Someone asked why I say “gandhi” instead of “oh my god” or simply “god.” Let me count the ways:
- First, I’m not overly interested in taking the Lord’s name in vain or blaspheming. Generally, I try to avoid it.
- “Gosh” or “golly jee” or “jeepers creepers” are just euphemisms, saying ‘well’ what you’d really like to say.
- I have a (seminary!) professor who says “oh my god” and “god” flippantly. Can’t stand it; appalled, to say the least.
- Gandhi is multisyllabic. You can stretch it out in true moments of angst. Gannnn-dhi!
- Gandhi is no one’s deity; just a surname. It’s therefore less likely that someone will be offended by taking Gandhi’s name in vain.
- Overall annoyance at hearing “oh my god” used so flippantly. “Oh my Gandhi” is a cause for pause. It scores minor uniqueness points.
- Finally, humans (homo loquens) need a word or phrase which can be used to express frustration or angst. All languages have such words. My idiolect employs “Gandhi.”
I say pistis. It’s a greek word but it sounds great.
Faith? The gift of God! =)
And, too, it sounds too much like “pissed” or “piss.”
Drew,
Usually I prefer the to release my frustration the way they used to as they traveled the brine in search of buried treasure. It gives me that release and it causes people to look at me rather funny. And, I even have a day when it is culturally acceptable for me to talk like a pirate. Plus its flexible so I give your post a hearty “Argh!”
Dougald
(It’s so much better than my grandmother’s alternative…fiddlestix!