I’ll start with an anecdote which may prove instructive.
Years ago, I decided that I used the phrase “thank you” too much. I’d say it without even thinking about it, as nothing more than social lubricant. In an effect to make myself more mindful and to express genuine gratitude, I decided to replace “thank you” with an entirely different phrase which would force me to be conscious of when I used it. To that end, I decided on the phrase: “May your tribe increase.” I first encountered the phrase in the poem Abou Ben Adhem and, after some research, found that it was a traditional form of well-wishing in India.
Things went well at first. I felt self-conscious using this phrase, but then, that was the point. I got some strange looks, but I was pleased that I used the phrase infrequently, and only when I felt genuinely thankful.
Then one day at the supermarket I used the expression on a cashier… who happened to be black. She was furious and ended up throwing my change at me.
After that I switched back to “thank you.”
So, my question is, has anyone else tried this? Can anyone think of better expressions not quite so likely to cause offence, which can replace “thank you” and “you’re welcome” in our daily lives?
People do use thank you too much and I wish they’d cool it. Whenever you hear a guest on the radio or TV, when it’s time for them to leave and the jost says “Thank you for joining us today,” the guest invariably replies, “Thank you.” I guess they mean “Thank you for having me” but what’s wrong with “You’re welcome”?
I lived in the UK for a year and picked up a similar habit. If it’s a brief thank you to a stranger (holding the door open for me, for example), I say “Cheers”. Genuine gratitude for something more merits a “Thanks”.
I think this is a noble cause, and I wish you luck. I just wanted to mention that after I read your message, the theme from Curb Your Enthusiasm popped into my head. Just me?
But thank you is the correct expression for show appreciation to your customers.
“May you’re tribe increase?” What does that even mean? You bought a Twinkie from me and I am wishing more kids upon you? A population increase at whatever level can be a curse as well as a blessing.
Cheers? What is that? It’s an English expression and not well known enough in America to use.
You could alternate “thank you,” with “We appreciate your business, come again please.”
Or "Your patronage is appreciated and look forward to serving you again.
Of course “Thank You,” pretty much says the same thing and is shorts.
Just because “thank you” is thrown around in an insincere way doesn’t mean that when you say it, it has to sound insincere.
I say “thanks much” to change it up from time to time, and sometimes “much oblige” (no “d” at the end). That’s it for Thank You. On the other end, I guess I say “don’t sweat it” from time to time.
It IS nothing more than a social lubricant. Trying to make it into something more is unnecessary and weird. Be as mindful of your gratitude as you like, but there’s no call to make others uncomfortable.
And “thank you” is too formal? I’ll never understand the cultural aversion to formality. What, you’re best buddies with the grocery store cashier now, so if you treat them with a little respect it’s like throwing your entire history of good times back in their face? I’m sure they’d much rather interact with you on a deeply personal level than move the line along.
Still, if you have to be different, you can try “Ta” (another British one) or stand out by saying “I thank you, Sir / Ma’am.” It’s not informal, but it’s polite and will get you the extra attention you appear to crave.
