???????????????

[Mermaid02]

When I say OMG.... I am referring to MY god.... so I hope noone is offended. The God I worship has bigger things on his plate than worrying about a phrase or two.

 

[Pin Wizard]

We don't say it. As a matter of fact, when DS hears someone else say it, he mentions it to me and lets me know they shouldn't be saying that.

 

[Sharon A.]

Jeff, I get what you're saying, but there are countless other common phrases that use God's name and I still don't understand how saying OMG is any different. For instance, there's "cleanliness is next to Godliness" "God is in the details" or "God is my co-pilot." I'm sure there are tons more.

And when people say OMG, aren't they expressing shock or surprise? So in a way, aren't they sort of "throwing it up to God" anyway? How is that any different than praying for someone to get over the flu or countless other trivial things people pray for?

Anyhow, thanks for trying to explain Jeff. I've never understood before and never had any chance to ask.

 

[Kermit]

I don't like it. I don't consider it nearly as offensive as "bad" words (i.e., those that would be censored off daytime TV), but I don't use it, and my kids won't. I do say "Oh my goodness" and "Oh my gosh." I really wish I didn't, but it's a hard habit to break.

I don't use any other words that are a direct variation of God or Jesus, like Jeez or anything like that. I have some cousins who would never say OMG, but they say Jeez all the time. I don't get that.

 

[Tuffcookie]

I don't like it and don't allow it in my home. If DS has a sleep-over and the guest says it, they are politely told we don't use that expression in our home. I tend to say, "Oh, my goodness"!

TC

 

[Jeff in BigD]

I think if you asked someone right after they said OMG, "are you praising the name of God?" my guess is the majority of the people would give a sheepish "no" or they would be perplexed.

If, to use another's point, an athiest screams "OMG" in the middle of passion, you stopped them & asked "are you offering up a prayer to God &/or was that an acknowledgment of His existance?", they would probably reply that it's "just a saying" or you might get a sarcastic "sure". Of course if you stopped them in the middle of passion, they might have a few questions for you.

I think if you stopped every person that had the "God Is My Co-Pilot" bumper sticker what the intent of the sticker was, most would tell you they are making the statement that they couldn't live without God, thus proclaiming His greatness.

Here's one that you didn't mention that I've heard: "God's country". When people say this, I don't think they're saying that God's protection is solely reserved for a specific land. When people say this, I'm sure most people mean "this area is so beautiful & fertile, that only the hand of God could have created such a place", thus again, proclaiming His greatness.


To get back to point at hand, there is a difference between: someone laying on their back, gazing at the skies & in amazement of the complexity & vastness of space utters "My God..." with a tone of reverance & a woman showing off her new shoes & her best friend blurts out "OMG!" IMO the latter trivializes His name.

Let me put it another way, using the exact opposite effect: "bummer" It's a good word to sympathise with someone that lost their keys or stain a shirt. It would be horribly inadequate & inappropriate to use "bummer" to convey sympathy for the loss of a relative. It trivializes the moment.

Some people also say "OMG" that they would also say "Oh brother" complete with a ; let's say that Bob is a loved one (and for this hypothetical there is only one Bob in the world), you know he loves you deeply & there isn't anything he wouldn't do for you (provided it was good for you) & to you Bob is the greatest. Now let's say there's a group that has never met Bob or they don't have a high opinion of Bob & conciously or subconciously they use Bob's name for things, like "Oh Bob!" like they would say "Oh brother" or they say "Bob" the way Seinfeld says "Newman" & one day you overheard someone using Bob's way in a not-so-flattering way. Wouldn't you be a little offended & compelled to tell them how great Bob is? Wouldn't you be a little hurt everytime you heard Bob's name thrown around & you know it's not to talk about how cool Bob is?

Some Jews feel the name of God is so majestic & sovereign, they won't even use the name "God" unless they are speaking directly to Him, which I think is awesome. I don't know how every person feels, but I would venture a guess that most people that are offended by "OMG" have similar reasons.

 

[Amphigorey]

Personally, I favor "Christ on a sidecar" and "Good Lord on a pogo stick."

 

[EROS]

Men come in three sizes:

Small, medium, and Oh My God!!!

 

[janette]

I've always been taught it was something that we shouldn't say. I noticed that my 8yo DD had started using in quite a bit and started to correct her. Not long after that I realized why she used it, my MIL says it all the time. I really hadn't noticed since she uses it pretty often and I think I just didnt' hear it every time until I started correcting my DD. I did stop correcting my DD as much, I didn't want to get into the fact of well if grandma says it why not. MIL is Catholic and very active, I'm sure she wasn't taught the same connotation and doesn't consider it swearing.

 

[Sharon A.]

Jeff, that's a good explanation. Thanks.

 

[JohnTBap]

Originally posted by EROS
Men come in three sizes:

Small, medium, and Oh My God!!!

I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop, Sweetie!

 

[EROS]

Originally posted by JohnTBap
I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop, Sweetie!

Ummmmmmm,er, JTB, it may be "time again" for your next CONFESSION. You know...............to talk about "impure thoughts".

Of course, I was referring to the fact that MEN come in different............heights

 

[JohnTBap]

Of course you were, Sweetie. Of course you were.

 

[DopeyRN]

I say it...I type it. I do not personally find it offensive. Actually I was taught that saying "oh my gosh" or "oh my goodness" are equally as bad as saying "oh my God". I was told you are meaning exactly the same thing but using different terminology. Personally it just has never seemed so bad to me.

Now on the other hand, using the "G** D***" expression KILLS me. It sends a knife through my heart. I cannot watch movies that have a lot of it, and whenever I hear it I say a quick prayer. To me that is different...that IS wrong.

 

[Pin Wizard]

I try to stick with "wow," DS will say "Oh, my!"