A very useful word

Doesn't always work well. I have a very painful arthritic wrist at the moment and DGS landed on it when he threw himself at me recently. I screamed OUCH and he thought it hilarious. He didn't associate the noise I made with the 'event' and kept asking me to 'Say ouch again please grandma', no matter how many times I tried to explain what had happened

I don't think some people would even 'get' it. And little children could be easily confused - they don't really understand about hurt feelings and would keep thinking you'd banged your knee on something...

Why not simply tell them you consider their comments rude?
I shouldn't think they would care if you put 'ouch!' In fact they may feel pleased.
Honesty is the best policy.

Brilliant - I will use OUCH from now on when someone says something unkind to me. Thank you!

I think this is well worth a try

Thankyou, annsixty, I will definitely try that!

barbara I can think of several, far more appropriate words for him than "ouch"!

Oh wow! That really sounds a great non-confrontational way of expressing one's feelings. I so wish I had thought of that 6 months ago. I have volunteered for an organisation for many years and the chairman communicates with the volunteers by email entirely and these are often curt, sarcastic and unpleasant. He told me, when I complained that I wasn't suited to the work and should go elsewhere - Ouch would have been such an appropriate response. Thank you annsixty for that!

Must remember that. Very interesting I take it is ouch and notOUCH

I usually internalise hurt feelings which isnt good i know, but will try using this approach in future.

When I say ouch to my 17 month puppy hr knows to stop immediately

Excellent - I've never thought of using it this way.

always use 'ouch'! for hurt feelings etc..gets the message across without sounding sharp...

Great idea ann

I totally agree with that annsixty .

I have always found "Ouch" to be very useful when dealing with the DGC. It can mean that you are physically hurt or that your feelings are hurt. Either way very effective.

Good idea!
Maybe GNHQ could come up with an "ouch" emoticon??
My tablet will do ?