# Does it annoy you when someone says "God bless you!" after you sneeze? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 16, 2017, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-annoy-you-when-someone-says-god-bless-you-after-you-sneeze/782322 "2017-03-16T17:09:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-annoy-you-when-someone-says-god-bless-you-after-you-sneeze/782322/41 "2017-03-17T12:58:54Z")
Doesn’t bother me at all, but I still like my mother’s line: “are your shoes still on??” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-annoy-you-when-someone-says-god-bless-you-after-you-sneeze/782322/42 "2017-03-17T19:54:55Z")
I’m completely non-religious and it doesn’t matter to me at all. If it seems like there is going to be a bunch of sneezes after the second bless you I announce “That’s all you get.” ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-annoy-you-when-someone-says-god-bless-you-after-you-sneeze/782322/43 "2017-03-17T22:05:31Z")
I’m a Christian. If an elderly Englishman says, “By Jove,” am I entitled to snap at him for invoking the pagan God Jupiter? What? That would make me an over sensitive dick? Thought so. BTW, “goodbye” is a contraction of “God be with ye.” Gonna get pissed off now whenever someone says goodbye? You’re gonna be real popular. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-annoy-you-when-someone-says-god-bless-you-after-you-sneeze/782322/44 "2017-03-17T22:17:30Z")
Yes, I find it annoying when another human being makes a small, unnecessary gesture of good will. ---
**Author:** ![Zyanthia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Zyanthia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyanthia)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-annoy-you-when-someone-says-god-bless-you-after-you-sneeze/782322/45 "2017-03-17T23:04:22Z")
Well, I just saw on TV (so it must be true!) that if you sneeze three times without someone saying God Bless You, the Leprechaun can claim you for his bride! ---
**Author:** ![Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Backwater_Under_Duck)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-annoy-you-when-someone-says-god-bless-you-after-you-sneeze/782322/46 "2017-03-18T00:42:29Z")
As another allergy sufferer, I simply tune it out. If people want to do it, fine, although I do wish the practice would go away. Unfortunately, some people will take my unwillingness to acknowledge their pestering bleating as somehow being rude on my part. In that case it annoys me, but never to the point that I respond with, _and may Satan f **k your a** _. I simply nod in their general direction with a grunt and go about my business. ---
**Author:** ![Graymalkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@Graymalkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Graymalkin)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-annoy-you-when-someone-says-god-bless-you-after-you-sneeze/782322/47 "2017-03-18T02:18:13Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > Tempting. > > I’m as strident an atheist as anyone but the religious part doesn’t bother me at all. Basically, when someone says, “God bless you”, what I hear is, “you sneezed.” It’s just not something I want to have pointed out every single time. > > Gesundheit is different. Gesundheit is inherently funny and God bless you is not. Imagine this conversation: > > Thudlow Boink: On which island, pray tell, is the city of Nagoya situated? > 74westy: Honshu. > Thudlow Boink: God bless you. > > How in the hell is that funny? Thank you! You just gave me the best laugh of my day! ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-annoy-you-when-someone-says-god-bless-you-after-you-sneeze/782322/48 "2017-03-18T03:06:30Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Rarely do I hear people say “God”, it’s usually just “Bless you” (which is also what I say, despite atheism, because yeah, social custom). I agree. It has been going on so long it is just a weird, automatic social construct of a call/response now. > [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I once had a coworker who said “Hail Satan” when someone sneezed. I actually prefered that because it made me chuckle. I am going to do this from now on. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-annoy-you-when-someone-says-god-bless-you-after-you-sneeze/782322/49 "2017-03-18T04:05:06Z")
\ “God bless you!” :dubious: “Which one?” ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-annoy-you-when-someone-says-god-bless-you-after-you-sneeze/782322/50 "2017-03-18T05:55:06Z")
I’m atheist and I feel a bit weird if someone DOESN’T bless me. I KNOW it doesn’t do anything, but I feel like it’s a sweet sentiment that shows you care, as silly as it is. I like it very much when people say it, especially strangers in public. It’s just good manners here in the South. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-annoy-you-when-someone-says-god-bless-you-after-you-sneeze/782322/51 "2017-03-18T07:25:51Z")
Specifically “God Bless you?” Then, yes, a little bit The polite phrase is just “Bless you.” Putting “God” in front of it comes across a bit holier-than-thou. It’s similar to someone who corrects you when you mention “Good luck” or when they say “Have a blessed day.” Even among fellow Christians, it comes across a bit try hard. Of course, they may have just always said it that way, so I don’t let it get to me too much. It’s more a small sign. It can mean nothing. It’s definitely nothing to get offended about. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-annoy-you-when-someone-says-god-bless-you-after-you-sneeze/782322/52 "2017-03-18T15:53:38Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Really, why? Because German is a hilarious language. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-annoy-you-when-someone-says-god-bless-you-after-you-sneeze/782322/53 "2017-03-18T17:06:16Z")
I’m a pagan, and it doesn’t bother me at all. I often wish obviously Jewish people a “Gut Shabbos” and if they say “Same to you” I simply say “Thanks.” ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-annoy-you-when-someone-says-god-bless-you-after-you-sneeze/782322/54 "2017-03-19T23:43:24Z")
I find the custom mildly irritating. It’s just a sneeze, I’m not dying. Then again, I’m the kind of person who, after striking out the side, would dramatically point _downward_. ---
**Author:** ![Rahscl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@Rahscl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rahscl)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-annoy-you-when-someone-says-god-bless-you-after-you-sneeze/782322/55 "2017-03-20T02:07:19Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I once had a coworker who said “Hail Satan” when someone sneezed. I actually prefered that because it made me chuckle. Funniest thing ever. I wish I could say this at work ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-annoy-you-when-someone-says-god-bless-you-after-you-sneeze/782322/56 "2017-03-20T11:04:37Z")
I have a black cat who gets sneezing fits sometimes. “Hail Satan” seems quite an appropriate response for him. I use it a lot at work, I am not religious and as far as I’m concerned, that’s as useful a phrase as any other. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-annoy-you-when-someone-says-god-bless-you-after-you-sneeze/782322/57 "2017-03-20T12:03:02Z")
You sneeze once, I say “God bless you.” The second sneeze, I say “Twice for the two natures” (Jesus has two natures, one human, one divine). Third time I say “For the Trinity”. Fourth time is “all the saints and angels”. After that, you’re on your own. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-annoy-you-when-someone-says-god-bless-you-after-you-sneeze/782322/58 "2017-03-20T12:05:44Z")
It doesn’t annoy me if someone says “God bless you”. What does annoy me is the occasional implicit disapproval (at least, that’s the feeling I get) when I don’t say it, or anything, when someone nearby sneezes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-annoy-you-when-someone-says-god-bless-you-after-you-sneeze/782322.md?page=2)