# Replying "No problem" when someone asks a favor. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 24, 2018, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replying-no-problem-when-someone-asks-a-favor/821830 "2018-09-24T13:42:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![blob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blob/32/489_2.png) [@blob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blob)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replying-no-problem-when-someone-asks-a-favor/821830/82 "2018-09-26T12:54:41Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Meant it as a humorous aside to the ongoing discussion. ah, ok. That “taking a knee” business? ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replying-no-problem-when-someone-asks-a-favor/821830/83 "2018-09-26T14:33:46Z")
Look, are we going to have to retrain the Terminator or not? I mean, he needs to fit in. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replying-no-problem-when-someone-asks-a-favor/821830/84 "2018-09-26T15:42:52Z")
> [@blob](#): > > ah, ok. That “taking a knee” business? Yeah. IMO, that was an employer requiring speech OBO his employees. My wife and I have discussed the extent to which an employer might reasonably require speech (symbolic or otherwise) by their employees. Also find it relevant that, up until recently, the playing of the national anthem was a sponsored event generating income for the team owners. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replying-no-problem-when-someone-asks-a-favor/821830/85 "2018-09-26T18:29:13Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > … [snip]… > Pretty much saying that it’s “no problem” implies that it _could have been_ a problem… [snip]… No it does not. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replying-no-problem-when-someone-asks-a-favor/821830/86 "2018-09-26T18:41:12Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > No it does not. You can say that for yourself, but you can’t speak for everyone what implications they hear in speech. It’s certainly a _possible_ implication and it’s a reasonable one, given the context of the situation—if Person A never asked whether it would be a problem, why would Person B bring it up? ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replying-no-problem-when-someone-asks-a-favor/821830/87 "2018-09-26T19:48:28Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > A few years ago, I was forced to go to ‘positive language’ training . It was utter bullshit. Now that I’m no longer on the phones, I make sure I use it all the time. Thankfully, my current department doesn’t deal with customers so we’re spared all this nonsense. Having been in various forms of customer service for decades, I am actually quite a proponent of avoiding negative language. “We can have that for you tomorrow” is better than “It’s not in stock.” “Please use the path on the right” is better than “You can’t go that way!” It can be subtle, but I really do think interactions like these help sway customers toward an overall positive reaction to their experience. However, if somebody tells you that “no problem” is an example of negative language, it only shows that they don’t understand the concept. It’s a long-accepted synonym for “you’re welcome,” and in fact conveys a positive message. I have no problem with “no problem.” ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replying-no-problem-when-someone-asks-a-favor/821830/88 "2018-09-26T20:16:13Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > You can say that for yourself, but you can’t speak for everyone what implications they hear in speech. It’s certainly a _possible_ implication and it’s a reasonable one, given the context of the situation—if Person A never asked whether it would be a problem, why would Person B bring it up? This is where overthinking simple things gets you. ---
**Author:** ![blob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blob/32/489_2.png) [@blob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blob)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replying-no-problem-when-someone-asks-a-favor/821830/89 "2018-09-27T01:00:48Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > My wife and I have discussed the extent to which an employer might reasonably require speech (symbolic or otherwise) by their employees. Yes, that’s a whole other question. I just remembered an incident from years ago. I was at the checkout in the supermarket. The assistant mumbled something that I didn’t catch and I said “pardon? what did you say?” and she responded, loudly “I SAID “have a nice day”, are you deaf or something?” No, I’m not joking. I think this was in the “early days” of us adopting those americanisms, I don’t think she wanted to do it… 😃 Tone can have a lot to do with how things are taken. You can say something like “have a nice day” and make it sound like “I hope you die a horrible death and disappear from this planet”. Thinking about this more, I go by tone and attitude. Somebody could say “you are a pain in the neck, you miserable old bat, and I hate my job” but if they do it in a nice tone and with a smile and eye contact, I’d be ok with that. 😃 I’m like my dog. I can be berating her but at long as I keep my tone upbeat, she is happy that she’s being praised. “It’s not what you say, but how you say it”. I wonder whether some of the people who have gone ballistic about this phrase were really reacting to tone, and not the words? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replying-no-problem-when-someone-asks-a-favor/821830/90 "2018-09-27T14:35:13Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > It’s certainly a _possible_ implication and it’s a reasonable one, given the context of the situation—if Person A never asked whether it would be a problem, why would Person B bring it up? If Person A considers their request to be part of Person B’s job description, why are they thanking them for performing it rather than simply accepting it as their due? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replying-no-problem-when-someone-asks-a-favor/821830/91 "2018-09-27T15:07:26Z")
Maybe they’re not thanking them. And even if they are, the implications are opposite. If you say thank you when it’s unnecessary, it’s doing something nice. Whereas, it’s not nice to imply that your request was potentially a problem. But that’s irrelevant anyway. You can have a valid perception of the implications of “no problem” without having the same perception of the meaning of “thank you.” This kind of quibbling is irrelevant to language. Language isn’t logically parallel in a way that requires “no problem” to have the same kind of implication as “thank you.” The fact is that there is no correct answer here as to what “no problem” _should_ mean. Some people don’t like it, and that’s something that a business can reasonably take into account when training employees. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replying-no-problem-when-someone-asks-a-favor/821830/92 "2018-09-27T15:13:16Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Maybe they’re not thanking them. > > And even if they are, the implications are opposite. If you say thank you when it’s unnecessary, it’s doing something nice. Whereas, it’s not nice to imply that your request was potentially a problem. Huh? If they’re not thanking them, why would the other person be saying ‘no problem’? We’re only talking about situations where people are saying thanks. My point is, if Dinsdale or whomever feels it’s appropriate to pretend that his request was an imposition by thanking the clerk even though he doesn’t actually think it was one, then he shouldn’t be irritated if the clerk pretends in return that it was something they did to be kind rather than as a requirement of their job. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replying-no-problem-when-someone-asks-a-favor/821830/93 "2018-09-27T15:36:30Z")
Thanking someone isn’t suggesting that the request was an imposition, it’s appreciation for the work they are doing. If I did suggest it was an imposition, perhaps by saying “sorry to bother you” or “excuse me”, then a “no problem” is completely appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![MarvinKitFox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@MarvinKitFox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarvinKitFox)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replying-no-problem-when-someone-asks-a-favor/821830/94 "2018-09-27T22:19:41Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Like so many other people, I have a habit of automatically saying “No problem” when someone asks me for a favor. But during a one-day management course I attended a few month ago, the instructor told the attendees to break this habit. She said the response of “No problem” is negative, and implies you assume all requests are problems unless proven otherwise. Or something like that. Anyway, she went on for a good five minutes of why we need to banish the “No problem” response. > > Agree? HELL NO do not agree. Asking a FAVOR is **by definition** requiring someone to do something for you, that goes outside the span of normal expected behavior. And that, obviously, _is_ “a problem”. A problem that you might be quite willing to assist with, even a problem that any decent person would help with. But is is _still_ a request for assistance beyond the scope of normal interaction, otherwise calling it a “favor” is mislabeling it. So would you please ask your instructor to do me a favor, and piss off? ---
**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:** [September 27, 2018, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replying-no-problem-when-someone-asks-a-favor/821830/95 "2018-09-27T23:19:29Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Like I said, tho I disfavor “no problem”, I’ve become inured to it. But I find attitudes towards word usage curious. In some respects, if a word or phrase might possibly bother someone, the consensus around here seems to be to cease using that word/phrase if there is an acceptable alternative. Black, gay, indian, niggardly… > > Many people acknowledge that at least some “old folks” dislike the term, perceiving an implication that they or their request might be perceived as a problem. And there are plenty of fine alternatives. But in this instance, the consensus is that the old folk ought to just suck it up. > > Like I said, I find it curious. But I’m sure not going to go to battle over it. I don’t actually acknowledge that. I acknowledge that there is a small subset of people (who I’ve only encountered on the Dope) who find it slightly irritating. Nothing to the level of other words. You even admit it’s not something worth fighting for. The words that we don’t say are words that were oppressive. So, unless you can say “no problem” was used to discriminate against old people, it’s hard to find anyone who cares. Note this doesn’t actually apply to “black” and “gay,” which are perfectly acceptable words. And only some indigenous peoples find “Indian” offensive. And it applies to “niggardly” only because its legitimate use is dwarfed by people who resurrected a old-fashioned word so they could get away with almost saying the n-word. But I assume you just were having trouble thinking of examples, since you don’t tend to use them. ---
**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:** [September 27, 2018, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replying-no-problem-when-someone-asks-a-favor/821830/96 "2018-09-27T23:20:31Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Thanking someone isn’t suggesting that the request was an imposition, it’s appreciation for the work they are doing. If I did suggest it was an imposition, perhaps by saying “sorry to bother you” or “excuse me”, then a “no problem” is completely appropriate. But there’s nothing to appreciate if the work was not something that went beyond what you would normally do–in other words, an imposition. ---
**Author:** ![sps49sd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@sps49sd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sps49sd)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2018, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replying-no-problem-when-someone-asks-a-favor/821830/97 "2018-09-28T13:45:09Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > Interestingly, I’ve read the reverse about Japanese. IME n00bs are taught that the response to being thanked is “どういたしまして” (dōitashimashite, “you’re welcome.”) I’ve read it’s actually more polite to say “いえいえ” ( iie iie, “no no” or “it’s nothing.”) supposedly it’s because saying “you’re welcome” indicates you deserve or demand praise for the favor. I was taught by a Japanese woman in Sasebo to respond with ‘do itashimashite’ was the response. I’ll go with that, especially since I am not sure of the pronunciation of ‘iie iie’. Maybe one is more formal or gendered? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2018, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replying-no-problem-when-someone-asks-a-favor/821830/98 "2018-09-28T14:00:46Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > But there’s nothing to appreciate if the work was not something that went beyond what you would normally do. That’s a disappointing way to think about people who work. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2018, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replying-no-problem-when-someone-asks-a-favor/821830/99 "2018-09-28T15:33:14Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > But there’s nothing to appreciate if the work was not something that went beyond what you would normally do–in other words, an imposition. That’s different from how I view commonplace pleasantries. I routinely thank people for doing things that seem quite minor and readily accomplished. I say please, thank you, excuse me, and you’re welcome a lot, and I call most people Sir, Maam, or Miss. Maybe I’m old fashioned or overly formal. I also cuss like a sailor FWIW. Re: other words - I was not attempting to suggest “no problem” is the same as the examples I gave. Nor did I take time to try to identify more appropriate examples. Instead, what I was suggesting as at least somewhat relevant is that many people seem to act as tho speech should conform to the expectations/feelings of the listener. Within that context/trend, it seems entirely reasonable to me that business speech avoid negative reactions - even if those negative reactions are infrequent, minimal, and even unreasonable. I admit I’m a bit of a language/grammar snob, and I notice when language is used sloppily or (IMO) inappropriately. Yes, I acknowledge language is living and everchanging. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2018, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replying-no-problem-when-someone-asks-a-favor/821830/100 "2018-09-28T17:40:33Z")
It seems some of us are commenting on when someone responds to “thank you” with “no problem” and some are replying to the question asked in the OP. But that’s no problem; we can talk about both 😉 Regarding the former, I don’t get in a huff or anything but it gives me a vague sense of “that person doesn’t know any better”. As far as someone saying “no problem” when I ask for a favor, I think it’s a very kind gesture. They’re allaying my feeling of being an imposition. Or maybe I still don’t know what we’re talking about 😛 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2018, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replying-no-problem-when-someone-asks-a-favor/821830/101 "2018-09-28T17:46:03Z")
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