# What about saying, "God bless You" after a sneeze? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 20, 2009, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671 "2009-04-20T00:10:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/21 "2009-04-20T01:53:29Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > Hmmm… maybe this should be a debate. I don’t see it as mannerly. It’s an old custom, but why does it happen to begin with? Allergies, pollen, what have you, enter my sinus cavities, I sneeze (a bodily function)… why “God Bless you”? > > Wouldn’t something like, “You wanna tissue?” be more productive? Usually, I need a tissue after I sneeze, instead, I’ve got snot on me, but I’m blessed! > > To me it’s like if you hiccup, people say, “Flowers are blooming!” It makes about as much sense to say “God bless you” after a sneeze. > > Whew. Good thing no one says anything after a hiccup. Murders would ensue. “Hic!” “Flowers are blooming!” “Hic!” “Flowers are bloomi–” Whack! 🙂 Urgent Alert: some social customs make no sense, alert the media, get the people in the bomb shelters, this is breaking! In all seriousness, by the logic you presented in this post (I won’t say “your logic”) no one should say “hello” or “goodbye” or “how are you” or any other meaningless social constructs. All conversations should be reduced to \ \ because that’s the most efficient and productive way to hold a conversation. Which… well, while that actually may be really nice in some cases on review, it’s still not a reasonable expectation judging by the way our society (hell, any society) works with random, superfluous language peppers. Edit: To answer the actual thread I rarely say “bless you.” I do on the odd occasion, but if I say anything at all it’s usually a joking “no, don’t die!” to my friends and even that isn’t that frequently uttered. ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/22 "2009-04-20T01:56:12Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > (Parental voice) And if other people thought it was polite to play in traffic or jump off a bridge… You’re kind of . . . _new_ to this whole debating thing, aren’t you? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/23 "2009-04-20T01:59:42Z")
Hitler said “bless you”. You don’t want all of us to be like Hitler, do you? DO YOU??? ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/24 "2009-04-20T02:00:35Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Hitler said “bless you”. You don’t want all of us to be like Hitler, do you? DO YOU??? No he didn’t. He said _Gesundheit_. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/25 "2009-04-20T02:00:55Z")
Although I usually use “bless you”, I actually like gesundheit or salud better. Basically, either is an implied wish for good health, which even those of us who are diety-free would have a hard time having issues with. ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/26 "2009-04-20T02:04:02Z")
On edit: _Never mind, it was too lame even for me._ ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/27 "2009-04-20T02:05:40Z")
> [@Linty\_Fresh](#): > > No he didn’t. He said _Gesundheit_. Dammit! :smack: Forgot about that pesky nationality thing. Perhaps I should’ve said “Dubya”. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/28 "2009-04-20T02:05:59Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > Hmmm… maybe this should be a debate. I don’t see it as mannerly. It’s an old custom, but why does it happen to begin with? Allergies, pollen, what have you, enter my sinus cavities, I sneeze (a bodily function)… why “God Bless you”? I come from one of the most churchified background of anyone on this board, and I don’t say it. My parents never did, and I don’t feel like perpetuating the idea that “the devil made you sneeze”. I understand that may be an urban legend, but many people believe that’s where it started, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/29 "2009-04-20T02:09:16Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Perhaps I should’ve said “Dubya”. He didn’t say it either. He just stared blankly at you while drooling before turning back to the cowboy porn book he had stashed in front of his daily brief sheets at the White House meeting. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/30 "2009-04-20T02:09:42Z")
> [@Linty\_Fresh](#): > > You’re kind of . . . _new_ to this whole debating thing, aren’t you? You are DEFINITELY new. You’re first attempt. See, this is not Great Debates, this is IMHO. Different rules. Your first reply was a tad silly by saying other people do it so I do it. Childish. Give me something grown up. ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/31 "2009-04-20T02:14:16Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > Give me something grown up. I would, **Locrian** , but this voice in the back of my head is telling me that when I’m dealing with a guy who compares following etiquette by saying bless you to playing in traffic, grown up talk might be setting the bar a bit high for the first session. Come back when you’ve figured out how analogies work, mmmkay? On edit: Oh, and by the way, please don’t talk to me about grown up words until you’ve figured out the difference between “your” and “you’re.” Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/32 "2009-04-20T02:19:54Z")
> [@Linty\_Fresh](#): > > I would, **Locrian** , but this voice in the back of my head is telling me that when I’m dealing with a guy who compares following etiquette by saying bless you to playing in traffic, grown up talk might be setting the bar a bit high for the first session. Come back when you’ve figured out how analogies work, mmmkay? YOU started with the analogy of not saying god bless you was the equivalent of talking ghetto trash in front of kids. Do the same. Come back when you learn analogies, kid. I merely followed your example, quite well I must add. ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/33 "2009-04-20T02:21:03Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > YOU started with the analogy of not saying god bless you was the equivalent of talking ghetto trash in front of kids. Do the same. Come back when you learn analogies, kid. I merely followed your example, quite well I must add. Errr, no, **Locrian** , that was in response to the other thread you linked to in the OP. The one where you’d respond to the request to watch your language by, let’s see, politely requesting the other person to “stop believing in bullshit.” I stand by my post and assertion that you’re not quite up for mature discussion about etiquette. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/34 "2009-04-20T02:25:36Z")
And, Linty, I DO know the difference between your and you’re, I missed the blessed edit window. Oh, pleeeeeeeease forgive me. Tech guys, could we get that window longer, please? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/35 "2009-04-20T02:26:22Z")
Don’t forget the blaring car horn, insisting that he wasn’t, at all, disturbing the peace because “you can’t disturb the peace in the afternoon”. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/36 "2009-04-20T02:27:46Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > And, Linty, I DO know the difference between your and you’re, I missed the blessed edit window. Oh, pleeeeeeeease forgive me. You’re forgiven your trespasses (See how easy that is?). Now go study up on grown ups and how they debate. You’ll like it. It’s actually pretty fun once you get the hang of it. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/37 "2009-04-20T02:31:50Z")
> [@Linty\_Fresh](#): > > Errr, no, **Locrian** , that was in response to the other thread you linked to in the OP. The one where you’d respond to the request to watch your language by, let’s see, politely requesting the other person to “stop believing in bullshit.” I stand by my post and assertion that you’re not quite up for mature discussion about etiquette. Bullshit, son. Stay on the right thread. Just, relax, okay? I made one quick joke with a parental voice, and you go postal. You came into this thread with an adversarial attitude against me, it seems. I’m sorry if my opinions offend you. ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/38 "2009-04-20T02:35:27Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > Bullshit, son. Stay on the right thread. Just, relax, okay? I made one quick joke with a parental voice, and you go postal. You came into this thread with an adversarial attitude against me, it seems. I’m sorry if my opinions offend you. I don’t care enough about your opinions for them to offend me. Why don’t you read a few of your posts in both threads and see if you can figure out why someone would have an adversarial attitude toward you. I’ll give you a hint: It involves being grown up. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/39 "2009-04-20T02:37:56Z")
> [@Linty\_Fresh](#): > > You’re forgiven your trespasses (See how easy that is?). Now go study up on grown ups and how they debate. You’ll like it. It’s actually pretty fun once you get the hang of it. Jeez, another teen pretending to be educated, tough as long as he’s in front of a monitor. Hey, Mods, jump in here. I tried to apologize… ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/40 "2009-04-20T02:52:50Z")
> [@Linty\_Fresh](#): > > I don’t care enough about your opinions for them to offend me. Why don’t you read a few of your posts in both threads and see if you can figure out why someone would have an adversarial attitude toward you. I’ll give you a hint: It involves being grown up. You a very childish by hijacking a thread just because you feel the need to trash me. Pit me, complain, whatever. Start a thread about how childish I can sound, or better yet, tell me why you hate me and other skeptics. I know your posts very well. You jumped on me for making a joke I apologized for. Since it involved a parental voice, you took offense, then you admitted that the REAL reason you jumped on me was because of how I sounded in a different post, different subject. I read you like this: You’re (hey! got it right) a believer, I’m not and that makes you angry. Any thought or comment I post, you jump. Please stick to the OP. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671.md?page=3)