Thursday, August 13, 2009

PeT PeeVe


The New Yawk Times published a piece this weekend that stated that the words "NO PROBLEM" were quickly replacing "YOU'RE WELCOME" in our day to day vocabulary.

In the words of Greg Brady: I don't dig this. Not that I am the poster child for civility, but I do like to be polite when I am not picking my nose in public or stealing an old person's seat on the bus.

"NO PROBLEM" means that the person who performed the service was not put out by it in the slightest. It indicates that asking someone to do the job for which they are paid, was not a great inconvenience. At the same time, it implies that there was the POSSIBILITY of difficulty involved with the task.

"YOU'RE WELCOME" on the other hand, indicates that it was a PLEASURE to serve you. It infers: "Y'all come back now" and "Mi Casa Es Su Casa." It's the throwing wide of arms and the smile that denotes that the exchange was mutually satisfactory.

TO REVIEW, CHICKENS....

Not Good:
"THANK YOU."
"DON'T MENTION IT."

Also Not Good:
"THANK YOU."
"SURE THING."

Really Not Good:
"THANK YOU"
Dead silence while clerk checks her acrylic nails.


So please join with me in this important movement and let's bring "YOU'RE WELCOME" back into the vernacular. Who knows--if we are successful at this we could be calling eachother the Bees Knees or the Cat's Pajamas within a year.

Oh and while we're at it....

HAVE A NICE DAY.

23 comments:

sheila said...

I have to admit that I do, on occassion, find myself saying 'no problem'. But not anymore!! You have shown me the error of my ways!! And I thank you!!

Nonnee said...

Thank you, dear DIL for this most important public service!

Jane! said...

But...wow, moral dilemma.

If I say 'You're welcome' they might think that I'd be happy to do it again and that would be such a big lie. Like when you've waited forever to get some help in a retail establishment and they say 'Thank you for being so patient.' I just don't feel I should encourage them by saying 'you're welcome' when what I really want to say is 'You're lucky I was just too lazy to go elsewhere.'

And sometimes I really DO mean 'don't mention it' meaning 'Shush, if you tell anyone what I did for you, I will have to KEEL you.'

I know.
I'm what's wrong with America. Thanks for listening....
(To which you say: Don't mention it!)
:oP

Thankyouandhaveaniceday!

Miss Thystle said...

um. I am guilty. Please spank me.

Miss Thystle said...

not because I LIKE it, because it helps me to learn.

Krëg said...

Henceforth let only the speech of ye olde English pass our lips, lest we be cast into a pit of eternal damnation.

Yea verily.

kristin said...

You're welcome. It's apleasure serving you. :-)

kristin said...

Oh, WAIT.
I should be saying thank YOU!
Doh.

rpc said...

What is the polite term which we should use when somebody doesn't say "Thank you" when they should have said it? Being inspired by your high moral guidelines I suppose that I should stop being rude under those circumstances.

OHN said...

I think Jane! is my new bff.

Oh, and the clerk with acrylic nails...why does she work EVERYWHERE?????

Lorrie Veasey said...

HASN"T ANYBODY NOTICED that the japanese words for You're Welcome if you read 'em together 5 times fast kinda look like don't eat ma shit?

Jen said...

I can't decide which answer to your post is funnier...Kreg's or your "eat ma shit". They are both pure gold.

Anonymous said...

外籍新娘 外籍新娘
大陸新娘 大陸新娘
越南新娘 越南新娘
東北新娘 東北新娘
廣西新娘 廣西新娘
吉林新娘 吉林新娘
福建新娘 福建新娘
中國新娘 中國新娘

Bj in Dallas said...

oh look, Michael Jackson just said 'you're welcome'...how nice.

Here's my pet peeve. When you are in the grocery store and you are clearly looking at something on the shelves and people walk in front of you without saying 'excuse me'. AAAGGHHHH!
makes me crazy......

what do you think, MJ???

Baylee and Blair's page said...

Awesome! And, you are SO right! People do need to be more nice... especially people that are checking you out in a store.

Hugs - Tiff

Nonnee said...

Thanks for the translation, Lorrie. I've been trying to figure out the pig-latin all day. I did get the shitay, but I couldn't understand what went with it....

Interestingly enough, politeness does work miracles. Another grandchild - not one of your angels - held a door for a man who looked fairly grumpy. Suddenly, his face softened and he commented that that sort of politeness hadn't happened to him for a long time!

Blue said...

i have for decades typically responded with "my pleasure" to verbal thank you's. because it is. i like serving and doing things for others.

Racie Lover said...

My pet peeves are people who sign their name as anonymous and people who think it's clever to write in a foreign languge because they think the rest of us are too stupid to know about babelfish.com

You're welcome and don't mention it.

Debbie said...

You know I'm on your side on this one.
Also, what is up with the "my bad" instead of "I'm sorry"?

Nonnee said...

Right on, Debbie.
I never did think THAT made any sense...

Nonnee said...

OH - GOOD GRIEF !!!!!!!!!

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