"No problem" vs "you're welcome"

[Bush]

(Butchered this post to death)

1. "You're welcome" connotes a transaction of sorts. "No problem" signifies that there was very little to transact in the first place. Both are valid in context. The former is more appropriate in business, really, since business is all about transactions and with business comes a degree of formality. The latter is informal, and if saying that phrase helps a cashier through their day because they don't have to feel rigid, more. power to them. But in the end it's pedantry.
2. I personally roll with either one (though with a skew toward the latter), but it wholly depends on context. Not that it's given thought, but I just naturally end up saying one or the other in different contexts.
3. I know it's a tangential thought -- but people aren't entitled to a "you're welcome" (or "no problem", or an "ain't nothin' but a thang") at all. It's also just fine, in general, to go out there and do good things without expecting gratitude.
4. This is like.. a zeroth-world problem in the real world. Sure, anything (even this) can be taken apart and explored.. but caring about it in the real world is a different matter.
5. Millennials aren't even able to respond to a "thank you" in the correct manner, likely because they're not used to expressing gratitude for anything on account of entitlement., is what I would say if I were a crotchety old man.

 

[ceecee]

Between you and me, learning is the only thing I'm after. Teaching is just the way I go about gathering reactions to quantify them into more measured approaches in life. So far I've learned that people resent being told what to say, which lines up neatly with what I've learned from the reactions to SJWs and PC culture. I've also learned that job dignity is important to people, and that a lot of people judge how dignified other people feel in their jobs based on their own opinions regardless of how accurate it is. I've learned why so many young people want socialism and universal income as an escape from the humility of bottom tier employment. Among other things.

This makes you look like you're trying to convince yourself, not others. You're looking down at people plenty here by chastising others that don't conform to your view. You're just as much of a SJW as the SJW you hate, you're just as PC as the PC culture you hate. You're welcome.

 

[anticlimatic]

This makes you look like you're trying to convince yourself, not others. You're looking down at people plenty here by chastising others that don't conform to your view. You're just as much of a SJW as the SJW you hate, you're just as PC as the PC culture you hate. You're welcome.

I chastise ideas, not people. Learn the difference and maybe you can retire from Vice President of my fan club.

 

[Maybe]

Typically if someone asks me to do something I'll say no problem. It's more of a response to a request. You're welcome is typically what I say to thank you.

 

[Coriolis]

Let's pick this apart before we get to the thank you. What part of "no problem" is the opposite of "it is a problem?" The qualifier before the word "problem," clearly...but what part of it is identical? The word "problem," which I and the author of that article separately pointed out does not need to be there. Why is 'problem' even entering the conversation at all? On tiny exchanges that couldn't be problematic if they wanted to, dropping the word problem totally shifts the entire context of the exchange from a mutually pleasant transaction to there being a problem somewhere, in someone's expectations, that needs addressing. If I say "no elephant," clearly I'm assuming someone thought there might be an elephant in play. Otherwise I'm just pulling random words out of nowhere. No barn. No lamp. No corn tortilla.

When you thank someone, it implies that they did something for you, perhaps something very small but something nonetheless. Was this action "free", requiring no time, effort, or attention on their part? Usually not. Your thanks, then, recognizes their expenditure of resources, however small, on your behalf. "No problem" speaks to this, reassuring the person offering thanks that that expenditure was, well, not a problem. Not an imposition. Not a burden. This might be for many reasons: it was trivial, it was enjoyable, it was part of the job, etc. When I answer "no problem", sometimes I specify.

So, the idea of problem/imposition/burden is implicit in an act prompting thanks, while elephants and tortillas are not (unless, perhaps, you are at the zoo or in Taco Bell).] In any case, I agree with [MENTION=22264]Bush Did 9/11[/MENTION] that the whole question is pedantic, and splitting hairs.

Between you and me, learning is the only thing I'm after. Teaching is just the way I go about gathering reactions to quantify them into more measured approaches in life. So far I've learned that people resent being told what to say,

People seem to resent being told what to say and judged for what they say by some random joker on the internet who doesn't know them from Adam. I'm sure most millenials, like most other employees, will at least make an attempt to follow employee policy on how to interact with customers. This means your real gripe is with the management of the establishments where you encounter responses not to your liking.

 

[onemoretime]

Good lord, people, just appreciate the damn sentiment. It's a nicety 80% of the time, anyway.

 

[anticlimatic]

When you thank someone, it implies that they did something for you, perhaps something very small but something nonetheless. Was this action "free", requiring no time, effort, or attention on their part? Usually not. Your thanks, then, recognizes their expenditure of resources, however small, on your behalf. "No problem" speaks to this, reassuring the person offering thanks that that expenditure was, well, not a problem. Not an imposition. Not a burden. This might be for many reasons: it was trivial, it was enjoyable, it was part of the job, etc. When I answer "no problem", sometimes I specify.

So, the idea of problem/imposition/burden is implicit in an act prompting thanks, while elephants and tortillas are not (unless, perhaps, you are at the zoo or in Taco Bell).] In any case, I agree with [MENTION=22264]Bush Did 9/11[/MENTION] that the whole question is pedantic, and splitting hairs.

Our differences on the matter come down to the bolded. I do not think a thank you automatically implies a problem/imposition/burden. Sometimes it does, which as I mentioned can warrant a 'no problem' in full polite etiquette. But on smaller matters, to me, 'thank you' typically means 'thank you (for participating in this enjoyable interaction with me), ie: "I appreciate you and this moment." Inversely, when I am being thanked for something petty, I presume the same. Because like the initial rebuttal quoted in the OP, I believe that interacting in small ways with our fellow human beings is to be expected and enjoyed. But unlike the rebuttal in the OP, I think that is better indicative of a '(your) welcome(ing)' spirit. Not a '(no) problem' spirit.

What I would accept as a compromise would be a socially acceptable way to share moments and communicate appreciation to strangers just for sharing those moments, but we are too leary of strangers socially (for good logical reasons) to jump into anything like that, other than silly superficial comments like 'hey I like your sweater.' Instead we have to find some way to help, or be helped, to interact and express appreciation for those we'll only know in brief passing. Unfortunate as I think it is, it makes perfect sense as is, and I don't at all mind playing the game.

People seem to resent being told what to say and judged for what they say by some random joker on the internet who doesn't know them from Adam. I'm sure most millenials, like most other employees, will at least make an attempt to follow employee policy on how to interact with customers. This means your real gripe is with the management of the establishments where you encounter responses not to your liking.

Again, my gripe is with no one. Not even any of the people slinging dirt at me in this thread. My gripe is with the argument for 'no problem' because I see flawed logic in it. That's all. However much of an asshole the dude bitching about people in the service industry that preceded the argument for 'no problem' sounds, he's right. At least in spirit. Whether he knows why or not.

 

[Shiver]

"Slinging dirt," he says, moments after referencing an entire labelled group of people he's actively painted as somehow 'objectively' inferior to himself.

I especially like the part about referencing 'logic', despite the complete lack of valid rebuttals in response to points raised against him. Just another archetype - the sort of person who wants to wear the image of a regular Dr. Spock, but seldom is interested in actually demonstrating the use of their brain when confronted with things that shoot a bunch of holes in their very premise. Much easier to dismiss such comments and repeatedly claim correctness, right? There are few things that make me want to roll my eyes more than a stubborn adherence to a view under the clear pretense of 'logic'.

I've had my say here. If I'm not actually addressed, fine. It says more about a person when they evade what I say instead of confronting it anyway.

 

[anticlimatic]

"Slinging dirt," he says, moments after referencing an entire labelled group of people he's actively painted as somehow 'objectively' inferior to himself. I especially like the part about referencing 'logic', despite the complete lack of valid rebuttals in response to points raised against him. Just another archetype - the sort of person who wants to wear the image of a regular Dr. Spock, but seldom is interested in actually demonstrating the use of their brain when confronted with things that shoot a bunch of holes in their very premise. Much easier to dismiss such comments and repeatedly claim correctness, right? There are few things that make me want to roll my eyes more than a stubborn adherence to a view under the clear pretense of 'logic'. I've had my say here. If I'm not actually addressed, fine. It says more about a person when they evade what I say instead of confronting it anyway.

Im doing you a favor in not responding. Trust me.

 

[Siúil a Rúin]

At least we've found the conceptual endpoint for first world problems.

 

[1487610420]

 

[Poki]

This is a good way to use "your welcome"

 

[Coriolis]

Our differences on the matter come down to the bolded. I do not think a thank you automatically implies a problem/imposition/burden.

If the person has done nothing for you, why would you be thanking them?

What I would accept as a compromise would be a socially acceptable way to share moments and communicate appreciation to strangers just for sharing those moments, but we are too leary of strangers socially (for good logical reasons) to jump into anything like that, other than silly superficial comments like 'hey I like your sweater.' Instead we have to find some way to help, or be helped, to interact and express appreciation for those we'll only know in brief passing. Unfortunate as I think it is, it makes perfect sense as is, and I don't at all mind playing the game.

Ah - so it's not really about the appropriate way to acknowledge thanks, but rather a means of "sharing moments" with strangers? Sorry, I'll pass. I'm not interested in sharing moments with strangers, or trading appreciation with those I meet in passing, unless something legitimately stands out to the point that more than a pro-forma reply is indicated. I mostly just want to transact my business and move on - which is more efficient for them from a business prospective anyway.

More customers served per hour and all that. You know what does irk me about clerks, especially cashiers, though? When they carry on a lengthy personal chat with a customer - perhaps known to them, perhaps a friendly stranger - while there is a whole lineful of customers behind the chatterbox, waiting their turn. Too much of that and I won't be back.

Irrational expectations like...not going out of business?

If we American consumers (collectively - enough to threaten a business' survival) are going to cease patronizing businesses because the clerks say "no problem" instead of "thank you", we have more problems than the clerks do.

 

[Cellmold]

Big thread for a strangely abstract and minor thing.

I say "no worries" which is basically the little sister of 'no problem' and I guess carries all the same negative connotations outlined in this thread? I often say "cheers" a lot & "take care" but those are colloquial, along with "no worries" to my area/country.

If someone called me on it by saying it sounded disingenuous I'd agree with them, I don't care, but that's developed out of dealing with people a great deal in a small window of interaction & pressure. An angle of not caring is easier on the energy levels for me, because I care about solving the issue, not necessarily with consideration of the person.

No complaints yet though.

More customers served per hour and all that. You know what does irk me about clerks, especially cashiers, though? When they carry on a lengthy personal chat with a customer - perhaps known to them, perhaps a friendly stranger - while there is a whole lineful of customers behind the chatterbox, waiting their turn. Too much of that and I won't be back.

Working on a till myself I dislike seeing this from colleagues as well, I get it, but there is a time and place; do it if the shop is dead, not when a queue has formed.

 

[anticlimatic]

If the person has done nothing for you, why would you be thanking them? Ah - so it's not really about the appropriate way to acknowledge thanks, but rather a means of "sharing moments" with strangers? Sorry, I'll pass. I'm not interested in sharing moments with strangers, or trading appreciation with those I meet in passing, unless something legitimately stands out to the point that more than a pro-forma reply is indicated. I mostly just want to transact my business and move on - which is more efficient for them from a business prospective anyway. More customers served per hour and all that.

Efficiency is the entire point of reducing exchanges to automated language for the sake of removing conscious thought and therefore time taken in the exchange. However, the specifics of that automated language serve a differerent purpose, that of cultivating an APPRECIATIVE and WELCOMING atmosphere. So while the form serves the patience of everyone else in line, the content serves the customer at the head of it.

Perhaps if everyone in the world were as misanthropic as you and actually DID consider tiny exchanges with strangers a problem for that very reason, then 'no problem' could be an effective automated response, but that is absolutely not the case, and when you have the choice to program one of two responses- one that works once in a while, and one that always works, the choice is clear.

You know what does irk me about clerks, especially cashiers, though? When they carry on a lengthy personal chat with a customer - perhaps known to them, perhaps a friendly stranger - while there is a whole lineful of customers behind the chatterbox, waiting their turn. Too much of that and I won't be back. If we American consumers (collectively - enough to threaten a business' survival) are going to cease patronizing businesses because the clerks say "no problem" instead of "thank you", we have more problems than the clerks do.

But that's just the clerk having a 'true to themselves' moment with the customer that validates their humanity and doesn't just come out as an insincere and demeaning exchange....

Ok yeah, that's really annoying. Up there with the guy buying and scratching lotto tickets.

Consumer choice of which of the many similar businesses to use based on how the experience of spending their money there makes them feel is as old as capitalism itself, and hardly indicative of any social problems.

A bigger, and more real and new problem, is this more recent millennial trend towards the same misanthropy and navel gazing that you've demonstrated in this response. They seem to have an overly detailed awareness of what it's like to be a bitch worker, but apparently no clue of the details of what it's like to be a business owner, and for anyone (like me) who is a major small business advocate, that is a HUGE red flag moving the economy forward.

 

[kotoshinohaisha]

I say "yeah"

 

[Coriolis]

Efficiency is the entire point of reducing exchanges to automated language for the sake of removing conscious thought and therefore time taken in the exchange. However, the specifics of that automated language serve a differerent purpose, that of cultivating an APPRECIATIVE and WELCOMING atmosphere. So while the form serves the patience of everyone else in line, the content serves the customer at the head of it.

I don't find automated language either appreciative or welcoming. A store that is layed out such that it is easy to find things, with prices clearly visible, and employees who are available to answer questions and actually knowledgeable about the products: this is what I find welcoming when I am shopping.

But that's just the clerk having a 'true to themselves' moment with the customer that validates their humanity and doesn't just come out as an insincere and demeaning exchange....

Now that sounds more stereotypical of millenials: putting their own gratification in the moment ahead of doing their job and considering the other waiting customers.

A bigger, and more real and new problem, is this more recent millennial trend towards the same misanthropy and navel gazing that you've demonstrated in this response. They seem to have an overly detailed awareness of what it's like to be a bitch worker, but apparently no clue of the details of what it's like to be a business owner, and for anyone (like me) who is a major small business advocate, that is a HUGE red flag moving the economy forward.

Not sure what you mean here by "bitch worker". I can say, though, that how employees respond to "thank you" is the least of the average business' worries. At least in my area, they are hard-pressed to find employees that show up for work on time (and not drunk/high), actually WORK for their entire shift, can read a basic training manual, do simple math. Icing on the cake if they actually think about what they are doing, so they can catch errors/problems. I'm beginning to think that fabric stores are the last bastion of true customer service, and even some of them are losing it.

Dont confuse my output for my thought process. I communicate parts of it linearly so that lesser minds can keep up with it (and before you break the report button by jamming it too hard, I mean that generally, not specifically directed at you).

Just whom did you have in mind? Since you are referring to your posts here, it must be someone(s) participating in this thread.

 

[Shiver]

Not sure what you mean here by "bitch worker".

The wonderful thing about being intuitive is that his use of the term says so much to me about how he likely views people working those jobs, giving a whole mess of underlying meaning to this entire thread. >_>

 

[miss fortune]

I go a bit more formal and say "not a problem!" and say it with a smile

when speaking to someone older I'll occasionally go with "you are welcome" instead just because I can and I like to make people happy from time to time

I don't really see a difference between the two... either is acknowledging that someone's thanked you and that you don't feel all put out by helping them

 

[Bush]

I don't really see a difference between the two... either is acknowledging that someone's thanked you and that you don't feel all put out by helping them

Related to your post. You know what else grinds my gears, is "thanks." Like, who are you thanking? It's like you're just expressing gratitude that the situation is now what it is, that some favor has been performed or that you have been helped. As in, probably just by the universe just doing its thing. Passively.

No, there was a cause for the thing that rectified your situation. At least a "thank you" gives credit where it's due. You can bet your ass that, when someone pulls that shit on me, they get reciprocated with a "no problem." Because they don't give credit for their thanks, I'll suggest that there was indeed a problem.