YankeyMCC
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Sat Apr-02-05 11:17 AM
Original message |
God damn it! and other exclamations |
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A little lighter fare for discussion. This is perhaps a petty thing but I've made conscious efforts to get rid of things like "God damn it" "Holy (fill in blank)" "Jesus Christ!" when I'm surprised, injure myself (stub my toe etc...) or suddenly outraged.
Usually I can accomplish this with "sh-t" "that sucks" blah blah but only when I have a moment to think. I'll still let out a "god damn it" when I stub my toe more often than not.
What (if anything) do you all do? And what level of success?
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Longhorn
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Sat Apr-02-05 11:21 AM
Response to Original message |
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"Oh my god" and "bless you" when someone sneezes.
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YankeyMCC
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Sat Apr-02-05 11:56 AM
Response to Reply #1 |
Longhorn
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Sat Apr-02-05 12:18 PM
Response to Reply #3 |
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I guess I say, "Oh, wow," or "Oh, my," because I'm stopping myself from adding, "god." As far as when someone sneezes, I say nothing. That's why it feels rude, because I was raised to say it the same as you say, "You're welcome" after someone says, "Thank you." But I remind myself that it's just a sneeze -- what makes it different from a cough?
As far as "god-damned," I picked up the habit of saying "dad-gum" or "dad-gummit" years ago but when I'm really pissed, I still say "god-dammit."
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PassingFair
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Sat Apr-02-05 02:18 PM
Response to Reply #3 |
11. I make up my own, my current favorite being: |
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Holy Mother of a Liberal Jew! Cracks up my catholic acquaintainces...
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trotsky
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Sat Apr-02-05 11:22 AM
Response to Original message |
2. I still use religious profanities. |
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I guess out of habit. :shrug:
But I do give the F-bomb quite the workout, too.
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Longhorn
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Sat Apr-02-05 12:20 PM
Response to Reply #2 |
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In fact, when I first joined DU, I would put people on "Ignore" who used the F-word. Then I realized that there are worse offenses and I cleaned out my "Ignore" file and rarely use it any more. Now that I'm less sensitive to it, I find myself using the word more myself and having to catch myself! Thanks, DU! :D
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Az
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Sat Apr-02-05 12:42 PM
Response to Original message |
6. Religious phrases are part of language |
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Denying that our culture and society are soaked with godspeak is simply spiting our own nose. God is an explitive for me in situations. The words to my mind convey emotion. So when I wish to express extreme emotions I naturally use them.
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onager
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Sat Apr-02-05 12:47 PM
Response to Reply #6 |
7. True, it's our culture |
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I just remind myself that if we were in ancient Greece, we'd be saying "Zeus dammit!"
The nice Jewish lady I work with has finally quit saying "God bless you" when I sneeze. Now she limits herself to "bless you."
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Az
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Sat Apr-02-05 12:53 PM
Response to Reply #7 |
8. My reminder to the "bless you" people |
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Those I know and are friendly with I simply tell them when they say "bless you" is "that doesn't work on me".
I also offer them when they sneeze the atheist response "Sneeze acknowledged". They get a kick out of it.
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YankeyMCC
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Sat Apr-02-05 01:37 PM
Response to Reply #8 |
9. I like both of those ideas! |
Phentex
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Sun Apr-03-05 10:06 AM
Response to Reply #8 |
22. I'll have to remember that! |
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I do not say "God Bless You" when someone sneezes.
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Discord
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Mon Apr-04-05 10:50 PM
Response to Reply #8 |
31. I will say bless you when someone sneezes, |
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but that has some of my pagan background involved in my decision to allow that part of speech.
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Baclava
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Sat Apr-02-05 06:42 PM
Response to Reply #7 |
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(No - I have no idea why I say that)
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RevCheesehead
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Sat Apr-02-05 07:54 PM
Response to Reply #12 |
13. Gesundheit = German, for "good health" |
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In WI, you're more likely to hear Gesundheit that "God bless you."
I hope you all don't mind me contributing to this group.
I come in peace, most sincerely.
Cheese
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Longhorn
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Sat Apr-02-05 08:29 PM
Response to Reply #13 |
14. I always thought "gesundheit" was just German for |
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"God bless you." So I'll have to start saying it again and then I won't feel so rude ignoring the sneeze. Thanks! :D
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RevCheesehead
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Sat Apr-02-05 08:46 PM
Response to Reply #14 |
15. I always thought "God bless you" was strange. |
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Honestly, it really does border on blasphemy, to casually throw out God's name.
I dunno. Maybe it's cultural. I grew up in WI, but have lived in many parts of the country (NJ, CA, and NC). We are indeed a culture of great diversity.
I will continue using Gesundheit - thanks for the reminder! :)
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RevolutionaryActs
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Sat Apr-02-05 08:53 PM
Response to Reply #15 |
16. Here's a little bit about how that started. |
RevCheesehead
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Sat Apr-02-05 08:57 PM
Response to Reply #16 |
17. heh - from one "Rev" to another! |
RevolutionaryActs
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Sat Apr-02-05 09:28 PM
Response to Reply #17 |
onager
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Sun Apr-03-05 12:05 AM
Response to Reply #16 |
19. Here's another regional difference... |
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I grew up in rural South Carolina (the Upstate part).
We used to say "scat!" when people sneezed. I guess it's the same basic idea as "god bless you"--telling any lurking demons trying to steal the soul to "scat" (or get away).
Now that I think of it, I don't think I ever heard "god bless you" or "gesundheit" until I left home. Except on TV.
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Zenlitened
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Mon Apr-04-05 12:57 PM
Response to Reply #15 |
27. I'm not sure that blasphemy is much of a concern here. - n/t |
Taxloss
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Mon Apr-04-05 02:26 PM
Response to Reply #15 |
29. It dates from the Black Death. |
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If someone sneezed, it was possible the had pneumonic plague and would need all the blessings they could get. "A-tish-oo, a-tish-oo, all fall down" as the children's rhyme still goes. Blasphemy was the least of their worries.
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Bill McBlueState
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Sat Apr-02-05 02:01 PM
Response to Original message |
10. instead of "oh my god" |
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How about "Oh your god!"
Bender used that one on Futurama.
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progressoid
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Sun Apr-03-05 11:40 AM
Response to Reply #10 |
24. Ooh, I like that. n/t |
pauliedangerously
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Sun Apr-03-05 12:21 AM
Response to Original message |
20. I say Jesus Christ all the time |
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I do it because I think it's funny. I mean, you use it when you're frustrated, you know? It's like, Dude, you died for THIS? Unbelievable.
We're not God's special creation; we're becoming the ultimate weed on the planet, gobbling up resources like there's no tomorrow. Jesus Christ Almighty.
My dad used to say Jesus Jumped-up Christ, Jesus Christ on a Crutch; Go to Hell and Goddammit were pretty common one when I was growing up.
I used to say "God Bless You" to this Baptist boss I had a long time ago. He and I had many serious discussions about religion and he would look really surprised when I would say that. It was pretty amusing.
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fshrink
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Sun Apr-03-05 12:25 AM
Response to Original message |
21. I'm struggling to replace "jeez" by "fuckin' shit". |
BiggJawn
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Sun Apr-03-05 10:21 AM
Response to Original message |
23. "Who do Atheists yell for when they Cum?" |
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"Oh, Random Chance! Oh, my Natural Selection! Oh, Darwin! Oh Darwin! OHHHHHHHHHH!"
I've tried substituting the name of other mythical characters, but saying "EeyOre Damn it!" just doesn't work...
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progressoid
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Sun Apr-03-05 11:50 AM
Response to Original message |
25. When my kids are around, I sometimes say "cheese-n-fries" or |
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other such innocuous phrases. Not out of respect for JC, but just as an example of other less vulgar (what ever that means) sayings available.
When I'm really pissed and the kids aren't around, the good stuff comes ou. Computer problems desreve a godammmit. Bush = fucking douchebag. etc.
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Zenlitened
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Mon Apr-04-05 12:56 PM
Response to Original message |
26. Meh. As long as we're referring to the sun as 'rising' and 'setting'... |
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... it's all just leftover language to me. :)
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Taxloss
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Mon Apr-04-05 02:23 PM
Response to Original message |
28. I say "Bless You" when someone sneezes |
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because I don't think giving someone your blessings is or should be the reserve of theists. Similarly, the words "mercy" and "heavens" (in the sense of the celestial sphere) I have no problem with. As a journalist, I work in a fairly sweary environment, and Mrs Taxloss and I are both adults, so I do use far stronger oaths.
Still, sometimes a "God almighty!" or "Christ!" slips out, but it doesn't bother me. Considering the grave and imminent danger that atheism is in, we have higher priorities to focus on.
In the long run - if we can resist these current setbacks and get back to advancing the enlightenment - I think we will reclaim "fuck". In the UK at least, it is becoming far more widespread and tolerated as a general exclamation and intensifer.
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Discord
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Mon Apr-04-05 10:46 PM
Response to Original message |
30. I make a conscious effort to not use religious terms |
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as much as possible. I do very well when writing, but it sometimes slips out during verbal dialogue.
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Behind the Aegis
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Tue Apr-05-05 02:19 AM
Response to Original message |
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I use all kinds. Depends on my mood. I try to be respectful, but if I am pissed off, whatever comes out, comes out. Wanna make me madder? Correct me when I say something like "Jesus Christ." I usually only use that name when I am expressing disbelief about something. "The bill is $100?! Jesus Christ!" Sometimes, I monitor myself. I was at the dentist and they gave me the bill and it was $500!! I mumbled.."Jesus Christ, how am I going to pay this?!" The secretary scolded, "That is NOT appropriate!" I said,"I am sorry. Holy FUCKING shit! How am I going to pay this motherfucking bill?" She never corrected me again! But, I did try not to use JC around her.
I have NEVER thought "G-ddamnit" was taking the Lord's name in vain. I always saw it as a curse, an "evil eye," if you will. You are asking G-d to damn or curse something or someone. But that's just me!
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