# WTF is it with this forum and "Og?" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 18, 2006, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-it-with-this-forum-and-og/340537 "2006-01-18T18:54:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2006, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-it-with-this-forum-and-og/340537/81 "2006-01-18T22:48:58Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > Actually, what many people here seem to be saying is that the typical “SDMB in joke” was funny once. For 20 minutes. in 1960. While listening to Rio by Duran Duran. Armed with a 1920’s style “Death Ray.” With penis ensuing immediately after the requisite greeting of **Opal**. (Have I gotten annoying enough yet?) Got **ME** , Ya. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2006, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-it-with-this-forum-and-og/340537/82 "2006-01-18T22:51:57Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > They’re amusing at first, but they tend to stop being so amusing after a while. Not unlike some posters in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2006, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-it-with-this-forum-and-og/340537/83 "2006-01-18T22:52:38Z")
Old people, avert your eyes. For the noobs: [Beginner’s Guide to Glossary of Terms on Straight Dope Message Boards](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=320298) ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2006, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-it-with-this-forum-and-og/340537/84 "2006-01-18T22:53:34Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > They’re amusing at first, but they tend to stop being so amusing after a while. This can be said of wives, kids, jobs, and just about everything under the sun, sans a good bj. That doesn’t mean I begrudge anyone any of the above. It’s a petty thing to get your knickers in a twist over. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2006, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-it-with-this-forum-and-og/340537/85 "2006-01-18T22:56:16Z")
As a serious answer, I use Og because, as a no longer self-identifying Christian, I feel it’s disrespectful/offensive to use God in anything but a reverent way. So, if I might utter “Oh my Og!” instead of its somewhat comparable counterpart. And it seems to be a good middle ground and less cumbersome than others that I’ve tried (like the IPU or FSM, which I really like both of, but they just don’t roll off my tongue right). Maybe that helps? Oh, and I never even think of it anymore as an in-joke for just here. It strikes me as so multi-purpose that it could be gotten anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2006, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-it-with-this-forum-and-og/340537/86 "2006-01-18T22:57:26Z")
> [@Waverly](#): > > This can be said of wives, kids, jobs, and just about everything under the sun, sans a good bj. That doesn’t mean I begrudge anyone any of the above. It’s a petty thing to get your knickers in a twist over. Like I said back on page one of this thread, it’s not something I really care about. They’re not funny to me, but they don’t irritate me either. It’s **Ooner** who wrote the scathing reference to Simpsons quotes; I just responded to **Wolfian** ’s “Fucko off”, which I thought was unnecessary. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2006, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-it-with-this-forum-and-og/340537/87 "2006-01-18T23:04:53Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > Actually, what many people here seem to be saying is that the typical “SDMB in joke” was funny once. For 20 minutes. in 1960. While listening to Rio by Duran Duran. Armed with a 1920’s style “Death Ray.” With penis ensuing immediately after the requisite greeting of **Opal**. (Have I gotten annoying enough yet?) It’s like being gang raped with in-jokes. what? ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2006, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-it-with-this-forum-and-og/340537/88 "2006-01-18T23:07:29Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > it’s not something I really care about. You care about it so little, in fact, that you developed a pet theory regarding it which is too unkind for words. It must be a wonder to a see a hypothesis borne of a topic you do care about. ---
**Author:** ![zelie\_zelerton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/59ef9b/32.png) [@zelie\_zelerton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zelie_zelerton)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2006, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-it-with-this-forum-and-og/340537/89 "2006-01-18T23:10:15Z")
Well i still say you’re all wrong and you should be worshipping x instead. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2006, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-it-with-this-forum-and-og/340537/90 "2006-01-18T23:12:30Z")
> [@Waverly](#): > > You care about it so little, in fact, that you developed a pet theory regarding it which is too unkind for words. It must be a wonder to a see a hypothesis borne of a topic you do care about. Uh, what’s your problem? Like I said back on page one, it’s not something I really care about. I just thought **Wolfian** was being a little unnecessarily rude. Sheesh, I’m not the president of the Anti In-Joke Brigade. And like I said, it’s not really a theory - it’s just something I’ve noticed in the real world and suspect is true here as well. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2006, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-it-with-this-forum-and-og/340537/91 "2006-01-18T23:15:53Z")
How did we go this long without a single mention of Sheep? As far as the \*\*Excalibre’s \*\* theory/observation, I don’t buy it. The in jokes on the board are similar to in jokes people have with friends, there are a lot of old jokes/embarrassing memories I share with my friends In the Real World (IRL) that no one but us would get. I think it is good that a certain shared memory has built up on this board. It adds to the continuity and sense of community. The board is also good at getting anyone who wants to up to speed with the jokes. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2006, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-it-with-this-forum-and-og/340537/92 "2006-01-18T23:17:44Z")
> [@What Exit?](#): > > As far as the \*\*Excalibre’s \*\* theory/observation, I don’t buy it. > > The in jokes on the board are similar to in jokes people have with friends, there are a lot of old jokes/embarrassing memories I share with my friends In the Real World (IRL) that no one but us would get. No argument here. All groups have in-jokes. What I’ve noticed is that some people _really_ sort of cling to them. _Those_ people are the ones who are socially stunted. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2006, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-it-with-this-forum-and-og/340537/93 "2006-01-18T23:22:47Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > No argument here. All groups have in-jokes. What I’ve noticed is that some people _really_ sort of cling to them. _Those_ people are the ones who are socially stunted. Oh, well I willing to give that more credence but maybe that is just geeky behavior in general, there are a lot of various types of geeks on this message board. _(including me)_ ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2006, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-it-with-this-forum-and-og/340537/94 "2006-01-18T23:25:34Z")
> [@zelie zelerton](#): > > Well i still say you’re all wrong and you should be worshipping x instead. Some of us did for a while, but x emphasizes kindness and love, and we just can’t go along with that. Smashing is much more up our alley. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2006, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-it-with-this-forum-and-og/340537/95 "2006-01-18T23:25:36Z")
that was suppose to be **I am Willing** … ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2006, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-it-with-this-forum-and-og/340537/96 "2006-01-18T23:27:11Z")
> [@What Exit?](#): > > Oh, well I willing to give that more credence but maybe that is just geeky behavior in general, there are a lot of various types of geeks on this message board. _(including me)_ Geeks, you say? On an internet message board??? Say it ain’t so! (you keep using that word as it applies to you. I do not think it means what you think it means.) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2006, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-it-with-this-forum-and-og/340537/97 "2006-01-18T23:28:04Z")
> [@Maureen](#): > > Some of us did for a while, but x emphasizes kindness and love, and we just can’t go along with that. Smashing is much more up our alley. I gave up the worship of x decades ago, but I still think he had some good thing to say. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2006, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-it-with-this-forum-and-og/340537/98 "2006-01-18T23:31:22Z")
Og isn’t an “SDMB in joke” to me. It’s a word that has entered my everyday vocabulary meaning “non-specific deity.” It may have originated on the SDMB, but it’s like any slang I might have picked up anywhere. Since I have a Jewish background, I am a tiny bit uncomfortable writing “God,” and for a variety of other reasons, I don’t like throwing around terms like “thank God!” I’m not an atheist, but my reasons are similar to **Eonwe** ’s. Thus, “Og” has conveniently replaced “God” in my everyday lexicon. The people I know best either know what/who Og actually is, or just write it off as some weird quirk of mine. The people I don’t know best…well, I would avoid “God” references with them entirely, so it’s not an issue. And I usually get a laugh out of SDMB in-jokes. Sorry if some of you find it so tiresome, but I do enjoy a well timed “gotcha ya!” ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2006, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-it-with-this-forum-and-og/340537/99 "2006-01-18T23:31:42Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > Uh, what’s your problem? Petitio Principii. Your question assumes that I have a problem to answer for. I find you rather, shall we say, bewildering, as your assertion that inside jokes don’t bother you is clearly contrary to other statements you have made. But this isn’t a problem for _me_. I’ve got personality defects galore, but fear of saying exactly what I mean isn’t one of them. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2006, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-it-with-this-forum-and-og/340537/100 "2006-01-18T23:34:01Z")
You know it is weird and possibly not related but I am pretty sure \*\*Og \*\* is mentioned in the **Moon is a Harsh Mistress** , written around 1965. **Maureen** , did you mean the word Geek? Jim [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-it-with-this-forum-and-og/340537.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-it-with-this-forum-and-og/340537.md?page=6)