My sentiments, exactly. I find the current and ubiquitous "No Problem" to be a poor substitute, one which implies that there was actually a problem, that the person in question merely fulfilled an obligation, and that he/she really didn't give a shit about doing any small favors in the first place. Simple manners and grace seem to have fallen by the wayside.
I get instantly peeved when I hear "no problem" coming out of a server's mouth, or the pizza delivery guy, or whatever. And I call them on it--that's how big of a dick I can be.
Exactly. I've noticed this all the time on morning news shows and CNN, etc. The interviewer will say: "Thank you for being on the show" and the one being interviewed will say: "Thank you" in return.
I guess the "in thing" to do these days is thank the person for thanking you instead of just saying "You're welcome".
My sentiments, exactly. I find the current and ubiquitous "No Problem" to be a poor substitute, one which implies that there was actually a problem, that the person in question merely fulfilled an obligation, and that he/she really didn't give a shit about doing any small favors in the first place. Simple manners and grace seem to have fallen by the wayside.
If you want to hear people say "you're welcome" come to England. I hear it constantly, although it only seems to have become ubiquitous over the past two years. I think every employee must have gone on the same training course where they are taught to say "you're welcome" in response to every "thank you".
I'm thinking, of course, of Tom Snyder's 1981 interview with killer Charles Manson, telling him to "get off the space shuttle, Charles!" I guess a modern version of "flights of fancy."
