Call me 'sensitive', but I can't bear seeing this Acronym in a Subject line:-

[twitcher]

"OMG"

It really puts me off from reading the thread. I'll be honest, I find it offensive from a Christian point of view, knowing what it stands for. I couldn't care less about FFS, arse, etc. or worse (I'm no saint and use the words myself sometimes!).

Thank you. (Preparing myself for 'you can't be serious' etc etc...)

oh my goodness

misdee!

Let us not start with Americanisms, OK? I was not responsible for the ex-girlfriend of Chandler's on Friends saying it in Slo-Mo and I wouldn't want to take offense to that, right? Why don't we just think of it as oh my goodness to get you through this Twitcher.

Does anyone know where the expression christ on a bike comes from?

I don't like it either; feel deeply guilty if I say it, but seem to have no guilt problem with shouting Bllcks when provoked. Don't expect the world to take any notice though....and despite being a Christian (even if a rubbish one on so many levels)I LOATHE it when people tell me they will pray for me after a disagreement - it winds me up no end!

Loved Jerry Srpinger The Opera though. Obviously my psyche is a disaster zone of in consistency.

ive typed a lot of posts for this thread and deleted them all because i didnt want to offend. have your belief, but dont push it on other people...surely thats fair? i dont beleive.... thats my choice. that doesnt mean i cant be friends with people who do. like in rl, i may not agree with everything they do or say, be it religious or otherwise...but it doesnt mean i think they are a bad person and i hope they dont think im one. praying doesnt automatically make you a good person, its how you treat others that does. equally, a very bad person could go and pray...that is not going to excuse what they do to others. im sorry, but i just cant find it anywhere within me to take offence at that phrase, there are so many worse things a person can say and do.

Wasn't going to come back to this, but sunchowder, I'll take that in the tongue-in-cheek, non-patronising tone that I'm sure you meant it to sound like.

Crikey is just another word for Christ

Main Entry: crikey
Part of Speech: interjection
Definition: an exclamation of surprise, a mild oath; cf. criminy, crimine
Etymology: euphemism for `Christ'

People have used God in exclamations from time immemorial - Zounds! (God's Wounds), Cor Blimey (God Blind me) and on and on and on... I don't see why an straightforward exclamation of surprise, wonderment or amazement is so 'insulting' to God let alone to anyone else. I just don't get it at all. As for the idea that the deity who regularly slaughtered entire populations would get all hurt and quivery-lipped because someone typed "OMG I'm pregnant" into a parenting website...hmmm, not sure I find that convincing!

Just found this. Reminded me that once my mum (a vicar's wife) was more concerned that I said "Oh my God" when an idiot drove into my car than that the shock/ impact had caused me to threaten to miscarry. Don't get me started on middle class christianity and its narrow mindedness! Incidentally can't stand dds and ds blaspheming, but only because I think it sounds so common from little mouths.

Gordon-Bennett!

Get a life

crumbs!!!

I find 'crumbs' upsetting Jools cos i like biscuits and crumbs are signs of their inevitable doom

well! al gor t'fut of ar sturs!

LOL (although dw did have to translate that for me)

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I must admit I find people boohooing about swearing terribly, terribly wet. Shudderingly drippy in fact. I know this is a fault and I do try not to offend- don't call old ladies cunts or say by Allah you're a twat to sensitive muslims or say Jesus Mary and Joseph but that is a load of old wank to sensitive Christians. But the reality is that practically all swear words in all cultures are connected to religion, genitals, excrement, urine and sex, as far as I can see. So there's a good chance of offending practically everyone one way or another. Which is maybe the point of expletives? Seems fair to me.

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Yeah- I pressed post before I deinyourfaced it, Dior! Probably should have been less hasty- sorry. (I love the word bollocks too.)

well............. ive only just read this thread........... tbh, i dont allow my children to say oh my god, i find it wrong in my household, i tell them off, i would also bollock them if they said for fucks sake, infact i would carry them straight up to bed and give them the evil look that only a mother can give.

I also don't ever get offended by things unless they come from the heart. So if we are all going to take words as a political statement i am offended that people say fuck because to be perfectly honest it is an act made by god to procreate, not a leisure pursuit

In lots of cases, using swear words is just being lazy with language, isn't it? OMG is one of many cliches people use. On that level it irritates me, but I'm no saint (hey, is that offensive too? and it's another cliche) often, I don't have the time or the mental energy to use more inventive words.

Sorry if OMG offends. I think it's worth noting that some people find it very offensive here. I find it mildly offensive, tbh, along with lots of other god and non god swear words. Not enought to complain about, though. Interesting discussion - glad you started it, twitcher(who are you btw?).

Not swearing is limiting your vocabulary, in my opinion. "Please remove yourself from the immediate vicinity" is far less effective than "f*ck off".