# Whatever happened to You're Welcome? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 9, 2011, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-youre-welcome/581229 "2011-05-09T03:05:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Diver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@Diver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diver)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-youre-welcome/581229/21 "2011-05-09T21:22:04Z")
I think “no problem” sounds sort of crass. I say you’re welcome. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-youre-welcome/581229/22 "2011-05-09T21:26:40Z")
> [@apollonia](#): > > The radio situation is not quite like in real life. The interviewer is thanking the subject for his or her time, while the interviewee is thanking the former for the opportunity to tell his or her story (or whatever). > > Interviewer: And today all our listeners have learned something important about the dangers of walking while chewing gum, thanks to our guest, Cantwalk McClumsy. Mr. McClumsy, thank you [for your time and your efforts in telling your story], > Interviewee: Thank you, Interviewer, [for allowing me the opportunity to tell my story and get some radio time]. If only one life has been saved today, it’s worth it to me. . . This made me LOL, and was also a more elegant way of phrasing my intended response. So, thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-youre-welcome/581229/23 "2011-05-09T22:51:56Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I say “No worries.” > > Guess where I live. Whistler? ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-youre-welcome/581229/24 "2011-05-09T22:57:59Z")
I think “no problem” is perfectly appropriate for some situations, like if you take the time to do someone a favor. It assures them that you weren’t put out unduly, and that helping them has not caused you a hardship. Now, if you are at work, and reply to a customer with “no problem”, it creates a bit of an awkward implication, in my mind. You’re now implying that you did them a favor by ringing up their Big Mac, when it’s just part of your normal job. This isn’t a huge deal, certainly, but “my pleasure” or “you’re welcome” are more appropriate in that setting. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-youre-welcome/581229/25 "2011-05-09T23:01:41Z")
I’m not against “you’re welcome” per se, but I’ve gotten used to “thank you/thank you” such that “you’re welcome” sounds strange now. And the double thanks makes sense, even if only from a Stupid Management Perspective; the customer thanks the employee for helping them, and the employee thanks the customer for giving the company their business. “No problem” has the same potential pitfall as “you’re welcome,” implying that helping the customer could have been a problem, but it never seems to be taken that way except by the overly pedantic. I’ve used “no problem” and variants on it for 10 years now, and not once has anyone commented on it. But then, I usually put enough helpful sincerity into it to choke a horse. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-youre-welcome/581229/26 "2011-05-10T00:06:19Z")
I forgot one that I sometimes use: “my pleasure.” Although perhaps it belongs in the pretentious thread… ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-youre-welcome/581229/27 "2011-05-10T00:34:11Z")
> [@Shamozzle](#): > > Whistler? Let me expand on that. I say “No worries, mate, cobber, bluey, dingo, me old china, eh, reckon, Dave-o, Steve-o, John-o, everybody-o.” That’s right, France. ---
**Author:** ![Meyer6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@Meyer6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meyer6)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-youre-welcome/581229/28 "2011-05-10T01:12:53Z")
> [@JSexton](#): > > Now, if you are at work, and reply to a customer with “no problem”, it creates a bit of an awkward implication, in my mind. You’re now implying that you did them a favor by ringing up their Big Mac, when it’s just part of your normal job. See, I disagree with this. I think “you’re welcome” has more of an implication that you went out of your way to do the person a favour. I guess it’s just a matter of interpretation, but it seems to be shifting over time. Maybe part of the issue is the sarcastic use of “you’re welcome”, eg.: Person 1: holds door open for person 2 Person 2: walks through door, says nothing Person 1: :rolleyes: WELL YOU’RE WELCOME!:mad: ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-youre-welcome/581229/29 "2011-05-10T01:17:03Z")
I say “you’re welcome” and like hearing it. I hate the American “uh-huh” in its stead. ---
**Author:** ![velvetjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@velvetjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velvetjones)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-youre-welcome/581229/30 "2011-05-10T01:42:42Z")
To my ears ‘You’re Welcome’ never sounds patronizing as some have described it. I use it all the time. I find it fascinating that it can be perceived so differently. Of course, I’m on the other side of 50 now so maybe it’s just my age showing. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-youre-welcome/581229/31 "2011-05-10T01:57:31Z")
> [@velvetjones](#): > > I never really thought about it as overly formal or even patronizing. Wow. I say you’re welcome all the time when I’m thanked. (probably 'cause I like to be different) I may need to rethink that. It’s not . Remain polite. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-youre-welcome/581229/32 "2011-05-10T02:05:44Z")
> [@velvetjones](#): > > To my ears ‘You’re Welcome’ never sounds patronizing as some have described it. I use it all the time. I find it fascinating that it can be perceived so differently. > > Of course, I’m on the other side of 50 now so maybe it’s just my age showing. 😛 Same here. There are other responses that are acceptable but there’s nothing patronizing about “You’re quite welcome” It essentially is saying, “I was pleased to do it” ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-youre-welcome/581229/33 "2011-05-10T06:29:03Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I say “you’re welcome” and like hearing it. I hate the American “uh-huh” in its stead. I, too, hate “uh huh”. It just seems terribly rude and kind of … grudging. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-youre-welcome/581229/34 "2011-05-10T06:58:17Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > I usually use “no problem” but from what I‘ve heard some “get of my lawns” don’t like it. Saying “you’re welcome” seems too formal. I have to clarify my post. For me to say “you’re welcome” seems too formal in my head like “you should be thanking me, I did you a favor”. If someone were to use “you’re welcome” in response to my “thank you” I wouldn’t think anything of it, except that they were polite. It’s one of the many incongruities of my brain that’s at fault. Not the fault of anyone saying “you’re welcome”. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-youre-welcome/581229/35 "2011-05-10T10:14:04Z")
I blame John Hodgman. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-youre-welcome/581229/36 "2011-05-10T10:22:02Z")
It is kind of situational for me. For day-to-day things like receiving a _thank you_ from a clerk or waitress, I usually reply with a thank you. For things like gifts or favors (I drove 45 minutes to help you with your broken down car) I always use the more formal “you are welcome.” ---
**Author:** ![velvetjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@velvetjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velvetjones)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-youre-welcome/581229/37 "2011-05-10T11:04:09Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > Same here. There are other responses that are acceptable but there’s nothing patronizing about “You’re quite welcome” It essentially is saying, “I was pleased to do it” That’s what I always thought. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-youre-welcome/581229/38 "2011-05-10T11:22:36Z")
I use “no problem” or “no worries” most of the time. Maybe because I don’t want to suggest that I was _happy_ to do something, but it didn’t cause me any aggravation. Or because I started doing it once and now can’t stop. Help me. ---
**Author:** ![Spit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Spit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spit)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-youre-welcome/581229/39 "2011-05-10T13:21:33Z")
> [@campp](#): > > Well, my parents really screwed me up. I’ve learned in the last couple of months on SDMB: > > 1. Holding a door for women is sexist and unnecessarily forward. > > 2. Using someone’s name from their name tag even _once_ is creepy. > > 3. Saying “You’re Welcome” is considered being a jerk. > > WTF? Yeah, apparently my parents were terrible influences as well. I love meeting these type of people IRL though. Easy to get under their skin, and highly entertaining! ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-youre-welcome/581229/40 "2011-05-10T13:29:13Z")
> [@Spit](#): > > Yeah, apparently my parents were terrible influences as well. > > I love meeting these type of people IRL though. Easy to get under their skin, and highly entertaining! Your parents clearly raised you well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-youre-welcome/581229.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-youre-welcome/581229.md?page=3)