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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To hate it when kids exclaim Oh My God!

117 replies

PadmeHum · 04/09/2010 14:12

I was at the annual school fair today. I lost count of how many times I heard 5-12 year children exclaim "oh my godddddd", that was .

The phrase grates me to my core.

I am not even religious, so I am not sure why it bothers me. Some sort of respect issue I think as well as it sounding a bit cheap.

?

OP posts:
Hassled · 04/09/2010 16:55

"Oh my God" were my very first words. It could have been "Oh my cot!" (which was collapsing at the time) but my father always maintained it was "Oh my God!". And I've been saying it ever since. It's not really blasphemous, though, it is?

BelleDameSansMerci · 04/09/2010 16:55

I try really hard not to say it in front of my DD (I'm not religious but don't really like to hear children say it). I am quite foul mouthed and do have to try very hard not to swear in front of DD. I thought I'd done really well by replacing "oh bugger" or "oh bollocks" with "oh bum bum". DD now says "oh bum bum". I think "oh my God" might be preferable Blush

HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst · 04/09/2010 16:56

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn on request of the poster.

LynetteScavo · 04/09/2010 16:57

I don't like it.

Mine are banned form saying it (and I want DD never to say it at her Catholic school). But then she will call us fuckers from time to time, which I absolutely abhor.

deaddei · 04/09/2010 16:59

Don't go and see Legally Blonde The Musical.
The openiing number is called OMG.
Smile

NormalityBites · 04/09/2010 17:27

There are people in the world who get offended by Oh my God? Confused

Oh my God.

lazylula · 04/09/2010 17:31

Ds1 has a habit of saying it and we are trying to stop him, but I certainly prefer that than him actually swearing! We are changing it to oh my gosh slowly but surely!

Shodan · 04/09/2010 17:42

Ds1 used to wail it out whilst playing on the xBox.

It drove me mad, but not because of possible blasphemous connotations.

It was the whiny tone that got me......

Incidentally, the (really quite strict Christian) headmistress of my Church school used to say it was merely a heartfelt prayer for God's assistance.

PlumBumMum · 04/09/2010 17:45

I say it & my dcs say it

Rather that than cursing tbh

paisleyleaf · 04/09/2010 17:50

Grown ups (and teenage girls) say it all the time. That's where they're getting it from. I guess it was going to happen.
I've managed to get DD into the habit of saying 'oh my gosh' - but I don't know how long for as we're up against hearing 'oh my god' a lot.

Rockbird · 04/09/2010 17:53

My 2.7yo has taken to saying 'sake!'. Now obviously that's from me saying ffs but I keep the ff under my breath so all that comes out is an explosive 'sake!' :o

undercovamutha · 04/09/2010 17:53

I think that the most innocent phrases (exclamations) sound bad when little kids say them.

My DD (just 4) said loudly in the supermarket the other day 'oh no, we've forgotten the blimmin' flowers mummy!'.

For some reason I cringed as it sounded like a swear word, and I started thinking about whether it actually is or not (no idea actually - I spose it is a kind of short version of blooming heck I guess?).

SweetnessAndShite · 04/09/2010 18:01

DS1 is 5 and says it. I don't like hearing it on him but I know that he got it from me Blush

mamalino · 04/09/2010 18:18

Our primary school has banned children from saying it Hmm

eaglewings · 04/09/2010 18:22

Perhaps a way of understanding why some people with faith in God don't like hearing it, is beacuse it is like me swearing or making a point by saying
"oh my ~~~~~~~~" and you putting in the name of someone you love such as your Mum, Dad, DC etc
so you saying "Oh my Jack"
I find "Jesus Christ" worse tbh, but like the idea of it just being a prayer, not sure I'd tell that to all the teenagers I hear using it!
My DC's have not picked up my swear words but have some funny ones they have heard at school, I have to stop smiling for long enough to explain they are not for all ears!Blush

Miggsie · 04/09/2010 18:23

I hate it especially as it is said as a formula with the same tone of voice form everyone, with the long drawn out "Goooodddddddd!"

Worst is is when accompanied by "and it was like, you know, Oh My Goooodddddddddd!"

...please form a declarative sentence that has meaning or SHUT UP!

My dad says "Po bum bloody drawers" which I infinitely prefer.

My personal favourite is: "well, I'll go to the foot of my stairs!"

Hulababy · 04/09/2010 18:26

I don't like it either.

DD is not allowed to say it, either at school or at home.

Oh my gosh here instead

homeboys · 04/09/2010 18:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

muggglewump · 04/09/2010 18:30

It doesn't bother me at all, DD says it all the time.

It does bother me when she says I done, or I seen, instead of I did, or I saw.

She does correct me if I say, Oh crap/shit/fuck though. She tells me to say Oh dear!

Perhaps it's because I'm atheist but care about grammar?Grin

Quenbioz · 04/09/2010 18:39

YANBU. I think it is disrespectful.

Smithagain · 04/09/2010 18:40

NormalityBites Sat 04-Sep-10 17:27:46: There are people in the world who get offended by Oh my God? Confused

Um, yes, there are quite a lot of people that would find that offensive. It's called blasphemy and for anyone who has an active faith in God, it comes across as highly disrespectful.

usualsuspect · 04/09/2010 18:41

It doesn't bother me at all ..my teenage ds says much worse Grin

DontCallMeBaby · 04/09/2010 18:53

DD went through a stage of 'oh my god' and 'oh god' constantly. It irked me, though I don't know why, and I did tell her that her school may well not appreciate it (CofE). Now I try not to use it, as an atheist I'd rather not invoke a deity I don't believe in when I'm pissed off. Unfortunately all possible substitutions are either obscene or a bit Enid Blyton (though I do enjoy DD saying 'blimey', whether that's because of or despite the origins I couldn't say). I think I shall have to sit her down when she reaches a given age (13?) and explain that I am henceforth going to stop pretending that I don't swear. It will be SUCH a relief.

Tokyotwist · 04/09/2010 19:39

Got told off by DH as dd, who's 2, has just started saying it.

Yes, it is my fault. Although, I often just say "Oh God".

I am trying really hard to stop, but often don't even realise I've said it.

Can't understand why people find it so offensive. Would imagine that God would be rather pleased that in my time of distress, he's the first one I call.

Ok it is a bit disrespectful.

marenmj · 05/09/2010 00:05

larf at people who cannot understand the religious finding it offensive.

Tis the 3rd commandment folks, of course religious people will be offended.

My religious parents will politely ask anyone who says "omg" / "Jesus Christ" (considering them equally bad) to kindly stop, and if they continue, my parents have been known to leave.

It's not as though it's a minor cuss, and I don't think it qualifies as a prayer as such unless it is followed by "please help me etc"

I'm not religious in the slightest, but I still feel that using that phrase would be highly disrespectful to people who are.