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"Bless you" etiquette

Posted: September 11 19, 3:11 pm
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.

Re: "Bless you" etiquette

Posted: September 12 19, 6:49 am
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.

Re: "Bless you" etiquette

Posted: September 12 19, 8:27 am
by CardsofSTL
If someone sneezes multiple times; I usually say Knock it off! Is that the same as bless you?

Re: "Bless you" etiquette

Posted: September 12 19, 8:29 am
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.

Re: "Bless you" etiquette

Posted: September 12 19, 8:51 am
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".

Re: "Bless you" etiquette

Posted: September 12 19, 9:11 am
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.

Re: "Bless you" etiquette

Posted: September 12 19, 9:18 am
by Popeye_Card
I am going to start saying "bless you" whenever someone audibly farts. That will be fun. Especially for urinal flatulence.

Re: "Bless you" etiquette

Posted: September 12 19, 9:26 am
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.

Re: "Bless you" etiquette

Posted: September 12 19, 10:40 am
by InvincibleCakeEater
Ask them not to put that voodoo on you.

Re: "Bless you" etiquette

Posted: September 12 19, 10:54 am
by wart57
My wife yells at me and tells me to stop being so annoying when I sneeze.