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It's true that when you think about it, it's a strange convention. We don't comment if someone coughs or blows their nose. It's just something you do because that's what people have done.
ROFL, trying to imagine what an appropriate thing to say to someone blowing their nose. "Thar she blows!!"???
Didn't know what other forum to put this under so mods please move if necessary.
We were discussing this in the office the other day and it was mostly split down the middle on who was offended and who wasn't offended.
Do you say it after someone in the general vicinity sneezes? Or not (because you think it is silly/stupid or not needed)? Is it considered a mildly "spiritual" thing to say it? Just wondering.
It doesn't need to be said. That phrase dates from medieval times when it was thought that sneezing would kill you, and saying "bless you" would cause God to "save" the person from death.
We now know that a sneeze doesn't kill. Not to mention, it is rude to say 'God bless you" to a non-Christian.
We now know that a sneeze doesn't kill. Not to mention, it is rude to say 'God bless you" to a non-Christian.
LOL well I'll be sure next time someone sneezes to first ask, "Sir, have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?" before I bless them to avoid any insult.
Quote:
Originally Posted by matisse12
It is not a courtesy and it is not indicative of being 'well-raised' to say 'bless you'. It is actually indicative of being poorly 'raised'.
That is absolutely not true at all where I am from.
If being "blessed" by a stranger is the worst thing that happens to me today, then I'm doing pretty well.
I think it's much better than being cursed by one.
Didn't know what other forum to put this under so mods please move if necessary.
We were discussing this in the office the other day and it was mostly split down the middle on who was offended and who wasn't offended.
Do you say it after someone in the general vicinity sneezes? Or not (because you think it is silly/stupid or not needed)? Is it considered a mildly "spiritual" thing to say it? Just wondering.
I say it. But for pretty women, its slightly different.
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Once again, I'm astonished at how many people get righteously offended when someone extends a kindness. Wow.
Here's my guess. The very people who smile and say "bless you" when a person near them sneezes are the exact ones who say "oh wait, your baby dropped his sock", and "just so you know this business is REALLY fanatical about towing cars from the lot".
So that's my prediction. That people who say bless you also are aware of being kind in other ways. I'm astonished, really, how some people will watch as a stroller goes by and something obviously falls off of it and they just stay silent. Who does that?
Oh. Probably people who get angry when others bless them. ;D
I thought it came from (although I am from England) the black death/bubonic plague symptoms were presaged by sneezing. So people used to think your time was likely up if you sneezed - hence bless you (& good luck). After a while, it just became habit.
A friend always says "To your good health!" because she dislikes the religious overtone of "bless you".
I usually say "bless you" out of habit, and because if you sneeze three times and nobody says bless you, the leprechauns can carry you away. I don't want to risk it.
But it is not a 'kindness'. Where do you get the idea it is a 'kindness'?
Making a person the center of attention by focusing on them can be considered rude.
Many people do not wish to be made the center of attention in a group or at work by someone saying 'bless you'. And for merely sneezing.
Someone's sneeze is NONE of your business.
Leaving out the religious aspect of it, it still is an asinine behavior to insist on saying 'bless you'. Sometimes the person exclaiming 'bless you' is one who is seeking attention. Probably most of the time the person exclaiming 'bless you' is seeking attention! And it's patronizing to insist on saying 'bless you'.
Last edited by matisse12; 08-15-2017 at 02:09 PM..
My mother used to do this big passive-aggressive song and dance when she'd sneeze and I'd forget to say "God Bless you" to her as a child. Mostly she'd say "God Bless you" to herself very loudly and then thank herself. Years later she had a boyfriend who was very logical and he just was unmoved by her dramatics. It was good to see.
I mostly say it to people when they sneeze - I'm an atheist, but it's just an easy convention to adhere to. Never saw anyone get offended.
Here's my guess. The very people who smile and say "bless you" when a person near them sneezes are the exact ones who say "oh wait, your baby dropped his sock", and "just so you know this business is REALLY fanatical about towing cars from the lot".
So that's my prediction. That people who say bless you also are aware of being kind in other ways. I'm astonished, really, how some people will watch as a stroller goes by and something obviously falls off of it and they just stay silent. Who does that?
You have a point. There's a tradeoff, between being intrusive, and outright disregarding the welfare of one's fellow man. If I'm sitting in traffic next to a car whose fuel-tank door is open, I'll probably hold my peace, not shouting to the driver, that his/her tank-door is open. If however there are flames emanating from said door, I'll give a shout, even if the person looks to be disagreeable or engaged in some business that does not brook being distracted.
Likewise in parking lots. If a pedestrian in front of me drops his wallet, I'll probably yell to alert him of the incident. If a shopper leaves her receipt in her shopping cart, I don't trouble her with pointing out that fact. There's a line, beyond which offering assistance, sympathy or fair warning, is more onerous than to allow the person in question to sustain the detriment, of which we're tempted to warn him/her. In other words, "being nice" is a matter of perspective, and sometimes niceness by one person's reckoning, is an invasion of privacy, according to another.
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