"aww bless"

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Often when I interact with people they often say "aww bless" at things I say. I find it patronising and infuriating. I am guessing its some sort of social admonishment for being 'too honest' or 'too niaeve'. It makes me feel embarrassed for having said the 'wrong' thing or having made a faux pas, it makes me feel different and stupid.

anyone else have people react to them like this?

anyone found a way of not saying things which induce exclamations of "aww bless"??

That's very condescending. But do you live in an area where "aww bless" is a frequently used phrase. I have an aspie Italian friend who gets really mad at the phrase "aww, what a picod!"
It's a sort of Ital/English phrase meaning "what a shame". Some people feel that they must utter words while you speak instead of just shutting up and listening. Maybe that's how the "aww bless" is being used. ??? Idunno. Are you bearing your soul to church-goers?
I'm biracial (Black/white) and a lot of my black relatives say "damn girl" after every third syllable I say. It really goes up my hole.

^^Greetings lotusblossum. I believe often happy humans do state this phrase when they are perhaps speaking with me or hear me speaking with another human.

It can be annoying, but I think it's just a social interjection. awww bless = I feel for you and am paying attention, but don't know what to say.
I don't think it's meant condescendingly at all. It's just something NTs say when they feel socially awkward themselves.

It depends on how people are saying it.

I grew up in the American south where people will say "bless her heart" or "bless your heart" or even "bless your little heart" and they're all condescending. It will come out like, "She's living on welfare because she had four babies by three different men, none of whom stuck around, bless her heart." Or "you really are particular about your food, bless your little heart." It's a way to sound socially acceptable but "everyone knows" what it really is for is to shame someone else in some way.

So look at the context in which people use it and, if you are able to pick up and interpret it, listen to the tone of voice they use when they say it. Also pay attention to how and when it's said to or about other people because it may be more obvious when it's applied to someone else other than yourself.

Never heard "aw, bless" but my DH uses "bless your heart" when he is expressing sympathy for someone who's having a hard time. While, culturally, it can be meant in a patronizing way, it also might be taken at face value: as a way of expressing a hopeful wish and understanding for someone who is troubled. Sort of a verbal hug.

huh. That's funny, this is definitely a regional thing. I've heard people saying that left and right in the American South, but where I live (California), I don't hear any such comments AT ALL. (Unless the person's visiting from the South).

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Lots of girls say it here in the UK.

I agree that it's patronising, but I think it means they find you cute and is generally a positive thing.

I had a tutor at college who once said it to me. I don't understand it, and also think it's very patronising.

I don't get called "duckie" "love" "cocker" or "fella" anymore down south. I miss those odd balls up north

I never use the word 'bless' and I hate the word; it exudes sentimentality and soppyiness, which both offend my need for objective logicality.

Unfortunately my support worker seems addicted to the word. If I mention going to the country and seeing some pretty farm animals, she will say 'bless' or 'bless them'. She also blesses other people, as in 'bless her', when talking about another person with Aspergers that she knows. Sometimes the word is used so grossly that I have to point it out. For example, I was talking about a programme that was recently on about violent young offenders, many of whom come from troubled backgrounds; 'bless them', she said!! !

It is a shame because it puts me off talking about subjects that could be sentimentalized, like animals or children.

My support worker is my only real source of social contact, and her support is vital, but I wish she would not use thay dreaded word!

Aww bless!

Aw.. bless your little cotton socks.