# Poll about taking the lord's name in vain **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 19, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590 "2009-04-19T02:48:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/101 "2009-04-20T02:02:03Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > Actually, good, but no. This was afternoon. There’s no disturbing the peace at this hour. > And, yes, I understand that El Preachero also knew these rights. He was allowed to preach, and I was allowed to disagree. That’s it. Neither he nor I were being public nuisances, at least at this hour in Van Nuys. I know the guy you mean. I’ve seen him at the corner of Van Nuys/Victory. (I live near there) It may not be a legal public nuisance, but that guy is freaking annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/102 "2009-04-20T02:17:45Z")
Asking me to refrain from using their or anyone else’s god’s name in vain is asking me to respect the god, which I don’t and I won’t. I wouldn’t argue about it – I just wouldn’t do it. To avoid confrontation, I might even lie and say I would try. If I “slipped”, I might say, “Oops, goddammit”. The only exception to this would be in the workplace, if I felt my job might be threatened. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/103 "2009-04-20T02:24:13Z")
Actually, **Boyo** , it’s asking you to respect them. Of course, as you noted, a person should only respect other’s people’s beliefs when it is financially advantageous for that person. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/104 "2009-04-20T02:34:21Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Actually, **Boyo** , it’s asking you to respect them. But they’re being disrespectful by making a request for you to change your behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/105 "2009-04-20T02:42:13Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Actually, **Boyo** , it’s asking you to respect them. > > Of course, as you noted, a person should only respect other’s people’s beliefs when it is financially advantageous for that person. :rolleyes: Would I be respecting or disrespecting Fred if I said Freddammit? Come to think of it, isn’t ‘goddammit’ being MORE respectful to a god in the sense that you are allowing as to how god might actually have the power to damn something and make it count? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/106 "2009-04-20T02:51:49Z")
What if they asked you not to say “dammit?” I see it as not swearing around your grandmother, or what have you. (Well, my maternal grandmother. My dad’s mother-I actually learned to swear from her. God, I miss her.) ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/107 "2009-04-20T03:50:55Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > But they’re being disrespectful by making a request for you to change your behavior. Are you saying that they shouldn’t do that? Do they need to change their behavior? ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/108 "2009-04-20T03:57:58Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > Are you saying that they shouldn’t do that? Do they need to change their behavior? Nope. I wouldn’t request such of them. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/109 "2009-04-20T04:07:22Z")
[Moderator Admonition]This is not a Pit thread, this is a poll. The next person who shows that she/he doesn’t know the difference is getting an official warning.[/Moderator Admonition] ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/110 "2009-04-20T04:24:39Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > I know the guy you mean. I’ve seen him at the corner of Van Nuys/Victory. (I live near there) It may not be a legal public nuisance, but that guy is freaking annoying. Yay! Thank you! Witnesses are better than witnessing. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/111 "2009-04-20T12:59:28Z")
You know, I don’t believe in God, and I have no especial respect for religious beliefs, and I certainly don’t believe that anyone has the right to never be offended, but I also believe that just because one \*can \*be disrespectful and obnoxious doesn’t mean one _should_. I also find it ironic that the request (and the belief) have been repeatedly called “childish”, when apparently the response to that request can be summed up as “Can’t make me! Neener neener!!!” ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/112 "2009-04-20T13:36:56Z")
This isn’t a poll-this is a religious debate. Moving thread from IMHO to Great Debates. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/113 "2009-04-20T13:40:34Z")
My honest intent was a simple poll. I had no idea that it would turn out like it did. My mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/114 "2009-04-20T13:52:24Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Unless I was in that person’s home, I would not comply. It is not their place to police my use of the word “God.” It’s their religion, not mine. I don’t see it as being any different than “politely” asking me not to eat pork in front of them. > > What would you say if you’re a woman and a Muslim “politely” asked you to cover your face in his presence? It’s exactly the same thing. It’s asking someone else to comply with their religious practices. There’s nothing “polite” about it. The fact that people actually think they would be rude NOT to comply says a lot about our culture of religious entitlement and how ingrained it is. > > How is it any different from asking someone “politely” not to say the words “God” or “Jesus Christ” at all. What does it mean to use the name “in vain” anyway? As far as I’m concerned, ANY invocation of gods is done in vain. Thank you for the voice of reason. I couldn’t have said it better. Would you fake a prayer for someone because they asked you to? ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/115 "2009-04-20T14:13:48Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > Thank you for the voice of reason. I couldn’t have said it better. Would you fake a prayer for someone because they asked you to? No, but if someone politely said to me “You know, the word ‘moist’ really squicks me out. Would you mind not using it?” I’d do my best to avoid it. Not because I think it’s a reasonable request, but because it makes them happy, and costs me nothing. I’m an atheist, but pick your battles, people. This is a matter of civility, not civil rights. “Please don’t blaspheme in front of me” is no more equivalent to “Let’s make religion mandatory” than “Please dont say ‘fuck’ in front of me” is equivalent to “Let’s reinstate the Hayes code”. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/116 "2009-04-20T14:42:49Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > No, but if someone politely said to me “You know, the word ‘moist’ really squicks me out. Would you mind not using it?” I’d do my best to avoid it. Not because I think it’s a reasonable request, but because it makes them happy, and costs me nothing. I agree with all of this. But I would also conclude that this person is abnormal and would treat him or her accordingly and would hesitate to entrust matters of consequence to him or her. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/117 "2009-04-20T14:49:51Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > But they’re being disrespectful by making a request for you to change your behavior. Pardon? A change in behavior includes “please take your shoes off when walking on the carpet”, “please turn your radio down while we’re sharing a desk” or “please stop punching my cat in the face”. Since when is merely asking something of someone “disrespectful”? ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/118 "2009-04-20T14:51:15Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > Back to the OP, I simply think it is childish to ask anyone to curb their speech so it doesn’t offend a person’s religion. Period. And if someone does ask politely, if you’re a non-believer (me), TELL THEM! From now on, I’m saying exactly this, “I’ll try, but I do not believe in any god.” 😕 I’m not sure I’m understanding you. Here you say that it’s childish to ask anyone to curb their speech so it doesn’t offend a person’s religion, but on the other hand you seem to think it’s a sacred _duty_ to curb someone’s speech so it doesn’t offend a person’s lack of religion? Could you explain how you reconcile those two thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/119 "2009-04-20T14:59:14Z")
I’d try but probably wouldn’t be very good at it. Saying things like: Well Holy God … Sweet Mary Mother of Jesus … Jesus… Jesus Christ … and many many more are part of the language over here as things to begins certain sentences with. Religious and non religious people use them all the time. I remember an American being confused with the amount of religious ref’s I used while speaking as he knew I was an atheist. I told him I was culturally Irish which meant I was going to use religious ref’s all the time. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590/120 "2009-04-20T15:11:52Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > I agree with all of this. But I would also conclude that this person is abnormal and would treat him or her accordingly and would hesitate to entrust matters of consequence to him or her. And agreed some more. Weird. Not someone I wanna hang with. Definitely not someone I’m gonna let babysit. But that doesn’t mean that I have carte blanche to be rude. Let’s be real here. All these people saying “I have the right to say whatever I want!!!”, well… yeah, you do. But is “I have the right to be rude” really the hill you wanna die on? Because simply refraining from taking the lord’s name in vain is not the same thing as endorsing a religious belief, any more than refraining from saying “fuck” is endorsing censorship. I know, I know… y’all are all badass and iconoclastic and provocative and blahblahblahdarwinfishcakes, but you’re not defending the rights of the downtrodden here, folks. You’re just behaving like spiteful children. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-about-taking-the-lords-name-in-vain/493590.md?page=7)