I recently overheard a mom say to her kid(s), "OMG." My first thought is, do people -- people that aren't just trying to seem cool -- really actually say, "OMG"? And if they do, why? I sort of understand the use of OMG as textspeak to save time and a few characters, but in an actual conversation, you don't save anything. OMG = three syllables. Oh my god = three syllables.
Maybe she just doesn't like to use the word "god." I can respect that, but the G definitely implies "god." Besides that, she could have just as easily (and quickly) said, "Oh my gosh." That's still three syllables. (All of which makes me wonder if implied swear words are really that much better than actual swear words when it comes to what we're teaching kids. Is saying "fudge" or "effing" really a better alternative to dropping the F-bomb?)
I've never heard people use other textspeak in real conversations. I've never heard someone say, "WTF" or "LOL." (Although, the S.O. and I have taken to sometimes saying, "Why the face." We picked it up from an episode of "Modern Family." The dad is explaining textspeak: LOL is laugh out loud. OMG is oh my god, WTF is why the face.) So why would someone say OMG? I just didn't get it. I have to wonder if I'm that out of touch or if that mom is.
Then again, I didn't hear the entire conversation. Maybe she said it because someone asked her how to say oh my god in textspeak. IDK*
*That's "I don't know" for us non-textspeakers.
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3 comments:
I've only heard anyone say OMG when they were intentionally being ridiculous.
As for swear words, we're trying to figure out the best way to deal with that stuff around our kids. The logical thing would be not to swear in front of them, I know, but we also don't want to instill a fear of words. Because they're just words. For now we're going with a rule that Kaylee can say bad words at home with us, but nowhere else. We'll see how that goes. Teaching her to say "fudge" just seems stupid. (Not that we've taught her to say the f-word, but she does know the s-word and says it on occasion.)
Have you noticed that 'textspeak' is totally making its way into business emails as well? Drives me NUTS!
That and writing in all lower case letters.
Or not 'signing' your name and just abruptly ending.
Or replying back with a single word answer.
Wowza, maybe I'm just hard to please :)
I use the words freaking or effing instead of the real F word which offends my kids and husband. They know if I use a real version of any swear word that either I am super ticked and mean business or maybe I just really hurt myself and can't censor at the moment.
My 8 year old likes to use text talk in conversation. It makes me giggle.
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