Is "thank you" disappearing? Or is it long gone?

W

Wes

Member
Location
southern california
It may be just me. I may be disappearing from sight as old people gradually do, it seems. i gave five adults and two children who are neighbors Christmas presents this year. I've seen these people many times since Christmas. None have said 'thank you' or 'how thoughtful of you...'. Has that habit or behavior disappeared? Or am I gradually disappearing from others' sight where anything I do is irrelevant to others?
 

Wes said:
It may be just me. I may be disappearing from sight as old people gradually do, it seems. i gave five adults and two children who are neighbors Christmas presents this year. I've seen these people many times since Christmas. None have said 'thank you' or 'how thoughtful of you...'. Has that habit or behavior disappeared? Or am I gradually disappearing from others' sight where anything I do is irrelevant to others?
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I have noticed this too.... it's almost like they feel it's their right to have things without having to thank anyone..
 
Absolutely not! I use the phrase almost every day. I hear it from other people every day. Thank you, is probably the most used phrase every day in the world. I have never stopped hearing that. I hear it in stores from fellow customers. I say it to the cashiers. I hear it in the nursing homes that I have worked in. My family members say it to each other.
 
"Thank you" used to be de rigueur but not so much anymore. At least in America. And I don't know why.
In fact I find myself thanking the check out girl at the grocer for example, much more often than receiving thanks for a purchase these days.
Oh, I still hear "thank you" from time to time but often it seems like salutary semantics rather than genuine gratitude.
On the other hand, sometimes thanks can be given without saying a single word.
 
I say "thank you" often. But I also speak with our neighbours cat 'Amigo' from a shelter (a beautiful black tomcat, one year old) and he always answers. And I speak with my car too. Not kidding.
But you're right, I hear it from others not very often anymore.
 
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Paladin1950 said:
Absolutely not! I use the phrase almost every day. I hear it from other people every day. Thank you, is probably the most used phrase every day in the world. I have never stopped hearing that. I hear it in stores from fellow customers. I say it to the cashiers. I hear it in the nursing homes that I have worked in. My family members say it to each other.
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it is in our generation..even my daughters' generation, but many younger than that seem to not feel it necessary..
 
I'll tell you what though.... when I'm getting my receipt from the lady at the checkout, I always say, "Thank you for your help, pretty girl and do keep smiling, you have a lovely smile." 99 times out of 100, I do get a smile off them.
It costs me nothing to be polite and the girl is happy to be thanked and noticed. 😊
 
timoc said:
I'll tell you what though.... when I'm getting my receipt from the lady at the checkout, I always say, "Thank you for your help, pretty girl and do keep smiling, you have a lovely smile." 99 times out of 100, I do get a smile off them.
It costs me nothing to be polite and the girl is happy to be thanked and noticed. 😊
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you can get away with that as a senior,,,but a 20yr old mmmmmmlol
 
PeppermintPatty said:
Not for me! Thank you, sorry and love are some of my most used words. That sounds so wrong. I must be tired.
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From the time that I had learned to read and write, and still just a small boy, my mother would insist that I write a thank you note for gifts received. What you do in childhood stays with you for life.

The lack of good manners is part of the endemic that makes up what seems to be acceptable today. Previously on another thread, I mentioned that complete strangers will start a letter, Hi and your first name. Dear Mr. or Dear Sir, has long been forgotten. It seems that please and thank you have dropped out of use too.
 

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