Ah, bless.

Baggs

Lucca

But that’s merely a trivial opinion and certainly wouldn’t merit a campaign?. Nor would I be rude enough to ask a nurse to stop saying it !

Why is it rude in your opinion to ask someone to stop doing something that you think is "insulting" and "irritating" (in the OP's words)?

I just think it would be rude to say to an NHS person please stop saying Bless. How else can I explain my view ?!

It certainly does sound patronising. Had a colleague at work who said it regularly. In a sarcastic way. Don't like it at all.

I agree that "Aw, bless" sounds patronising, not to mention pretty meaningless.

I had always understood that saying "Bless you" when someone sneezes was because it was thought that a sneeze could blow your soul out of your body and so the devil could get in, or perhaps take your soul away. If someone said "Bless you" it would save you from either. When I googled it, it seems that this explanation as well as the one about the plague is possible. Either way, I do say it automatically when someone sneezes, but would never dream of saying "Aw bless"!

Callistomen You have got it in one!

Colloquialisms ?

I don't think it's the local colliaquisms such as lover, duck, chick, hen etc although I certainly wouldn't expect a professional to use them when addressing me.

It's just tha "Aw, bless" does sound patronising.

Annaram1

When I moved to Dorset I used to like going into a shop and the assistant called me "My lover!!" I'd like to be someone's lover actually.

Now in Devon I get called Love, sweetheart, dear. etc. I don't care.

?

Devon was 'my lover' too!

It’s not really something you hear where I live in Scotland but on my last visit to my son just outside London I was blessed enough that I really think I should be known as Saint Sue now! The receptionist at the hotel was into multiple blessings, it was her response to everything.

‘Here is your key card’
‘Thank you.’
‘Bless!’

‘Could I have an extra towel, please?’
‘Bless! Of course you can.’

‘I can’t seem to get logged on to the internet.’
‘Bless! Shall I see if I can help?’
‘Yes, please.’
‘Bless!’

but also ?. It’s better than being cursed!

If you don't like people saying it then tell them, they would be saying it kindly and do not know that it irritates.

I have never said bless to anyone, if people say it to me I am not bothered as it is meant well, usually said by people 20 years younger than me which is fine as to them I am old.

When I moved to Dorset I used to like going into a shop and the assistant called me "My lover!!" I'd like to be someone's lover actually.

Now in Devon I get called Love, sweetheart, dear. etc. I don't care.

Having read your latest post, Mon, I see that the real problem is that she's a bad nurse, or was with respect to your complaint that actually needed proper treatment. I suppose the Aw Blesses (blast them! so to speak) could be seen as an indication of that.

I still think I'd have said something, maybe not to ask her to stop the aw blesses, but to get through to her that I thought I actually needed treatment and not saccharine sympathy.

Perhaps I'm lucky at our GP surgery; the nurse I see for annual checks is very professional but also very approachable.

Lucca

But that’s merely a trivial opinion and certainly wouldn’t merit a campaign?. Nor would I be rude enough to ask a nurse to stop saying it !

Why is it rude in your opinion to ask someone to stop doing something that you think is "insulting" and "irritating" (in the OP's words)?

Totally agree, M0nica!

Its not a phrase I'd use nor get irritated about. I am far to involved with other worries to get het up about a fairly meaningless phrase usually well meant. Now, if you want to campaign about the C word being used in comedy, count me in. I hate that word and find it really offensive.

M0nica I whole-heartedly agree!

I had a telephone conversation with one of the GPs at the surgery, trying to express to her the pain I was in and asking for help.
She just kept saying, "ah bless" or "oh bless you, poor you" until I was ready to yell down the phone at her.

Luckily she referred me to one of her colleagues who saw me in person and was very professional and thorough.

Saying bless you when someone sneezes is quite different. It originated from the time of the Great Plague as sneezing was often the first sign someone had the plague.

It's not an expression I use or hear much but I detest the expression Hun.

kittylester

Think this thread is tongue in heek maddyone.

Well my husband always says I don’t have a sense of humour.

I haven’t seen it being complained about on several threads and don’t hear many people using it either. It’s not something I’d say myself.

No, of course I am not suggesting it should be officially banned.

Nor am I bothered by all the other endearments people through about, any thing from 'pet', 'sweetheart', 'princess', 'luvvy' and all the others posters have mentioned, not even being calle a 'guy'. These are all words used at random with no particular purpose.

What bothers me about 'Ah (aw) bless', is the tone in which it is usually said and the situations it is used in. It seems to be always said in a downwards tone that goes with talking down to people. When a baby or toddler does something sweet, an onlooker will look at it and say 'Ah, bless'. When a dog runs to greet its owner, the response of an onlooker will again be 'Ah, bless - and if you are elderly and the person you are talking to, thinks your comments or request or symptoms are not worth taking notice of (because you are old), they will look at you, smile and say 'Ah bless'.

This was the distinct impression I got when I saw our nurse practioner, I was dismissed with a trivial diagnosis and no help with a minor but chronic problem and ''Ah, blesses' all the way through the consultation. A year later I saw a doctor, who sent me for an xray, gave me prescription of antibiotics, that finally cleared the chronic minor infection I had, and another prescription (not antibiotics) that I can renew everytime the problem comes back - and a considerable improvement in my quality of life!

I have now reached the age where I am blessed quite regularly,especially as I have acquired an arthritic hip,well two actually, and a shopping trolley as my car gave up the ghost,it appears I need blessing on a regular basis,,but if it gets me treated kindly,and helps I dont mind.

I however have the last laugh,they dont realise,I am really 36 inside a 70 year old body pretending to need blessing to get what I want and make them feel useful

Guilty of using Bless here in response to lovely videos of my DGS. However, we also use it in a slightly sarcastic way. eg: Mary’s (entitled) son is in a strop as she won’t let him borrow her car - to which we’d say ‘bless’. A bit more polite than tough sh*t!

Ì have held off Facebook until recently joining, as all village events and Dr surgery info are now on fb.
One of the first things I noticed was there would a photo or map
And ...
With Fred and Mary in Tunbridge Wells Feeling blessed ?

I quite agree Curlywhirly. Offence is often taken where none is intended,

It doesn't bother me at all, neither does anyone calling me luvvy, Princess, love, hun etc. I don't see them as patronising terms, just someone being friendly.

I think ‘Bless you’ for sneezing comes from God Bless You, because sneezing was a symptom of plague, so you needed God’s blessing.