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.
This is actually the first I’ve heard of anybody giving a shit about this phrasing, but taking the above sentence as true, it’s because, yes, a request may be a problem. A favor usually is inconvenient. When somebody says “really, it’s no problem” to me, I perceive that as meaning “dude, really, it’s fine and only involves a minimal of extra effort to me” as opposed to “okay, you owe me one.”
I grew up replying to “thank you” with “you’re welcome,” but that phrase doesn’t really make a lot of sense, either. These days I’m more likely to respond to requests with “sure,” or “I can do that.” I usually reply to “thank you” with “sure!” It’s all just friendly ritual, whatever you say. I never got comfortable saying “no problem,” but I don’t mind hearing it. My mouth can’t seem to say “no worries” without sliding into a poorly done accent, so I don’t embarrass myself with that one, either.
I’m almost 20 years older, and “no problem” bugs me when a clerk or server says it in response to a request or an order. "I’d like the Chateau Margaux ‘48, please.” “No problem!” I don’t care if it is a problem, such as you having to clamber down a rickety ladder to the cellar, fight off rodents of unusual size with a fork, disarm the nuclear device guarding the wine room, and uncork the bottle with your butthole. Just do it!
While I want to use “No problem” in the sense that, “Doing that was no trouble for me and I don’t mind”, there are absolutely customers out there that will take umbrage with it, especially if you’re low down on the food chain, like retail. I mean, those people will treat you like shit regardless, but now you’ve given them a chink in your armor and they’re going to sit there prying at it going “No PROBLEM? You think doing your JOB is going out of YOUR WAY? My request might be a PROBLEM? You should be THANKFUL to get work! Of all the ENTITLED, STUCK UP, LAZY —”
I’ve seen it. People be nuts. I don’t say “no problem” to clients even now because of it. It’s not worth dealing with a potential explosion over…well, no problem.
An older (maybe late 60s) guy I know has taken to angrily ranting on Facebook about places where the servers say ‘No problem’ because how dare they imply that him asking them to do their job might possibly be a problem??? I can only presume he’s never tried doing the job, because food orders are pretty often a problem, like ‘Can I get this menu item but without a main ingredient, even though it would take hours to make from scratch? Oh, and can you sub in something you don’t have?’
The implication of no problem is ‘You are not a fool demanding the impossible’. It’s a good thing.
This. It doesn’t cause me any angst. Personally, I find “my pleasure” to be ridiculous. You seriously get a kick out of doing additional things you wouldn’t otherwise have to do? What are you, some sort of masochist? Please master, let me scrub your floors, I could think of nothing I would enjoy more… But I’m not going to chuck a wobbly because of a perfectly innocuous idiom in common usage.
I guess if you’re desperate for clients, or have no choice about serving them, then it makes sense to tailor your language to fit their boneheaded interpretations, but sheesh. in a lot of cases, if a client would react in the way you’re describing, they’re not worth doing business with. You’ll avoid the ‘no problem’ pitfall, but they’ll have you on some other bullshit piece of trivial nonsense. Show them the door.
It probably depends on the business. I used to be on the phones for a major discount brokerage firm. You never know what type of stupid shit will set people off or if they’re just looking to be jerk. My firm never used any sort of holiday greeting when answering the phones, but every year I’d get one or two jerks who wanted to fight the War on Christmas with me.
Yes. If I can do something that makes a difference in another person’s situation while not inconveniencing me much, it makes me happy. No random floor scrubbing though, that would be silly.
The instructor is full of shit and doesn’t understand how language works. “No problem” has become idiomatic, that is, it is a token that is not to be analyzed literally. It just means either “you’re welcome” or “think nothing of it” (I suppose the latter is become archaic).
I’m not a lover of “No problem”, but it does depend on the circumstance
I’m ordering a quadruple baconator meal with a 1L Frosty at Wendy’s. The person hands me my sack and I politely say “Thank you (for destroying my arteries)”. If they say “No problem” I bristle a bit inside. Assembling and handing sacks of unhealthy food to people is literally the only thing you are responsible for doing today. However, if I start to walk away and then turn around and say “Excuse me, can I have 5 packets of Ranch Dressing?” and you say “No problem” I have no problem with that. I’m now interrupting your normal flow of work, and you are letting me know that my ad hoc request shouldn’t be thought of as a problem.
But I’m not going to chuck a wobbly because of a perfectly innocuous idiom in common usage.