Force of habit

Hellsangel wrote:On that note, GC, how are you?

nevada wrote:I like this over polite behavior better than the rude, inconsiderate behavior shown by people in India.

goodcitizn wrote:Yesterday, while coming down the elevator all alone, I sneezed and automatically said "Excuse me!" Realized it was a force of habit.

Then I remembered a conversation I had with my late father years ago. We were at a gas station when the attendant took my money for the bill and returned the change. I said, "Thank you" when I received it. While we were in the car my dad asked me curiosly why I had thanked him when he wasn't doing any favor. I smiled and said I was just being polite and it was good etiquette. Then he commented that there were two problems with this philosophy on etiquette. One, thanking when it was not necessary meant that the next person who failed to thank would automatically be construed as being rude; and, second, such meaningless routine gesture of thanks takes away from really thanking someone for his or her good deed. Then he started his usual tirade on the superficiality of western etiquettes.

Well, just an anecdote. Nothing to sneeze about.

southindian wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:Yesterday, while coming down the elevator all alone, I sneezed and automatically said "Excuse me!" Realized it was a force of habit.

Then I remembered a conversation I had with my late father years ago. We were at a gas station when the attendant took my money for the bill and returned the change. I said, "Thank you" when I received it. While we were in the car my dad asked me curiosly why I had thanked him when he wasn't doing any favor. I smiled and said I was just being polite and it was good etiquette. Then he commented that there were two problems with this philosophy on etiquette. One, thanking when it was not necessary meant that the next person who failed to thank would automatically be construed as being rude; and, second, such meaningless routine gesture of thanks takes away from really thanking someone for his or her good deed. Then he started his usual tirade on the superficiality of western etiquettes.

Well, just an anecdote. Nothing to sneeze about.

A few weeks ago, I was talking on phone with someone in India on my way to work. The person on phone listened to my thanks while I was getting coffee and another thanks to someone for something while I was getting out of elevator. The person in India was surprised listening to 3~4 thanks on phone. I think Indians in India say thanks when they really mean it in most cases. Americans OTOH say things because of habit and politeness.

goodcitizn wrote:

southindian wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:Yesterday, while coming down the elevator all alone, I sneezed and automatically said "Excuse me!" Realized it was a force of habit.

Then I remembered a conversation I had with my late father years ago. We were at a gas station when the attendant took my money for the bill and returned the change. I said, "Thank you" when I received it. While we were in the car my dad asked me curiosly why I had thanked him when he wasn't doing any favor. I smiled and said I was just being polite and it was good etiquette. Then he commented that there were two problems with this philosophy on etiquette. One, thanking when it was not necessary meant that the next person who failed to thank would automatically be construed as being rude; and, second, such meaningless routine gesture of thanks takes away from really thanking someone for his or her good deed. Then he started his usual tirade on the superficiality of western etiquettes.

Well, just an anecdote. Nothing to sneeze about.

A few weeks ago, I was talking on phone with someone in India on my way to work. The person on phone listened to my thanks while I was getting coffee and another thanks to someone for something while I was getting out of elevator. The person in India was surprised listening to 3~4 thanks on phone. I think Indians in India say thanks when they really mean it in most cases. Americans OTOH say things because of habit and politeness.

Thanks for sharing.

goodcitizn wrote:Yesterday, while coming down the elevator all alone, I sneezed and automatically said "Excuse me!" Realized it was a force of habit.

Then I remembered a conversation I had with my late father years ago. We were at a gas station when the attendant took my money for the bill and returned the change. I said, "Thank you" when I received it. While we were in the car my dad asked me curiosly why I had thanked him when he wasn't doing any favor. I smiled and said I was just being polite and it was good etiquette. Then he commented that there were two problems with this philosophy on etiquette. One, thanking when it was not necessary meant that the next person who failed to thank would automatically be construed as being rude; and, second, such meaningless routine gesture of thanks takes away from really thanking someone for his or her good deed. Then he started his usual tirade on the superficiality of western etiquettes.

Well, just an anecdote. Nothing to sneeze about.

Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:Yesterday, while coming down the elevator all alone, I sneezed and automatically said "Excuse me!" Realized it was a force of habit.

Then I remembered a conversation I had with my late father years ago. We were at a gas station when the attendant took my money for the bill and returned the change. I said, "Thank you" when I received it. While we were in the car my dad asked me curiosly why I had thanked him when he wasn't doing any favor. I smiled and said I was just being polite and it was good etiquette. Then he commented that there were two problems with this philosophy on etiquette. One, thanking when it was not necessary meant that the next person who failed to thank would automatically be construed as being rude; and, second, such meaningless routine gesture of thanks takes away from really thanking someone for his or her good deed. Then he started his usual tirade on the superficiality of western etiquettes.

Well, just an anecdote. Nothing to sneeze about.

You are father is so so right...

That is why I dont practice any of these superficial western etiquette - to save others coming across as rude.

Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:Yesterday, while coming down the elevator all alone, I sneezed and automatically said "Excuse me!" Realized it was a force of habit.

Then I remembered a conversation I had with my late father years ago. We were at a gas station when the attendant took my money for the bill and returned the change. I said, "Thank you" when I received it. While we were in the car my dad asked me curiosly why I had thanked him when he wasn't doing any favor. I smiled and said I was just being polite and it was good etiquette. Then he commented that there were two problems with this philosophy on etiquette. One, thanking when it was not necessary meant that the next person who failed to thank would automatically be construed as being rude; and, second, such meaningless routine gesture of thanks takes away from really thanking someone for his or her good deed. Then he started his usual tirade on the superficiality of western etiquettes.

Well, just an anecdote. Nothing to sneeze about.

You are father is so so right...

That is why I dont practice any of these superficial western etiquette - to save others coming across as rude.

confuzzled dude wrote:Many thanks for opening this thread GC.

Jebediah Mburuburu wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:

southindian wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:Yesterday, while coming down the elevator all alone, I sneezed and automatically said "Excuse me!" Realized it was a force of habit.

Then I remembered a conversation I had with my late father years ago. We were at a gas station when the attendant took my money for the bill and returned the change. I said, "Thank you" when I received it. While we were in the car my dad asked me curiosly why I had thanked him when he wasn't doing any favor. I smiled and said I was just being polite and it was good etiquette. Then he commented that there were two problems with this philosophy on etiquette. One, thanking when it was not necessary meant that the next person who failed to thank would automatically be construed as being rude; and, second, such meaningless routine gesture of thanks takes away from really thanking someone for his or her good deed. Then he started his usual tirade on the superficiality of western etiquettes.

Well, just an anecdote. Nothing to sneeze about.

A few weeks ago, I was talking on phone with someone in India on my way to work. The person on phone listened to my thanks while I was getting coffee and another thanks to someone for something while I was getting out of elevator. The person in India was surprised listening to 3~4 thanks on phone. I think Indians in India say thanks when they really mean it in most cases. Americans OTOH say things because of habit and politeness.

Thanks for sharing.

"sharing" requires an object, for example, "the anecdote," unless you're a mother speaking to her 3-year-old child.

Jebediah Mburuburu wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:

southindian wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:Yesterday, while coming down the elevator all alone, I sneezed and automatically said "Excuse me!" Realized it was a force of habit.

Then I remembered a conversation I had with my late father years ago. We were at a gas station when the attendant took my money for the bill and returned the change. I said, "Thank you" when I received it. While we were in the car my dad asked me curiosly why I had thanked him when he wasn't doing any favor. I smiled and said I was just being polite and it was good etiquette. Then he commented that there were two problems with this philosophy on etiquette. One, thanking when it was not necessary meant that the next person who failed to thank would automatically be construed as being rude; and, second, such meaningless routine gesture of thanks takes away from really thanking someone for his or her good deed. Then he started his usual tirade on the superficiality of western etiquettes.

Well, just an anecdote. Nothing to sneeze about.

A few weeks ago, I was talking on phone with someone in India on my way to work. The person on phone listened to my thanks while I was getting coffee and another thanks to someone for something while I was getting out of elevator. The person in India was surprised listening to 3~4 thanks on phone. I think Indians in India say thanks when they really mean it in most cases. Americans OTOH say things because of habit and politeness.

Thanks for sharing.

"sharing" requires an object, for example, "the anecdote," unless you're a mother speaking to her 3-year-old child.

goodcitizn wrote:

It is not necessary to say "Thanks for sharing your comment" when "Thanks for sharing" implies it. Now I know why I suffer from ADD when I see your posts.

Jebediah Mburuburu wrote:

Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:Yesterday, while coming down the elevator all alone, I sneezed and automatically said "Excuse me!" Realized it was a force of habit.

Then I remembered a conversation I had with my late father years ago. We were at a gas station when the attendant took my money for the bill and returned the change. I said, "Thank you" when I received it. While we were in the car my dad asked me curiosly why I had thanked him when he wasn't doing any favor. I smiled and said I was just being polite and it was good etiquette. Then he commented that there were two problems with this philosophy on etiquette. One, thanking when it was not necessary meant that the next person who failed to thank would automatically be construed as being rude; and, second, such meaningless routine gesture of thanks takes away from really thanking someone for his or her good deed. Then he started his usual tirade on the superficiality of western etiquettes.

Well, just an anecdote. Nothing to sneeze about.

You are father is so so right...

That is why I dont practice any of these superficial western etiquette - to save others coming across as rude.

you are so funny. and "you are" language is also funny.