'Swearing'

[sunmonkey]

In the last two (quite stressful) weeks, I have argued with my Husband over 'Jesus Christ' (used not in a row, but cos DS made a fuss over something) and just then 'Bloody' during a row. He said 'Jesus Christ' is not a swear word, still its blasphemy and whilst I am not very religious I still don't like it and prefer that my 4 year old doesn't hear it from his own Dad (then repeat it to people who might really mind).
Also 'Bloody'he said is not a swear word. Well, still don't want son to hear it and also 3 year old friend who is round playing (though he is Dutch).
Am I being unreasonable??

Yanbu. I don't use these kids of words infrint of my kids, and ask my kids not to use it either, including 'oh my god'. Not religious in any way, just don't think it is appropriate to hear it from kids.

I know my teen swears, but he very rarely does in front of me (and appologises!) my exp swore constantly. He tempered it in front of DS when he was little, but it didn't last (good job he worked a lot). He didn't attempt to temper it infront of DD's (now 3&6) the girls see him regularly, and I have had to pull them up up on their language. My 3 yr old coming out with 'fucking hell' when she is annoyed is not acceptable if you ask me.

its hard enough trying to cover ds's ears when we're out. as for blasphemy...would anyone ever say 'oh my buddha' in front of an Indian person, or 'oh my effing Allah' or Krishna, or Mohammed in front of other groups?...you wouln't would you? because some would find it offensive. so what makes it ok for everyone to be saying 'omg' or 'Jesus' etc etc? don't Christians find it offensive? I don't swear as a rule (ok, maybe the occasional sh word) but Id never say stuff in front of ds anyway. and wish others wouldnt too. and I respect all faiths so Id never say ANY deitys name as a swear word. just a thought.

I swear a lot. Df swears but less than me and every time I swear he says "god, do you realise how common you sound?" Don't know what the fuck he means cheeky bastard.

I'm not religious so I don't have a problem saying things like god,jesus/christ,bloody etc.

The kids hear me swear but know they aren't allowed to say swear words.

Christ on a bike.

I think you don't say in front of children what you don't want them repeating, although when they get a little older and start to understand appropriate language, oddly you can get away with more - 3yos will compulsively copy, 8yos won't (or at least can be reprimanded if they try it on). Unfortunately 'oh god' is my go-to mild expletive, despite being an atheist (really, it is despite, not because of) and DD used that a lot for a few weeks aged 4. In Reception in a CofE school. We are both out of the habit now.

Anything I don't want DD saying in front of my mum, I try not to say in front of DD - and mum has a low threshold for swearing, 'bloody' definitely qualifies. Sadly, it seems I still resort to blasphemy under extremis - loud 'JESUS CHRIST' the other night, as DD threw up. On my FEET.

I may encourage the use of crivvens. Though I'm sure they CAN get you into trouble, when said in a Gloucestershire accent, by a child with a tendency to get her nations confused and announce that Scotland is part of England.

Unfortunately I swear like a trooper and have found not swearing in front of my kids very difficult. I prefer anglo-saxon fruitiness to blasphemy but that's a personal choice and not driven by religious beliefs.

One of DD's first words was "shit" but we've managed to persuade her what she heard was "sugar" and she has stopped saying it. Her Dad doesn't know that the other day she bumped her head and said "oh fuck" - after I'd done the same. Oh well.

I don't have a problem with children swearing at all - but I'm shallow enough to care what other parents think so will continue to try and put a lid on my somewhat exuberant language. I'm thinking of teaching her to say pilchard and twuzzock instead.

Would anyone ever say ... 'oh my effing Allah'

Well, yes! 'Allah' simply means 'God' so all the same expletives exist with the transposition of names. Not sure about "Mohammed on a bike" but it wouldn't surprise me. I learned some 'Mohammed' sayings in Arabic that were quite a bit ruder than our own featuring 'Christ' or 'Jesus'. In Arabic you can also say "ya rab", meaning "Oh God" or "Oh Lord".

I would like to help you on Buddhist and Hindu expletives, but don't know any. Perhaps somebody else can fill in :)

Personally, I don't tend to say 'Oh my God' or 'Jesus' since I think they sound a bit vulgar. However, I wouldn't refrain from saying them in public just in case I offended someone. I'd never set out to offend a religious person - indeed, I carefully modify my language in front of FIL - but when in a public space, I think people need to assume they will hear a variety of language.

It's one thing to deliberately bait someone and quite another to thoughtlessly say 'Jesus Christ' when something surprises you. I don't think religious people can expect others to censor themselves like that.

I also don't think it 'specially matters if a religious person hears that and doesn't like it, just as I am often offended by things religious people say but don't expect them to shut up just because of me.