How come nobody says thank you anymore?

[carolynjane]

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that people don't take the time to say "thank you for your help" anymore? It seems that thoughtfulness a dying art - making people feel comfortable or happy that they went out of their way to help someone. I know you aren't supposed to do things because you want a reward, but sometimes hearing "thanks" can really make your day, and it seems pretty scarce anymore!

 

[Mckmain]

I agree......in my opinion general customer service has gone a bit down the tubes in the last 15 years. I will say I always try my best to remember thanking people...I like to see the smile when I do.....Carole

 

[dreamyjeanie]

Thank you for bringing that up. LOL.

No seriously, manners are a dying art. Young people seem to have less of them and I'm sure it is because they aren't exposed to them as much as previous generations. As for customer service, that is becoming a joke. Stores are going to have to rename these departments to "problem avoidance" because that is what most are trying to do, Avoid the problem instead of fixing it.


Jean

 

[beth6395]

This is my biggest pet peeve ever! If they do not say it to me I say it louder I am trying to teach my children so hard and they even will say "Mom she didn't say Thank you" I love it when they can hear it too! Holding Doors is first on my list. You can tell the snooty ones too. I can not stand going into my Marshall Fields I swear its like a snooty gather, however, I can not live w/o my clinique so I just grin and bear it. Anything else at Marshall Fields I can find at Birch Run outlet mall. Driving is my #2 Let's not go there I just finished my workout!

beth6395

 

[tina72382]

i totally understand! I teach 10th grade, and I remind them everyday to have good manners. If they don't walk away knowing the science I teach them, I at least hope I taught them some manners.

Isnt it fun when people look suprised when you thank them!!! i always thank the grocery clerk who bags my groceries.

 

[kathryn]

Let's start a revolution! Let's start thanking people, and maybe it will spread?

What used to be common courtesy seems to have disappeared (along with some "common sense"?).

I try to make a point of thanking the check-out clerks (and pointing out when they do something excellent, like NOT putting all the breakable glass bottles in the same plastic bag! Or giving me change the old-fashioned way: coins first, then bills on top, so it's easy to manage them with one hand, NOT bills, then change on top, which means I have to juggle things to get the change/bills where they belong).

Even if you aren't doing something because you expect the thanks, it does make human relations better. I've held doors open for families who look overburdened (going a bit out of my way to do it) and not had them even acknowledge it (as if they feel its something that they are entitled to?). Makes me want to yell "YOUR WELCOME!" or to not do the same for the next people.

 

[nancy324]

I could not disagree more. It seems to me these days that "thank you" is much overused in NYC. Everyone is trying so hard to be polite, that they render the phrase meaningless. The secretarys and paralegals in my office, in particular, all now say "thank you" after everything, like they don't even know what it means. For example, a paralegal will send around an email saying that the court schedule has changed and then end it with "thank you". She's giving us information, but she's thanking us? For what? This is a major pet peeve of mine. Intelligent people should say "thank you" only when it has some meaning, not as a way of always ending an email or a phone conversation. I am so tired of this!! If you want more "thank yous" than you can possibly bear, just come to NYC!

-Nancy

 

[gidget1978]

To be honest I never noticed. So it can't be that bad here or I would have noticed.

I do remember one time when I was leaving the mall and there were 3 people behind me and I held the door for them.Not one of them so much as looked at me...never mind thank you.It was as if the door automatically opened!So, we got to the second door and the samething was happening, but when the second person came out, I looked at the man, rolled my eyes and let the door go.And as I walked away I heard the lady go "hup".I guess she didn't see the swinging door commingMy blood was boiling.
If a thank you had been said, I would have stayed there.But not even acknowledging I was there...was unexceptable!

My kids do notice when people don't use their manners. Ive heard it before
Lori

 

[SRP]

I think manners are a dying art. Everything from saying thank you to politely letting someone merge onto a busy freeway instead of crowding them onto the shoulder of the road. which is what they do around here!

And I live in the south! So much for southern hospitality. I try to be courteous though... and man, it's amazing how many shocked looks I get. Like, "you said what? Thank you? What's that mean?" LOL.