"Bless you" etiquette

Chat about non-baseball topics. No political discussions!
Post Reply
Gashouse
Perennial All-Star
Posts: 5032
Joined: June 15 06, 6:11 am
Location: Minneapolis

"Bless you" etiquette

Post by Gashouse »

New, young guy at work says "Bless you" every time someone sneezes. We're in an open-ish cubical area, such that we can have a conversation over the cube walls with 6-7 people. So if any of them sneezes, "Bless you". If someone has a cold/allergies and they sneeze 5 times in like 10 minutes, they get 5 bless yous. Kind of a mini-rant because it's a little obnoxiously kind.

What's the etiquette in this situation? Do you say "thank you" after each "bless you"? After what number of sneezes from a single person is it OK to stop saying "bless you"? For the record, I am not a "bless you" person unless I'm in conversation with that person already or they are my immediate neighbor. Even then, if they're just in the cube next to me, I might not say anything.

User avatar
Popeye_Card
GRB's most intelligent & humble poster
Posts: 29873
Joined: April 17 06, 11:25 am

Re: "Bless you" etiquette

Post by Popeye_Card »

I think "bless you's" are one of the silliest things we still do. Nothing feels more awkward than sneezing, having 5 different people around you rush to be the first one to say "bless you", then getting the feeling that you need to send every one of them a personal thank you note.

I don't say "bless you". I don't thank people who bless me. I'm hoping people start understanding that I think the whole thing is dumb and they drop it.

User avatar
CardsofSTL
All Hail the GDT Master
Posts: 47810
Joined: April 26 11, 6:06 am
Location: Columbus, OH

Re: "Bless you" etiquette

Post by CardsofSTL »

If someone sneezes multiple times; I usually say Knock it off! Is that the same as bless you?

User avatar
Jocephus
99% conan clips
Posts: 63644
Joined: April 18 06, 5:14 pm

Re: "Bless you" etiquette

Post by Jocephus »

i'm in an open area with co-workers (for another week or so at least) but this has always been an "issue" for me as well. it's to the point where i intentionally stifle my sneeze to be as quiet as possible. i can appreciate the gesture but i find it all awkward.

User avatar
Radbird
There's someone in my head but it's not me
Posts: 57428
Joined: April 18 06, 5:08 pm
Location: LF Bleachers @ Busch II

Re: "Bless you" etiquette

Post by Radbird »

I've been conditioned to it my whole life, so much so that it's almost an automatic response when someone sneezes. One that I try to suppress when out in public but it often slips out before I even realize it. I really became aware when I blurted it out once after the kid coughed and she gave me crap about inappropriate application of a habitual phrase. My grandparents used to always say "gesundheit" which according to google translate is German for "health".

User avatar
BottenFieldofDreams
Perennial All-Star
Posts: 4502
Joined: June 4 17, 10:04 pm

Re: "Bless you" etiquette

Post by BottenFieldofDreams »

If you don't say bless you the evil spirits will escape their nostrils and enter yours. But whatever. Live how and with whatever demons you like.

User avatar
Popeye_Card
GRB's most intelligent & humble poster
Posts: 29873
Joined: April 17 06, 11:25 am

Re: "Bless you" etiquette

Post by Popeye_Card »

I am going to start saying "bless you" whenever someone audibly farts. That will be fun. Especially for urinal flatulence.

User avatar
GeddyWrox
Caught you a delicious bass
Posts: 12944
Joined: April 20 06, 8:43 pm
Location: Please use blue font for the sarcasm impaired.

Re: "Bless you" etiquette

Post by GeddyWrox »

I go through sneezing spells. Especially in the spring. My poor cube-neighbors. They started out trying to bless me most of the time. I immediately responded "Thanks. But I do this a lot. You don't need to bless me every time. You'll get nothing else done today!" LOL They don't bless me anymore.

User avatar
InvincibleCakeEater
GRB's obsessive compulsive baseball poster
Posts: 28034
Joined: October 12 07, 12:28 pm
Location: Raptured

Re: "Bless you" etiquette

Post by InvincibleCakeEater »

Ask them not to put that voodoo on you.

User avatar
wart57
just can't quit you.
Posts: 25242
Joined: April 18 06, 4:33 pm
Location: Lost

Re: "Bless you" etiquette

Post by wart57 »

My wife yells at me and tells me to stop being so annoying when I sneeze.

Post Reply