Sorry, Phoon...just noticed your question...was busy elsewhere.
and as G-d mentioned,
I'm curious Doc. Why do you refuse to type the word God in any post?
The prohibition against erasing or defacing Names of G-d applies only to Names that are written in some kind of permanent form, and recent rabbinical decisions have held that writing on a computer is not a permanent form, thus it is not a violation to type G-d's Name into a computer and then backspace over it or cut and paste it, or copy and delete files with G-d's Name in them. However, once you print the document out, it becomes a permanent form. That is why observant Jews avoid writing a Name of G-d on web sites like this one or in newsgroup messages: because there is a risk that someone else will print it out and deface it. Defacing also might be extended to include cases where people might be free with language/pictures which might be felt by someone more religious than I to be offensive....a matter of association and intent.
I would also hasten to add that the Hebrew for G-d's name bears no resemblance to the English...different letters, sounds and alphabet...the English is a phonetic approximation of the Hebrew (not very accurate).
I, on a more personal note refrain also to respect other Jewish people who might be more observant than I, so as not to offend their sensitivities.
