I was reading an entry over at The Hot Librarian about the lack of manners (common courtesy) that some people show in return once it has been extended to them.
Her entry dealt with wishing someone a good day and letting someone in front of you when you're in a line of cars so I'll pick on something different.
When I say thank you the correct response should be one of the following:
- you're welcome
- my pleasure
- a foreign language variant of the above
What really bugs me is when I get a 'no problem', especially when it is from someone working in a store or some other customer facing job. I should hope that doing their job is 'no problem' for them...
Another thing that bugs me is when you stop ahead of time to let someone cross in front of you and they stroll/crawl across the road without the slightest appreciation for your thoughtfulness. How about a little wave and that fake half-jog that shows you appreciate the stop and want to extend the courtesy back in the other direction?
Posted by bbarton at July 19, 2005 02:09 PMWHOA! Is this ever a timely post. My father, the king of good manners and ettiquette has a contention with "thank you". He feels it's completely archaic and unnecessary. We all laugh our butts off in the family because it's so silly, so obviously off, and so NOT like him.
You just can't figure out some people!
LB
Posted by: Laurenbove on July 20, 2005 08:21 AM
You know how I feel about good manners, bob. Always a good thing.
Posted by: miss marisol on July 20, 2005 09:29 AMChosen - no problem 'really' bugs me when it is a service situation...among friends and family, I translate it in my mind to mean thank you. :)
LB - that is too funny. You wonder what happens in someone's mind that allows such an inconsistency to exist.
Marisol - I totally agree!
Posted by: Bob on July 20, 2005 09:39 AMAh ha! Are you one of those? I hate motorists who "stop early" when they clearly have enough time to easily pass by me at my current pace -- now I have to break into that half-jog and wave when we should have just both been able to keep on our separate paths unhindered and unhastened. Of course there are exceptions: if the pedestrian is hot the motorist should always stop early.
Posted by: David on July 20, 2005 06:20 PMoh! i HATE it when people say "no problem"
i always say, "my pleasure" or "you're welcome" - but i'm annoyingly cheerful when i work...
bah! what else i can't stand? when you let somebody in line in traffic, and they don't give The Wave.
i get pissed when they don't give The Wave.
David - I always stop early for hot chicks. I'm talking about when the person is just at the edge of the crosswalk and I stop rather than making them jump back.
Erin - Yep...gotta have the wave!
Posted by: Bob on July 21, 2005 12:43 PM
I believe Andy Rooney has said almost exactly the same thing on 60 minutes several times.
For the record, I tend to say no problem most of the time. Then again, I'm one of those people who gives a real answer when asked, "How are you?" when most people just mumble "fine" or "good, you?" and keep walking.
Posted by: Chosen on July 19, 2005 09:08 PM