# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/61 "2009-04-20T13:41:44Z")
It kind of drives me a little crazy when I get a “Bless You” when I sneeze. Not that I ever make a federal case out of it when it happens, but since you asked … I basically go the semi-ignore route. If I sneeze and someone says “God Bless You”, my usual response is, “Excuse me” as opposed to “Thank you.” I think it’s a relatively diplomatic solution. Some person feels the need to float a social courtesy to me (that I can’t help but find silly), so I float a similar social courtesy (which, really, is equally silly) by begging for forgiveness from complete strangers because my body reflexively tried to expel a loogey from my schnozz. Now if someone ever gave me shit for NOT saying “Bless you” or not saying “Thank you” in response to it … then we got a different kettle of laundry right there. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/62 "2009-04-20T13:52:05Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > I’ve had sneeze attacks where I’ll cut loose with 7 or 8 in a row and some doofus thinks they need to say “God bless you” after every frigging one. I usually wind up telling them to stuff a sock in it. I tell people they only get three “bless yous” and I’m done, because I don’t want to use my blessing power so much that I end up creating allergy-stricken saints left and right. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/63 "2009-04-20T13:52:42Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Sneezing in public is a minor faux-pas (very minor, but it is one), and there is nothing in the least polite about telling someone, especially a stranger, that you have noticed that they have made a faux-pas, let alone in drawing it further to the attention of anyone else within earshot. In fact it is the epitome of rudeness! It is not any kind of “faux-pas.” It’s an entirely involuntary reflex. It’s not like a belch; you can’t hold it in. Where do you get this ridiculous notion? Edit: And on point, I neither say it nor acknowledge it, generally speaking. ---
**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, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/64 "2009-04-20T14:08:47Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > It is not any kind of “faux-pas.” It’s an entirely involuntary reflex. It’s not like a belch; you can’t hold it in. Where do you get this ridiculous notion? > > Edit: And on point, I neither say it nor acknowledge it, generally speaking. **Q** , I think you’ve been whooshed. I \*hope \*it was a whoosh, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Some\_FNG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/48db29/32.png) [@Some\_FNG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_FNG)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/65 "2009-04-20T14:25:56Z")
Well, one could always say “Hey! Watch the snot!” after someone sneezes but that might not go over so well. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/66 "2009-04-20T14:43:31Z")
I hate hate hate when I sneeze and people say _anything_. I have allergies and I sneeze a lot, especially if animals are around. I don’t like it. It’s often very uncomfortable. I know it’s distracting to other people, but there’s nothing I can do about it. When you say “Bless you” or anything else you’re saying, “Ooh, **Freddy** sneezed and we all heard it! Ooh, he did it again! Hey **Freddy**! Are you all right over there?” Sometimes they even say that last part out loud. No, I’m not all right, I have allergies, I’ve had them most of my life, and I wish you’d crawl in a cave and bless yourself and die. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/67 "2009-04-20T15:54:18Z")
What drives me absolutely bonkers is that evidently my coughs sound like sneezes because people are constantly blessing them. You don’t bless a damned cough! Sneezes only! So if you say “Oh, that was a cough,” it’s dumb and awkward, but “thank you” makes them think you just sneezed some nasty clump of snot into your hand and now you’re not going to do anything at all about it. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/68 "2009-04-20T16:25:55Z")
I always say “bless us, every one”. Got to be fair about it. Sneezes feel **good** , like a small orgasm. I often play with my nose, poking the side of it so the little hairs tickle and stimulate a sneeze. Was that TMI? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/69 "2009-04-20T16:37:15Z")
I can’t believe anyone would even notice someone saying “bless you” after a sneeze. It’s such an innocuous little thing. It’s just fucking bizarre to be upset by it. However, if I know that hearing “God bless you” or “bless you” after you sneeze freaks your hypersensitive little brain out, I will politely refrain from saying it. seriously, don’t be [this guy](http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/warriorshtm/atheist.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/70 "2009-04-20T16:43:50Z")
Posting this with a big of snark, but wouldn’t _accepting_ the blessing mean you’re accepting their God too then? How many here after sneezing has been given a “God bless you,” and you’ve responded with, “I don’t believe in God?” And if you haven’t, why not? ---
**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, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/71 "2009-04-20T17:11:57Z")
> [@Shark\_Sandwich](#): > > Posting this with a big of snark, but wouldn’t _accepting_ the blessing mean you’re accepting their God too then? How many here after sneezing has been given a “God bless you,” and you’ve responded with, “I don’t believe in God?” And if you haven’t, why not? 1. I haven’t. 2. Because I’m not a dick IRL. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/72 "2009-04-20T17:41:41Z")
It’s almost as if the opposition to these customs are becoming an opposition toward all small pleasantries in our day to day interaction. I mean why show even perfunctory care about someone else’s condition at all? ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/73 "2009-04-20T19:21:21Z")
I use and hear “Bless you” in my social groups. (I can’t remember the last time I heard “God bless you”.) I don’t think there’s any religious connotation. “Bless you” simply means the other noticed your sneeze and hopes you recover quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/74 "2009-04-20T19:26:49Z")
My ex got irritated that I didn’t say bless you after a sneeze. I told her that none of my family and no one I knew growing up said it so it just does not occur to me to say it after someone sneezes. So whenever she would sneeze she would say, “Bless me.” and I would respond with, “Why, is your soul trying to escape again?” then she’d give me the :rolleyes: look. Ah good times. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@Mister\_Owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Owl)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/75 "2009-04-20T19:53:18Z")
After one sneeze (or sneeze bouts since I usually sneeze multiple times) I’ll say “bless you.” The second sneeze gets “you only get one from me.” The third I respond with “stop that!” ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/76 "2009-04-20T20:10:51Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > I use and hear “Bless you” in my social groups. (I can’t remember the last time I heard “God bless you”.) I don’t think there’s any religious connotation. “Bless you” simply means the other noticed your sneeze and hopes you recover quickly. A friend of mine said he didn’t like me saying that. So I told him, “God isn’t blessing you, _I_ am blessing you.”, and he said that was ok then. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/77 "2009-04-20T21:03:45Z")
> [@Mister\_Owl](#): > > After one sneeze (or sneeze bouts since I usually sneeze multiple times) I’ll say “bless you.” > The second sneeze gets “you only get one from me.” > The third I respond with “stop that!” If I know the sneezer really well, sometimes I’ll invoke Yosemite Sam: “Bless ya.” “Bless ya, and if ya sneeze again I ain’t a-blessin’ ya.” ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/78 "2009-04-20T21:30:06Z")
I’m glad **Locrian** started this thread, because it gives me the opportunity to express something that I was unable to say in the other thread. **Locrian** , you are an immature little fuckwad, and I’d be appreciative as Hell if you’d shut up, crawl under a rock somewhere, and never, ever come out again. ---
**Author:** ![tds1273](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@tds1273](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tds1273)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/79 "2009-04-20T21:51:43Z")
[**Jerry Seinfeld:** You know, if you want to make a person feel better after they sneeze, you shouldn’t say ‘God bless you’, you should say, ‘You’re soo good lookin’'.](http://www.seinfeldscripts.com/TheGoodSamaritan.html) ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671/80 "2009-04-20T21:52:50Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I’m glad **Locrian** started this thread, because it gives me the opportunity to express something that I was unable to say in the other thread. > > **Locrian** , you are an immature little fuckwad, and I’d be appreciative as Hell if you’d shut up, crawl under a rock somewhere, and never, ever come out again. **Miller** , will you marry me? 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-saying-god-bless-you-after-a-sneeze/493671.md?page=5)