." Bottom line is that it IS offensive to most, if not all people who have a deep set belief in God. Doesn't matter if it is OMG, OMFG, or just plain old God. God is holy. His name is holy and is meant to be used with reverence and respect.

Women can decide being referred to as a c*nt is disrespectful, as well as what our body parts should and shouldn't be called. Are we to be called ladies, chicks, women, gals, girls, babes, etc.

People with disabilities get to decide what's offensive to them - are they retarded or developmentally disabled?

People with same sex preference get to decide what is offensive for them to be called.

People of color get to decide what is offensive for their race to be called.

People that are overweight get to decide what is offensive for them to be called.

I think you get my drift.

People who have a religious belief in God get to decide whether it is offensive to hear His name spoke out of disrespect or in vain. And, if I may be truthful here, as a believer in Christ, and to other Christians, it is actually God Himself who holds us accountable for the words we speak, including how we speak His name.

I am not preaching, but educating. This is what Christians believe and you'd better bet that if you say OMG, OMFG or just GOD, you will offend a Christian.

[SadieKate]

But if someone says, "OMG!" How do you know she is not saying "Oh my goodness!" or "Oh my gosh!"

Just asking. Seriously. How do you know?

I understand your objection to "Oh my god" but not "OMG!"

[Flybye]

But if someone says, "OMG!" How do you know she is not saying "Oh my goodness!" or "Oh my gosh!"

Just asking. Seriously. How do you know?

I understand your objection to "Oh my god" but not "OMG!"

There is no way to know whether it is "Oh my goodness" or "Oh my gosh", and I am not speaking to those. I am speaking to "Oh my God."

[Flybye]

On a lighter note

"quite actually"
"quite honestly"
and for sure
"irregardless"

[teigyr]

Mine is "texting".

It's not a word.

I have friends who say it, I let it go. It's all about the tolerance Sometimes I get cranky and say it's not a word but I guess words evolve and if it really isn't a word, it will be soon.

For those people who are annoyed by fragments and run on sentences, don't read my posts. It's late

Thank you SK. It just dawned on me that truly it's actions vs. words. I know some people who might use a bit of creativity when describing something but their actions are incredible. I also know some very "giving" and "kind" people who do things like leave their shopping carts in the middle of parking lots. (Yes, that sets me off.) I've worked in the service industry and it shocks me how the most "ethical" and PC people don't live up to how they speak. Wow, I could've been succinct. Oh well.

[jesvetmed]

Wow -- I've just spent 20 minutes reading this one thread! This is a good one!
Mine, and I hear it VERY often: "SPAYDED" (I'm not even sure how to spell that!).
As in, "Yes, Doc, she was spayded as a pup and got her shots".

Oh, and "Pancreatis" instead of "Pancreatitis".

This is medical snobbery, I know. But these two are really common and I have to suppress the giggles when I hear them.

On a non-medical note, if I hear "Get-R-Done" one more time.....!

[uforgot]

Wow -- I've just spent 20 minutes reading this one thread! This is a good one!
Mine, and I hear it VERY often: "SPAYDED" (I'm not even sure how to spell that!).
As in, "Yes, Doc, she was spayded as a pup and got her shots".

Oh, I like the spaded one too! (I'm not sure how you would spell it either). Usually when someone says something about a pet getting spaded, I usually reply..."You hit them with a shovel?"

[bmccasland]

if I hear "Get-R-Done" one more time.....!

We just had new team jerseys made, and someone wanted that very thing on the jersey! Fortunately it got over-ruled. Now reads "getting it done!"

[Tuckervill]

There is no way to know whether it is "Oh my goodness" or "Oh my gosh", and I am not speaking to those. I am speaking to "Oh my God."

Well, not really, because in post #156 you said this:

"This is what Christians believe and you'd better bet that if you say OMG, OMFG or just GOD, you will offend a Christian."

My position on all this is: This is the internet. You are going to be offended by something if you walk around with your offensometer running all the time, and sometimes if you weren't even paying attention! I'm offended by sweeping generalizations and jokes about mothers-in-law. When I see one, I either try to enlighten, or I just ignore it. To carry on trying to change someone's mind when they don't want to change is futile. Just telling my story is enough for me. It might not change them, and they may continue posting things I deem to be unfair to mothers-in-law or offensive or perpetuating a stereotype. My life is too short to police my haunts for MIL jokes all the time. It serves a bigger purpose in my life to ignore them, so I do.

Perhaps it would serve a bigger purpose for those who object to OMG, et al, to put their efforts towards something they can change?

Karen

[Flybye]

Well, not really, because in post #156 you said this:

"This is what Christians believe and you'd better bet that if you say OMG, OMFG or just GOD, you will offend a Christian."

My position on all this is: This is the internet. You are going to be offended by something if you walk around with your offensometer running all the time, and sometimes if you weren't even paying attention! I'm offended by sweeping generalizations and jokes about mothers-in-law. When I see one, I either try to enlighten, or I just ignore it. To carry on trying to change someone's mind when they don't want to change is futile. Just telling my story is enough for me. It might not change them, and they may continue posting things I deem to be unfair to mothers-in-law or offensive or perpetuating a stereotype. My life is too short to police my haunts for MIL jokes all the time. It serves a bigger purpose in my life to ignore them, so I do.

Perhaps it would serve a bigger purpose for those who object to OMG, et al, to put their efforts towards something they can change?

Karen

Karen, I am going to drop out of the argument. I think the topic is too heated and there is too much emotion. It will still bother me when people say OMG, OMFG and yes, really, because I am speaking to Oh my God, Oh my Fing God and God. It really is offensive. Really. I have the right to be offended. I won't apologize or back down.

And I think it would be wise for people to put their efforts toward something they can change as you said. You can't change the fact that when a person says Oh My God, it offends a Christian.

All that I think after this is said and done is that there are some who will continue to say OMG - Oh my God, without even realizing that it offends. It isn't a word to be thrown around lightly. Do with it what you may. Say it out of spite if you must, or be sensitive and think twice about others next time it is about to slip from your lips. Karen, I am not speaking to you in this paragraph, just to people in general.

I hear it all of the time. I always will and it will always bother me.

I know that it bothers several other people who won't take a stand on the forum b/c I have recieved PM's in support.

Being a community is about respecting one another. Out of respect for those of us who are Christian or who believe in God and believe that His name isn't something to throw around in casual conversation, just be sensitive to the fact. In the TE community, I have seen more respect than disrespect.

Now, this debate has been around for centuries. It won't end because we here on TE decided that:

It offends Christians.

It offends others that it offends Christians.

You can still say it if you want to.

Some people really don't care.

Some say it out of spite.

Soooooooooooooooooo, I am going to cruise other posts, have a great Saturday, and get ready to go camping.

I still love TE. I really don't care what you believe on the subject of OMG. It is just one of those words that REALLY makes me grit my teeth.

That is it for me on the subject.

[Crankin]

Thank you, Lisa.
My thoughts exactly. I know this topic is controversial, but it makes me want to say I believe in God and I don't care if anyone says Oh My God.
I say a lot worse and they are all just words...

[Chile Pepper]

I just ran across "I could care less." I suppose I really could and should care less than I do about other people's grammar, but that one drives me crazy.

[teigyr]

I should know not to involve myself in this Sometimes I'm not that bright.

I feel word usage is all about intent. Words are just words, they are meaningless on their own. My god isn't anybody else's god and it is a generic word (to me) for whatever spiritualism somebody believes in. If god holds the speaker accountable, wouldn't be up to the speaker to justify themselves if or when it comes time to?

The way I see it all is this. I *am* a Very White Girl. I make fun of that. I'm piebald (ok, freckled) and get THE silliest tan lines ever. Sometimes I'm a "typical female" in a stereotypical way and it's hilarious. I'm tall and yeah, people tend to feel the need to comment on it sometimes. People can say what they're going to say. It doesn't affect me because I know what I believe in and I know who I am as a person. It's kind of scary to think that no matter what you say, you might offend someone. It is never my intend to offend (rarely, that is) but I am who I am and if I am comfortable with someone and it's appropriate (ie non work situation or not with my parents), I WILL be somewhat colorful. I grew up Episcopalian and can never recall being told what I can say or can't say. I like that.

There are plenty of things that set me on edge and I almost started listing them. Then I realized that some of the main offenders are people I actually like and if we were all the same, society would be pretty boring. Nobody I think highly of intends to offend any one group and I think we are entitled to say things without judgment. I'm not a big fan of censorship. I think sometimes the use of a particular word (or group of words) can mean a lack of vocabulary but should we fault the person because of that? I mean beyond the fact that maybe they need a thesaurus?

I can never keep up with what's PC or what isn't and sometimes things change from one to the other and back again. I suppose I could go through it all and pare down words that I use and swap some to other words but that seems like an awful amount of work and I prefer my friends to just be who they are and I'd like to think they feel the same about me.

[SadieKate]

Nicely said.

[Geonz]

(snip)
I can never keep up with what's PC or what isn't and sometimes things change from one to the other and back again. I suppose I could go through it all and pare down words that I use and swap some to other words but that seems like an awful amount of work and I prefer my friends to just be who they are and I'd like to think they feel the same about me.

My junior high kiddos would play the "but I was just kidding" when they'd tease and try to get reactions from people. They'd use the "it's what it means to me" argument.
I would ask them how they felt when somebody called them ignorant. At least in that part of the planet, "Ignorant" was used for stupid, ugly and otherwise unpopular. Then I'd show 'em the dictionary definition and ask if they thought it was okay for me to call them ignorant, since "all it means" is you don't know about something.
They actually kinda sorta "got it" - that words from the giver can hurt even if it's not intended (and some of 'em that if you offered Miss Geonz your 'reasons,' she would bore you to *death* with her explanations, so don't bother...)

I *am* bothered at the sensory and intellectual when words are mispronounced ('expresso') in ways that mangle their meaning. If I wanted to start a flame war on educational discussions, I'd say "It's that whole language attitude" and get on my phonemic awareness soap box