Author Topic: What happened to "You're welcome"? (Read 10971 times)

Tante Shvester · « **on:** August 20, 2009, 02:12:06 AM »

When I was a girl, my mommy taught me to say "please" when I asked for something and "thank you" when I got it. And when someone told me "thank you" that the proper reply was "you're welcome".

Seems like no one says "you're welcome" any more. In fact, when you do hear it, it seems to have an air of smugness or sarcasm about it. I usually hear, "My pleasure" or "No problem" or "Thank you" as a reply to "thank you".

When did "you're welcome" fall out of favor?

And what were they ever welcome to?

Porter · « **Reply #1 on:** August 20, 2009, 06:41:49 AM »

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Seems like no one says "you're welcome" any more.

It doesn't seem that way to me.

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In fact, when you do hear it, it seems to have an air of smugness or sarcasm about it.

While I have heard that, that's by no means the majority of how I hear it.

Maybe it's a New Jersey thing.

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And what were they ever welcome to?

Whatever they were just thanked for.

Brinestone · « **Reply #2 on:** August 20, 2009, 07:12:25 AM »

I heard or read a rant somewhere about how people should say "you're welcome" instead of those other alternatives because its literal interpretation (you're welcome to this service/gift anytime) is much more generous than the alternatives'.

I disagreed completely with the rant. Things mean what we use them to mean, and when I say, "no problem," I mean exactly the same thing as if I'd said "you're welcome." Or so nearly so that trying to differentiate them is a waste of time.

Tante Shvester · « **Reply #3 on:** August 20, 2009, 08:15:17 AM »

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Maybe it's a New Jersey thing.

Could be. So many things are.

When you guys are on line, you're connected to the internet. We're waiting for the bank teller.

Porter · « **Reply #4 on:** August 20, 2009, 08:33:28 AM »

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When you guys are on line, you're connected to the internet.

Nope. That's when I'm online.

The Genuine · « **Reply #5 on:** August 20, 2009, 10:09:48 AM »

I usually say "No, no—thank you!"

Or I just smack her on the butt and tell her to leave.

saxon75 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 20, 2009, 11:19:01 AM »

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I usually hear, "My pleasure" or "No problem" or "Thank you" as a reply to "thank you".

I use and hear all of those, but I also use and hear "You're welcome" (or sometimes just "welcome") quite frequently.

saxon75 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 20, 2009, 11:20:25 AM »

Sometimes I also hear and use "Any time." Or "Sure." Or "Of course." Occasionally, "De nada" or "Prego" or "Right on."

Tante Shvester · « **Reply #8 on:** August 20, 2009, 11:23:47 AM »

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Sometimes I also hear and use "Any time." Or "Sure." Or "Of course." Occasionally, "De nada" or "Prego" or "Right on."

Of those, I've only heard "Any time". I do hear "De nada" in reply to "Gracias", but I don't know if that counts.

Farmgirl · « **Reply #9 on:** August 20, 2009, 11:57:23 AM »

Hmmm.. This is a a good thread. I will have to think about this more.

Since I work in customer service -- I pretty much get a "thank you" from every single caller. I guess most of the time I say "no problem" or "any time". Maybe I should switch back to the regular old "you're welcome"

The Genuine · « **Reply #10 on:** August 20, 2009, 12:09:46 PM »

Actually, I say de nada quite a bit, even to non-Spansish speakers.

"It's nothing."

Or "No, thank you."

See, "You're welcome" is risky because it leaves some ambiguity as to just what the person is welcome to.

Porter · « **Reply #11 on:** August 20, 2009, 12:18:38 PM »

I can never remember whether it's "de nada" or "por nada". I'll bet one of them is Spanish and the other one Portuguese.

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See, "You're welcome" is risky because it leaves some ambiguity as to just what the person is welcome to.

No it doesn't.

Jonathon · « **Reply #12 on:** August 20, 2009, 01:32:17 PM »

It probably does if you're Jesse.

Annie Subjunctive · « **Reply #13 on:** August 20, 2009, 03:25:54 PM »

Denada is Spanish - I'm guessing that por nada is Portuguese.

It's funny - when I thought about this, I realized that I almost always reply to thank you in a foreign language. Denada most of the time, and domo domo at work. Actually, any language goes at work. Maybe that's why I do the foreign language thing recently - because I work at the MTC and it's kind of standard universal practice to say greetings and thanks in whatever random language you can. All the missionaries say them in whatever language they're learning and all of us employees say them in whatever language sounds most fun at the time.

The Genuine · « **Reply #14 on:** August 20, 2009, 03:53:16 PM »

Why would you welcome someone to something after you've already given it to them? The most straightforward interpretation of that phrase, given its tense, is that the recipient is still welcome to take/do something that they already haven't taken/done.

You give me a bagel. I take it, and say thanks. You say "you're welcome." What am I welcome to? The thing I already possess??? No! Another bagel!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I learned both de nada and por nada in Spanish class. I swear—I've never been exposed to Portuguese. Yet my Peruvian girlfriend insists that por nada is wrong.

Porter · « **Reply #15 on:** August 20, 2009, 04:00:58 PM »

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You give me a bagel. I take it, and say thanks. You say "you're welcome." What am I welcome to? The thing I already possess???

Yes. Not only do you have possess it, but you're welcome to it.

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No! Another bagel!

Wrong.

Jonathon · « **Reply #16 on:** August 20, 2009, 05:09:10 PM »

Jesse, I think you take hyperliteralism to a completely new level.

The Genuine · « **Reply #17 on:** August 20, 2009, 05:27:15 PM »

Annie Subjunctive · « **Reply #18 on:** August 20, 2009, 06:13:01 PM »

Maybe we should say "You were welcome."

The Genuine · « **Reply #19 on:** August 20, 2009, 06:32:10 PM »

Agreed. When you let me into your house, you say "Welcome!," not "You're Welcome!"

It's only after I leave and I thank you for your hospitality that you say "You're Welcome!" But that makes no sense unless you are welcoming me back for another visit in the future. I.e., another bagel.

Jonathon · « **Reply #20 on:** August 20, 2009, 06:33:43 PM »

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Agreed. When you let me into your house, you say "Welcome!," not "You're Welcome!"

It's only after I leave and I thank you for your hospitality that you say "You're Welcome!" But that makes no sense unless you are welcoming me back for another visit in the future. I.e., another bagel.

Here's a crazy thought: maybe "welcome" has multiple meanings and is used in different ways at different times.

The Genuine · « **Reply #21 on:** August 20, 2009, 06:39:25 PM »

Slippery slope there, Jonathon.

But maybe you're right. Why don't we just all grunt?

Jonathon · « **Reply #22 on:** August 20, 2009, 07:40:55 PM »

I have no idea how that even sort of begins to follow from what I said.

Porter · « **Reply #23 on:** August 20, 2009, 09:04:24 PM »

It's a game -- how long can he spout nonsense and still get people to respond as though he's serious?

rivka · « **Reply #24 on:** August 20, 2009, 09:12:33 PM »

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Maybe we should say "You were welcome."

Which is one possible meaning of "You're welcome."