I`m not going to pass away

I have never heard a death announced in the news as passing. It is used in history programmes, with the passing of King X, but not as an announcement of a death on the news

Go on eddiecat, let's know what else annoys you.

The OP clearly stated that it was in relation to a news item using the word 'passing'.

Previously, it would have been reported that someone has died which is much more factual - it is news, not a conversation with a friend or neighbour who has just been bereaved.

As someone on another thread has pointed out, this is not a face to face discussion between friends. This is a chat forum for people who have some trivial connection -in this case generally age and grandchildren. The comment I made was the thought that comes into my head and I look at my DH and know that he has had the same thought. No, I didn't sit and consider those on here who have had loved ones who have died - but that's all of us at some point or other. And on a thread which is specifically about someone's sadness then of course the only response is consideration for their feelings in whatever way they wish to express them. This was not what this thread was about! It was specifically about terms used for death. And if you were in a situation where this was likely to upset you, I really fail to understand why you would want to read it.
So no, I'm not going to apologise for my, quite possibly, strange sense of humour

Gosh - I wish I hadn`t started this now. Are we not allowed to say what annoys us without being attacked? Of course everyone should describe death in whatever way they feel most comfortable - I`ll just restrict myself to shouting at the tele in the privacy of my own home from now on
Incidentally there are lots of other things in life that annoy me - but I won`t be sharing any of them either!

Of course people should use whatever term works for them. The one I dislike though is "fell asleep". I think it is better to differentiate between the temporary and the permanent and I know children for whom this term has caused upsetting fears thinking they may fall asleep and never wake up

.thatbags, this thread is about everyone's death and bereavement , everyone dies and many are bereaved , nothing to do with being PC, in fact come to think of it, perhaps it is being PC that causes some to complain about passed away not died

If you want to say someone has died, that's fine - if someone else chooses to say someone has passed away, that's fine too. Why get annoyed/upset/angry over what term someone uses? It doesn't matter a jot to me how someone expresses their grief - my only concern would be how I could comfort them.

BadenKate, you thought it and you said it here , are there no bereaved people on this forum? Do yes I dare to say it was unkind because people do suffer great loss

For goodness sake Anniebach how dare you imply that I would have the crass insensitivity to say anything like that to someone who was suffering from a bereavement! This was a thread about how people use euphemisms to avoid stating something bluntly and I'must sorry if those who have recently been in this situation - and my sympathies go out to them - are upset. But it'seems quite obvious from the start of the thread what it's about.

Can we not just 'say' something without the PC police picking us up. I notice you're not so sensitive in other things with other people's feelings.

No, you are not unkind, ab, but possibly oversensitive about what was clearly a joke. Jokes in bad taste are allowed in a free society. And the one mentioned was not aimed at anyone. It's just an off the cuff remark on a suitable thread. This thread is not about anybody's death or bereavement.

I absolutely prefer died/dead but understand that some prefer passed away. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." I take my lead from the bereaved person as they are the one going through the hell of grief.

Sorry my laptop seems to have had a blip - I didn't mean to post all those!!!

Well said thatbags Whatever words are used when someone dies it doesn't lessen the pain of that "loss"

Well said thatbags Whatever words are used when someone dies it doesn't lessen the pain of that "loss"

Well said thatbags Whatever words are used when someone dies it doesn't lessen the pain of that "loss"

Well said thatbags Whatever words are used when someone dies it doesn't lessen the pain of that "loss"

Well said thatbags Whatever words are used when someone dies it doesn't lessen the pain of that "loss"

Well said thatbags Whatever words are used when someone dies it doesn't lessen the pain of that "loss"

Well said thatbags Whatever words are used when someone dies it doesn't lessen the pain of that "loss"

.thatbags, nothing wrong with saying - I say died not lost or passed away. But to speak of looking behind the sofa is mocking . Perhaps I am unkind to those who have not experienced the loss death brings to the bereaved

I've no real issue with any terms for dying, but I find myself saying I "lost" my mum, because that's exactly what has happened. She died, and I have no idea where she has gone, or if she has gone to somewhere else. As far as I'm concerned, its a huge loss.

The words we use don't make any difference to the fact that someone has died. There's nothing tactless about expressing opinions on this issue. One can prefer the expression "has died" to "has passed away" without people getting offended. No-one is being attacked; a linguistic expression is being talked about, and that's all. "Has died" is not insensitive or rude or lacking in sympathy for the bereaved. People who maintain that it is any of those things are, quite simply, wrong.

I don't care what phrases other people use; I just prefer died. I think that's all anyone in support of "died" is saying.

dizzy thank you. No, I am not upset for myself , I am upset for the poster who has a thread on the death of her sister. My babies and husband died, but it angers me to read if I said I lost my husband someone would suggest looking behind a cushion .

Grief is so painful, the early stages are torture, how people choose to cope with it should be respected not mocked . Perhaps those who mock have never suffered such a dark night of the soul.

Does it matter if a family chooses a wreath spelling out a name? no it does not , would I ? no, neither would I mock those who do .

Instead of screaming dead not passed away at the tv why not , how sad .

In this towns cemetery there is a large grave stone , a marble Angel , inscribe is ' our beautiful daughter taken by Angels' it meant something to those parents, hopefully a little comfort . Would posters here say to those parents, not taken by angels she is dead , accept it.

I too prefer 'died' to euphemisms , but I think it's a bit insensitive to make fun of people who do use them. If it helps them by seeming a bit less harsh, then who are we to criticise?
As to ' toilet', that too was a euphemism - a lady's toilet was doing her hair and make up originally, and even 'lavatory' meant washing I think! When I was at school we called the toilet the 'cloakroom', which is presumably where you have your cloak! We'd probably have to go back to anglo saxon times to avoid euphemisms! But 'privy' surely means private place? I tend to use 'loo' as it seems more class neutral - posh people say lavatory and look down on the word toilet!!!!!
Euphemisms for menstruation are many and varied too. When I was at school a 'period' (in itself a euphemism) was called 'the curse'!