When Did We Stop Saying ‘You’re Welcome and Why?
I was watching a few minutes of one of our early morning TV news shows and the field reporter was doing an interview with a gentleman about one of our sports teams. The reporter thanked the young man for getting up so early to spend time with their show and the guy's response was, "No problem".
Really? "No problem"? Now, I am by no means a strict grammarian. I am not an expert on the English language, nor is my own language, grammar and syntax perfect. I want to get that out of the way from the start. But, since when is the correct response to "Thank you" -"No problem"?
This has been a pet peeve of mine for years now and I want to know who is responsible! Saying "you're welcome" to someone is a way of acknowledging an act, a kindness or favor you have given or done for someone and indicate you have performed the courtesy with pleasure, (whether it is a part of a job or just a part of your life).
Saying "no problem" (or even worse, "that's okay") after someone thanks you is like saying, "Yeah, I wasn't too busy doin' somethin' else, so it's alright", or "If I was being honest, I'd rather not be here, doing this for you, but that's the way it goes sometimes, I guess".
Which perhaps is the entire reason this moronic response to a sincere expression of gratitude ever reared it's irreverent head! Maybe many of us are simply too wrapped up in our own lives to perform good will gestures anymore. Or perchance our rampant cynicism doesn't allow us to believe people are being genuine when they thank us.
Whatever the reason, could we please return to what is certainly a more correct response, which is of course- "you're welcome"?
Thank you.
(Don't even think about it!!!)