'Bless him/her.' Excuse to be bitchy?

[ChinkChink]

I'm hearing this phrase a LOT at work and in other situations.

'She struggles speaking to customers, bless her.'

'He's no idea with spreadsheets, bless him.'

'He's needed a lot of time off with that, bless him.'

'Her exam results weren't brilliant, bless her.'

It's fecking patronising, and simply disguised bitching, imho. If you've got something to say, own it. Don't dress it up as faux concern.

If this makes one person stop and think before uttering my work here is done.

Thanks for listening. Bless you.

Yes, I agree.

Although, one phrase I used to hear at work a lot was"He's / She's throwing his / her toys out the pram". Basically, an adult colleague is being described as having a tantrum. I think I'd prefer "Bless him / her".

YANBU.

I actually used this phrase this evening, my original wording would of been fuck me, but I was talking to someone who doesn't like swearing.

YANBU.

Another one is "I find it really SAD that...or I feel SORRY for "

Or the whole "incredulity" act when someone just wants to bitch? "I can't BELIEVE that "

Translation: you can believe fact, you want the share it and you want listener to join in with the bitching

You might like this OP.

Yes I agree. But "bless ..." can also be used in a completely non-bitchy way.

Horrifically patronising. I hate it and have to bite my tongue not to call people out on it.

Agree - patronising drivel.

Oh I say it. I don't mean it patronising or bitchy!!

I always say 'bless' as it's a local and family thing. Also I have a lot of Irish friends and family who say 'god bless'. I always used it as a term of endearment.

Now I live in the states and have said it to a few people to be told it's a huge cuss and put down. Bless your heart- in the south is basically - fuck you asshole.

This gets on my fucking tits as well OP

Can't bear this either. Especially when younger people 'bless' someone older. So patronising. My Mum has been 'blessed' by several jumped up little trollops in the office. And even if it isn't meant in that way - it just feels like such an empty comment when it's said so often.

I got 'blessed' several times when I struggled to use excel by jumped up trolls (they were basically commenting on my age). It does get noticed especially from a relatively junior manager - come promotion time only I got one. Some of these people haven't been promoted in 5-10 years!

Now I live in the states and have said it to a few people to be told it's a huge cuss and put down. Bless your heart- in the south is basically - fuck you asshole.

Well in that case I bless the KKK and all they stand for.

I say this all the time ... I don't intend it to be patronising. Usually more endearing! Like oh John's having a bit of a rough day bless him.

It does seem to lessen the insult a bit. I'm going to try it today with the woman who has the desk next to me. She's an utter cunt, bless her.

I've never come across it used it that way. More showing sympathy like, 'Oh Sarah got caught in the rain, bless her'

I say this as a response rather than a statement
I.e
Dc is ill
On no bless them

It implies the subject of the conversation is an idiot imo.

Exactly DrDre

I don't think it's an excuse to be bitchy - it's plain out bitchy, generally, I think, meant in a tone of sarcasm. As in the object of the comment is incompetent, a Luddite, a malingerer, etc.

There are two ways of using it.

I was wanting to engage with a sarky type I'd start off on in a "well thank YOU for your kind thoughts!" vein, thus entering the vortex of passive aggressive communication..

Oh this is one of my absolute bugbears. I HATE it with a passion.

("NoSquirrels gets so easily wound up, bless her.")

"NoSquirrels you show wonderful compassion; do you follow a Buddhist path?"

It's hugely condescending. I'm not sure it's bitchy as such, but it's not pleasant. The people who say it may as well just say " I'm a really smug fucker, bwahahahaha at your misfortune" We all know what it means. May as well be honest.