OMG? is this a rude thing to say?

[Timeisawastin]

Just that - the phrase 'Oh my God...'

I work as a TA with kids aged 8-10 and so many of them say this whenever they are frustrated, stroppy or feeling argumentative. I'm not religious but I certainly consider it an inappropriate phrase for children to use.

I had a chat with a couple of the girls today after one of them said it. Neither of them had any concept that this was anything other than normal, a it's a phrase used by all the family. I suggested that they might like to think of other things to say that won't sound so offensive or rude.

I fully expect that a couple of parents will complain about today's conversation if their girls repeat it.

AIBU?

well said grockle

Not offensive to me, although I do avoid using it when chatting to the local vicar.

Why is it offensive?

If he is the all powerful vengeful god of the old testament thwn he is capable of striking down those who take his name in vain, sending down a plague of locusts or giving them a really itchy bum.

If god is the loving, giving mystic social worker of the new testament thrn he isn't going to give a shite about a a bit of casual blaspheming

Eitber way the idea that he needs a bunch of mealy mouthed adherents clutching their pearls every time his name is mentioned is absurd.

I stopped my children using any sort of "religious" expletive for as long as I could. Just seemed polite to me.

i say to the kids i mind....only use the word God when you are talking to god

one said but i dont belive in God

I said....well i do believe in God. Why are you asking for Gods help if you dont belive in him?

IE OMG is beseeching God to help

I find it offensive, but I'm a Christian. Our children aren't allowed to say it in our house and I pull their friends up on it too, I'm afraid.

Our dc do say OMC (They're Gaelic speakers and it means "O mo creich" -equivalent to "deary me" in the offensive stakes!).

I tend to say Oh Good Grief! More than oh my god.

What about 'Holy Crap'

Does that offend anyone?

Although it's certainly on the milder end of profanity and I use it myself more than I probably should, I don't think we should accept that this is appropriate language for children to be using. It's meant as a swear word in this context. Might as well let the little darlings run around saying shit and fuck. I mean, it's your problem if you're offended, right?!

why do people not like hearing it? your god isn't going to smite you down for hearing it, the sayer will be the one going to hell.

also, why assume its about your god? Its "my" god - and my god doesn't exist, so I'm not taking anypones name in vain. I could be referring to Zeus or odin or Vishnu. why do certain religions assume it is their god everyone talks about?

I don't like hearing children say it, because I don't want my children to offend anyone if they can avoid it. And I am an atheist.

Well, it's swearing isn't it, and most people don't want to hear their young children swearing, whether they're religious or not?

I don't consider it swearing. Which of the words is a swear word?

OMG isn't a swear word! not these days, anyway. I'll teach my child not to say fuck, shit, wank etcx but I think we need to pick our battles and oh my god is NOT a battle worth fighting.

I don't like it either. I'm a christian and really it is blaspheming as it is taking God's name in vain.

I also hate people doing the same with Jesus. I think there would be an outcry if Allah's name was bandied around in the same way.

I don't see it as a battle - more like information on how not to get other people's backs up. (I am an atheist.)

To some people it is swearing: it's "taking the Lord's name in vain" isn't it?

Seriously Christians, I know you think your God is the only one, but come off it. There are LOADS of them, we could be talking about any or none of them.
Why do you insist it must be yours? Is it that you want to take offence? And what does "in vain" mean anyway?

In vain is in the ten commandments in Exodus and means not to use God's name inappropriately.

I just don't think it is a nice way to express yourself and it has crept into everyday use. It is just OTT.

Hey! I have an idea to stop all offence. Let's ban the word god for everyone under any circumstances.

I mean the images the word conjures up for me are quite unpleasant if I allow myself to dwell on them and we're talking about being nice to everyone aren't we.

Actually I think you're being really rather offensive to other religions, to claim any mention of the word god as your own.
I just said oh my god. Pretty sure I meant Vishnu that time. Stop bogarting the G word folks.

"in vain" means using the name not for the proper purpose of praying but as a casual swearing of an oath. Quakers won't even "swear an oath" on a bible.

A Christian friend told me (only because I asked!) how the slang use of "OMG!!" jarred with her and I can see why. My first boss was an evangelical Christian and I put my foot in it enough times that I'm thankful I wasn't chucking "OMG" around all the time as well!

If you don't care, you don't care but that's a choice for an adult. It's fair to let kids know how they sound to others.

I'm an atheist and it doesn't offend me at all, it's just a word to me. I think I probably say it. And I say For god's sake!

DH says Christ on a bike! a lot and 5yo DS has come out with that on a couple of memorable occasions. My mum (the only religious one in our family) was a little shocked but not offended.

But all the young 'uns say Oh my days! now don't they? Or is that a different context.

I think there would be an outcry if Allah's name was bandied around in the same way.

It is 'bandied around in the same way' 'Allah' is just Arabic for 'god' and vice versa.

And anyway Allah is the only god remember.

Can we atheists have our own? "Oh my Dawkins" has a ring to it "Oh my evolution!"

It jars on me when I hear young children saying oh my god, but that's only because I wasn't allowed to say it when I was young. Having thought about it as an adult though, I can't see how it's offensive. If you're a Christian and you've been commanded to not take the Lord's name in vain, then fine, don't. However, don't tell me what I can and can't say based on your own beliefs system.

I've never heard someone say 'Oh Allah'.

Like the evolution idea.

If you want to say OMG then it is up to you but it doesn't mean I have to like it.