I have a problem with this article saying that there are people who have a problem with no problem.

great. now my head hurts.

DAMN YOU INTERTUBES! DAMN YOU TO HELL!

I used to work for Kaplan, and they taught us that if a student said "thank you," we should reply, "my pleasure." I couldn't do it because it felt so forced.

Wow, that was an incredible waste of time.

I've been saying "no problem" as long as I can remember. Saying "you're welcome" just never felt right.

Oh good, the old people have a problem with something the young kids are saying.
That's never happened before.

I get the feeling that those who have a problem with it are those who tend to make thing problematic for others as a matter of course.

Two things:

No problem != You're welcome.

My bad != I'm sorry.

What next, replacements for "ma'am" and "sir"?

Dumb. I've always thought of it as being nicer, "you're welcome" just sounds like being generic polite. No problem means I actually was glad to help.

HagarTheHorrible: I get the feeling that those who have a problem with it are those who tend to make thing problematic for others as a matter of course.

It is indeed easy to believe that people who get wound up over something so incredibly tiny are generally colossal pains.

Kyosuke: What next, replacements for "ma'am" and "sir"?

Usually when I'm called "sir", it's in a harsh tone. Unless I'm in a fancy restaurant or something.

sweetmelissa31: Kaplan

That's horrible. I'm sorry.

make me some tea: Kyosuke: What next, replacements for "ma'am" and "sir"?

Usually when I'm called "sir", it's in a harsh tone. Unless I'm in a fancy restaurant or something.

Perhaps there are reasons for that which are unique to your situation.

GAT_00: sweetmelissa31: Kaplan

That's horrible. I'm sorry.

It was the second worst job I ever had, but at least I found out how ridiculous paying these companies for test prep really is.

since, as the customer is always right,

no. demonstrably false.

either way, I tend to think of "no problem" the same way as I think of "how ya doin?" I don't actually mean the words, it's just that there needs to be something said at that point of the interaction and here's what i got. There's really no intention at all behind it. See also: "hey, what's up?" and "where are your underpants?"

I remember the last thread about a month ago where we had this same discussion. Some really uptight Farker got a case of Acute Labial Granular Infestation over waitstaff using the phrase "no problem".

I don't care if you respond to my thank you with a "Sure thing, douchewank!" as long as you're providing good service.

The customer is always right... that is the absolute biggest load of crap.

This is one of the silliest things I've ever read.

Take this exchange:

"Thanks so much. I appreciate it."

"It was no problem. I'm glad I could help."

Sounds fine, right?

But shorten it to:

"Thank you"

"No problem."

And it's bad?

That's just stupid. I suspect that people who get bent out of shape about this are wound way the fark too tight. And when it comes to service workers, I'd bet they don't actually mean the "thank you" in the first place. They just want people to kiss their ass.

Reading that article, I could almost smell the stick up the writer's ass. Jesus Christ.

If the author Erin McKean says "thank you" to me, I'll reply with "NEVER SAY THANK YOU TO ME, YOU UNGRATEFUL WRETCH! I'LL TEACH YOU THE MEANING OF GRATITUDE!" and then start advancing toward her until she broke into a run.

No problem, then.

southernbelladonna: This is one of the silliest things I've ever read.

Take this exchange:

"Thanks so much. I appreciate it."

"It was no problem. I'm glad I could help."

Sounds fine, right?

But shorten it to:

"Thank you"

"No problem."

And it's bad?

That's just stupid. I suspect that people who get bent out of shape about this are wound way the fark too tight. And when it comes to service workers, I'd bet they don't actually mean the "thank you" in the first place. They just want people to kiss their ass.

Saying "No problem" takes too long. I simply cut it down to "No prob" and I'm done with it.

Kyosuke:

What next, replacements for "ma'am" and "sir"?

"Ho" and "punk-ass beyotch" work just fine, I think.

De nada.

I'm a fan of the Aussie "No Worries" (at least that is source I am familiar with). It just sound casual, relaxed, the sort of thing a two headed, three armed alien would spout off before making off with your girlfriend at a costume party.

When I thank someone (for giving me a pen, for instance), I dislike hearing "no worries" even more than "no problem". No one was worried in the first place.

Should he also mention no stabbings, no rape, no poo-flinging? Because those things didn't happen either.

Ennuipoet: I'm a fan of the Aussie "No Worries" (at least that is source I am familiar with). It just sound casual, relaxed, the sort of thing a two headed, three armed alien would spout off before making off with your girlfriend at a costume party.

Ha! That could have been a fantastic simulpost if I hadn't re-read before submitting. The phrase is heavily used in California too. Maybe it's a surfer-culture thing.

since, as the customer is always right, nothing a customer could ask for could ever be "a problem.

Stopped reading right there.

Many especially dislike hearing "no problem" in commercial transactions and from folks in customer service jobs, since, as the customer is always right, nothing a customer could ask for could ever be "a problem." "I assume my business is not a problem," huffed one complainer on the message boards at the Visual Thesaurus. Others on the Internet have taken the same tack: "Why would it be a problem? It's her job, isn't it?" and "It better damn well NOT be a problem, because I just gave you my money." Some dwell on the counterfactual: "I always wonder if the person would have helped me if they had known it would be a problem."

I've never seen so much inanity in one paragraph without it being in all caps and liberally sprinkled with netspeak and profanity.

Saying "You are welcome" is something like an invitation. doesn't really apply either. My pleasure is better.

Ennuipoet: I'm a fan of the Aussie "No Worries" (at least that is source I am familiar with). It just sound casual, relaxed, the sort of thing a two headed, three armed alien would spout off before making off with your girlfriend at a costume party.

One of my life goals is to learn how to perfectly imitate an annoyingly strong Aussie accent and use it only for the term "No worries". So far, this goal has somehow not had its moment of realization yet.

scruffy1: Saying "No problem" takes too long. I simply cut it down to "No prob" and I'm done with it.

I normally just write "np" because I'm too lazy to write out "No Problem"

I prefer to say "my pleash" a la I Love You, Man.

UNC_Samurai: I remember the last thread about a month ago where we had this same discussion. Some really uptight Farker got a case of Acute Labial Granular Infestation over waitstaff using the phrase "no problem".

I don't care if you respond to my thank you with a "Sure thing, douchewank!" as long as you're providing good service.

I reduce my tip for waitstaff that don't say "You're welcome," unless the service is excellent.

Good lord, some people are just ready made to be offended.

I have no problem with no problem. However, I do think My Bad is stupid.

I always get them mixed up and say, "My Problem" or "No Pleasure" which leads to an awkward silence.


seriously. i hate forced niceties in consumer transactions.

Any more they say, 'Thank you' i reply with, 'You betcha'

I love linguistics, so I thought the article was fun to read. Having said that, if I ever encounter someone who has an issue with me saying "no problem", I will call them a douchenozzle and possibly give them the evil eye.

This makes me feel stabby.

Additionally: don't thank me. just say have a nice day or something.

To thank me is like I would've done something if I weren't being paid for it. I'm drawing a check to serve. Your thanks is buying stuff so I can stay employed.

So as much as "No Problem" is annoying, "Thank you" is misplaced here.

A clerk at Best Buy once called me "Big Guy"
I've never been back.

Morchella: De nada.


I say this all the time. And, "Perdóneme" instead of "Excuse me", even though I'm not a native Spanish speaker nor do I live in a Spanglish-speaking place like El Paso. I'm probably just being a dick, trying to piss off conservatives...

The usage that pisses me off is when people answer "Thank you" with "Thank YOU!".

this is why I always respond to "thank you" with "die in a fire you pretentious douche".

FTA "It better damn well NOT be a problem, because I just gave you my money."

douche. i can't believe there are people who actually think this way.

/b-b-ut i'm a CONSUMER!

Fuggedaboudit.

In the writer's defense, the "no problem" people are also usually the ones who wear sunglasses on the back of their head, frost their hair, pop their collars, and call everyone "brah" regardless of gender.

whatshisname: A clerk at Best Buy once called me "Big Guy"
I've never been back.

You sound fat.

-Yet another reminder of the smallness and pettiness of my (some of)fellow citizens. Focus on what's important in your lives, you twits...

whatshisname: A clerk at Best Buy once called me "Big Guy"
I've never been back.

For some reason that is how all black people that don't know my name address me. I'm about 6'1, 210 lbs. I don't think I am that big, but god dammit does that annoy me.

"No problem?" That is just way too much speaking. When someone says 'thank you' to me I either respond with an "uh huh" or "mmm hmm" or just a head nod.

Someone probably has a problem with that.

"Farewell 'til we meet again, Peace be with you. May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house."

-george carlin

Kyosuke: Two things:

No problem != You're welcome.

My bad != I'm sorry.

What next, replacements for "ma'am" and "sir"?

You bet!