Asklemmy @lemmy.ml Melatonin @lemmy.dbzer0.com 10mo ago

What happened to "You're welcome!" as a response to "Thank You"? It's not even included in the canned answers on an apple watch. Have we as a society abandoned it?

I hear "No problem" far more often.

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I see “no problem” as nicer. If I say that, I’m expressing that I really don’t mind, and there’s no need to thank me. No problem, as in I had no problem with doing this thing

“You’re welcome” feels more like “I appreciate you thanking me, because I went out of my way to do this”, if that makes any sense
- Huh, to me, YW is much more gracious and positive that you're happy to do it, while NP is more like "it was a tolerable burden".
  
  Though for paid service I don't like expected faux enthusiasm. I think "of course" is classy and not demeaning then, meaning "it's what I'm here for".
- Except “no problem” traditionally means “no problem [despite this situation containing a likely problem]”.
  
  It means the person being thanked has gone outside their set of responsibilities to help you.
  
  Like “Thanks for letting us borrow your spare tire so we could get our car back to town” -> “no problem”.
  
  Here the other person had no responsibility to help with the others’ flat tire, much less lend out a piece of their own safety equipment.
  
  “You’re welcome” is the one which means “It is perfectly expected in our current roles that I would have provided this”.
  
  And I see it totally opposite. Interesting.
  
  Also, can you cite this “traditionally” you reference?
  
  I go to DMV. “You need a number to be in this line”. “My mistake. Where do I get this number?” “Over there.” “Oh, I see, thank you.” “You’re welcome.”
  
  Wow, because the DMV uses it? Thanks for the source! Wait, I’ve heard a person at the DMV say “no problem” before…
  
  Also, I was asking the original commenter about the “traditional” use of “no problem”.

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