Is OMG or Oh My God considered swearing (or cursing)?

Anonymous
For Jews, is the reason you spell G-d a sign of respect? I've always wondered about that.
Anonymous
My new kindergartner just asked me the same thing! Wonder if he got in trouble for saying it....
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I don't like it and I don't use it but I am not really offended by it. What I do find offensive is when people use Jesus Christ or Jesus F'ing Christ as swear / curse words.
I agree with this except I am a little offend by Oh my God. To me it's a 10 commandment thing. I never say anything when I hear though because I know most people aren't offended by it and also there have been times I tried to say Oh my gosh and it came out sounding like God when I didn't mean for it to. (Once some churchy mcchurchy lady called me on it and I was really embarrassed because that wasn't what I meant to say, it just came out sounding wrong and she wasn't listening well. I was about 9 or so and at a friend's church.) But anything related to Jesus Christ is just about the most offensive thing I can hear used as a swear or pseudo swear phrase. I'd rather hear almost anything else. I might still think you're lacking a decent vocabulary but I'll feel sorry for you vs. completely losing respect for you.
Anonymous
The use of "God, " "Jesus Christ," or any other reference to a religious figure really rub me the wrong way. I don't mind f*ck, sh*t, damn, etc. at all (well, away from the kids).
Anonymous
You hear someone say, "Oh My God!" Then you hear someone say, "Eat shit motherfucker!" Which is more offensive to your ears? Yeesh.
Anonymous
Not religious, but I try to reserve my utterances of "oh my god" and "god fucking damn it!" for when I'm at home, where no one else is religious.

Around others, I say "oh my gosh" and "darn it." My husband makes fun of me for it.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Not religious, but I try to reserve my utterances of "oh my god" and "god fucking damn it!" for when I'm at home, where no one else is religious.

Around others, I say "oh my gosh" and "darn it." My husband makes fun of me for it.


Jesus H. Christ is one of the ones I grew up hearing and routinely use.

Anyone know what the "H" stands for?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Not religious, but I try to reserve my utterances of "oh my god" and "god fucking damn it!" for when I'm at home, where no one else is religious.

Around others, I say "oh my gosh" and "darn it." My husband makes fun of me for it.


Jesus H. Christ is one of the ones I grew up hearing and routinely use.

Anyone know what the "H" stands for?



Two theories from the Straight Dope:

It recalls the H in the IHS logo emblazoned on much Christian paraphernalia. IHS dates from the earliest years of Christianity, being an abbreviation of "Jesus" in classical Greek characters. The Greek pronunciation is "Iesous," with the E sound being represented by the character eta, which looks like an H. When the symbol passed to Christian Romans, for whom an H was an H, the unaccountable character eventually became accepted as Jesus's middle initial.

Another theory is that the H derives from the taunting Latin inscription INRH that was supposedly tacked on the cross by Roman soldiers: Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Hebrei (Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Hebrews). Trouble is, the inscription is usually given as INRI: Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum (J.C., King of the Jews).
Anonymous
Most swearing does not bother me. But, taking the Lord's name really does. I have a boss that uses GD or JC all the time and it makes me very uncomfortable. I was raised that OMG is just as bad and it does bother me. If someone uses other swear words in front of me, I'm not offended.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:You hear someone say, "Oh My God!" Then you hear someone say, "Eat shit motherfucker!" Which is more offensive to your ears? Yeesh.


Yeesh indeed. I had no idea people were so sensitive about this.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:The use of "God, " "Jesus Christ," or any other reference to a religious figure really rub me the wrong way. I don't mind f*ck, sh*t, damn, etc. at all (well, away from the kids).


Interesting - why doesn't damn bother you? It's got obvious religious connotations - is it that there's no explicit reference to God?
Anonymous
I don't mind f*ck, sh*t, damn, etc. at all.

OK, here's a question (not just the for the PP, but lots of others as well).

Why on earth do you write f*ck and sh*t? Why not just write it out? Is it some sort of unreasoning prejudice against vowels?

It just makes no sense to me. You know what you're saying, everyone else knows what you're saying, your meaning is crystal clear. Do you really think it makes you more pure, or polite, or whatever? Is it a fear that the spyware on your company's computer will pick up on the word and nail you? Our computer overlords will not approve? What is it?

It's particularly hilarious when this fig leaf is used by someone who professes to not mind cursing at all.
Anonymous
I don't use it because as an atheist, I feel silly saying "my god".
Anonymous
so are the people who are offended by Oh my God also offended by OMG?
Anonymous
OMG could mean "gosh" so it doesn't bother me. Oh My God, starts to sound like "oh, my, gawwwwwwwwd," after a while. Like you're from Jersey. (I am from Jersey, so I make a point of saying, "goodness" or "gosh.")

If you watch Extreme Makeover Home Improvement, almost all of the new-home recipients say "gosh." It's like they were coached. . . .

Crikey is fun--I like that!
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