General Discussion

madfloridian

(88,117 posts)

65. I am just surprised that it is considered a bad phrase to use.

Wed Jun 11, 2014, 12:57 AM

Jun 2014

I was tonight thinking back to when hubby passed away last year. The caregiver and hospice nurse were so kind. I kept hearing words like bless your heart, honey....it is said freely and was when I was growing up. It just blows my mind to learn here tonight that it has undertones like that.

I say to people who are hurting with maybe a hug. I've never seen anyone offended.

I am not the one who said it in this post. It's part of my speech pattern, but I don't remember using it to write.

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If a DUer said "bless your heart" to another DUer they are arguing with, would you vote to hide? [View all] muriel_volestrangler Jun 2014 OP

I think of it as being smart-ass rather than as an insult. arcane1 Jun 2014 #1

I think the jury system and hiding posts is bullshit and doc03 Jun 2014 #2

Yeah, i cant get used to this system randys1 Jun 2014 #5

Agreed. alphafemale Jun 2014 #37

I grew up in the south, mostly.... mike_c Jun 2014 #3

LOL - I just wrote the opposite OKNancy Jun 2014 #6

LOL-- I would never have guessed.... mike_c Jun 2014 #18

its all in the context d_r Jun 2014 #20

That was what happened in my home when I grew up too. Skidmore Jun 2014 #27

In the south ( USA) it's an insult OKNancy Jun 2014 #4

I think it's pretty much a Southernism, at least originally. Jackpine Radical Jun 2014 #7

Hmmmm 2naSalit Jun 2014 #40

Yeah, the northern usage is pretty straightforward & literal. Jackpine Radical Jun 2014 #47

I must confess 2naSalit Jun 2014 #49

I don't interpret the phrase like that. blogslut Jun 2014 #8

This one. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jun 2014 #14

My dad used to say it about JustAnotherGen Jun 2014 #19

Exactly. n/t tammywammy Jun 2014 #56

I've seen it used as an insult on DU several times mokawanis Jun 2014 #9

Once, in Meta, a DUer specifically stated that they were going to use the phrase Luminous Animal Jun 2014 #42

I've said it but meant it literally renate Jun 2014 #10

Nope Throd Jun 2014 #11

That phrase has multiple meanings, not necessarily the one in your OP Lars39 Jun 2014 #12

Nope. Wouldn't hide it... SidDithers Jun 2014 #13

My dad was a 'Bama man JustAnotherGen Jun 2014 #15

Other. I think it is an insult but is too mild an insult to hide (nt) Nye Bevan Jun 2014 #16

I wouldn't choose to hide (though I realize it is an insult) etherealtruth Jun 2014 #17

No. But bless your heart for asking. Hekate Jun 2014 #21

DUzy! scarletwoman Jun 2014 #25

I didn't know it was an insult.. I use it when the mood strikes me and I Cha Jun 2014 #31

IF you're looking for an insult, it's there Glitterati Jun 2014 #22

I wouldn't hide it because as insults go that is so tame. Much worse is left to stand routinely. redqueen Jun 2014 #23

Other. No, I wouldn't hide it, even though I can recognize when it's being used ironically. scarletwoman Jun 2014 #24

Other, and I won't alert on this for being Meta either. ScreamingMeemie Jun 2014 #26

I'm from the south and Bless Your Heart does not in any way mean "Fuck You" Heddi Jun 2014 #28

That was always how we used it, too. DeadLetterOffice Jun 2014 #57

Uh, are liberals and progressives a bunch of tattletale whiny crybabies? randys1 Jun 2014 #29

I'll say it, they are crybabies. Puzzledtraveller Jun 2014 #32

A very sensitive bunch who would alert on "bless your heart". Cha Jun 2014 #33

"bless your heart" randys1 Jun 2014 #41

It's funny 'cause I've been saying "bless their heart or hearts" for people that Cha Jun 2014 #43

Agreed The Road Runner Jun 2014 #46

No. Tierra_y_Libertad Jun 2014 #30

Out of context? Who in the fuck can answer this question? longship Jun 2014 #34

I think people can still read hidden posts so Leme Jun 2014 #35

Bless your fart. undeterred Jun 2014 #36

I never heard "bless your heart" used until I moved to NC. WorseBeforeBetter Jun 2014 #38

Other. Of course not! Until this joint is renamed the Democratic ... 11 Bravo Jun 2014 #39

Where's the WTH option? Owl Jun 2014 #44

Depends on who says it Capt. Obvious Jun 2014 #45

All I can say to the person who created this poll.."Bless your heart" Toots Jun 2014 #48

Some people don't like "fuck you" in an argument muriel_volestrangler Jun 2014 #50

While I find it to be on the snarky side Jake Stern Jun 2014 #51

Now we can't say "bless your heart"? madfloridian Jun 2014 #52

Somebody told DU it meant "fuck you" and DU was stupid enough to believe it mathematic Jun 2014 #53

Unless you're a Southerner, don't try to use "Bless Your Heart." moriah Jun 2014 #54

Civility is not defined by just a few words in a post, but in that and the arguments made CreekDog Jun 2014 #55

Not Americans generally, just passive aggressive religious southern women (but I repeat myself.) LeftyMom Jun 2014 #58

SO now I'm a passive aggressive southern woman. Who'd have thunk it. madfloridian Jun 2014 #62

Am I supposed to read minds? I had no idea you were the one who said "bless your heart" LeftyMom Jun 2014 #64

I am just surprised that it is considered a bad phrase to use. madfloridian Jun 2014 #65

I am talking about when there is already an argument between 2 people muriel_volestrangler Jun 2014 #67

Over-the-Top... Jeff In Milwaukee Jun 2014 #59

Nope. Even if it's meant as a barb, I wouldn't hide it... countryjake Jun 2014 #60

Unbelievable. madfloridian Jun 2014 #61

Contextually it can be an insult. Comes from an old joke Nevernose Jun 2014 #63

Nnnnnope. cherokeeprogressive Jun 2014 #66

It depends on the context. redgreenandblue Jun 2014 #68