Bless You!!!

[Schmidty]

A couple of years ago, I said "bless you" to a guy who sneezed, even though I didn't know him. He gave me a scowl and said "Don't give me any religious bullshit". After that, I never said "bless you" to anyone I didn't know. Until today.

I was at my daughter's school dropping off a snack for her class. As I was leaving the school, I passed another parent (I assume it was a parent) who had just sneezed. I reflexively said "bless you". I was past her, but I heard her say, "Don't say that!". I said, "Excuse me?", and she said, "You don't say that to people". I just quickly apologized and left.

What the hell is wrong with saying "bless you"? It's not like I'm stealth baptizing people when I say it. It's not even religious, it's a dead superstition that I thought was just common courtesy.

So has anyone else had this happen? Better yet, does anyone else say it to other people anymore?

[lurker]

Are you sure you didn't say "God bless you?" Still seems like a weird reaction, I've never heard of anyone getting mad about it, even though it's stupid to say it.

[MJ4H]

Wow. People can go fuck themselves afaic

[Lathum]

you should taser those people

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Jesus Fucking Christ, you if I can't say "Bless You" to someone who sneezes then I'll be goddamned.

[RomaGoth]

Maybe it is just the area where you live. I have never had this type of reaction, but who really knows anymore about anything or why people act the way they do?

Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Next time, when someone sneezes just say "fuck you". That way, the "bless you" sounds much nicer. :p

[panerd]

You're so good looking.

[Schmidty]

Are you sure you didn't say "God bless you?" Still seems like a weird reaction, I've never heard of anyone getting mad about it, even though it's stupid to say it.

Nope. I've never said "God bless you" to anyone.

[Lorena]

Are you sure you didn't say "God bless you?" Still seems like a weird reaction, I've never heard of anyone getting mad about it, even though it's stupid to say it.

Are you saying it's stupid to say bless you?

Schmidty, those people totally overreacted. They're probably the same people that go apeshit over someone saying "Merry Christmas". Fuck 'em

in the ass with pinecones.

[Schmidty]

you should taser those people

I think we finally agree on a situation where a good taserin' is welcome. :)

[Schmidty]

Maybe I should just start saying "Bless you, unless it is not within your religious convictions".

[DanGarion]

How about Fucking Bless You, Dumb Fuck?

[chinaski]

im an atheist and I say bless you.

[cartman]

Gesundheit, ftw?

[MJ4H]

Gesundheit, ftw?

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Gorgonian14/nahtzee3559482.gif

[Eaglesfan27]

I've always said "bless you" and I say it to everyone (unless they appear to be a rude person) who is in my presence when they sneeze, stranger or not. I've never had a bad reaction to it.

[Lorena]

I've always said "bless you" and I say it to everyone (unless they appear to be a rude person) who is in my presence when they sneeze, stranger or not. I've never had a bad reaction to it.

yup, same here

[ColtCrazy]

I can just never imagine someone having that reaction here in the country. I always thought that "bless you" was just something kind to say when people sneezed, and didn't really have a religious connotation.

[wade moore]

I've always said "bless you" and I say it to everyone (unless they appear to be a rude person) who is in my presence when they sneeze, stranger or not. I've never had a bad reaction to it.
+1

[Lorena]

per wikipedia

Bless you, or God bless you, is a common English (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language) expression addressed to a person after they sneeze (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sneeze). The origin of the custom and its original purpose are unknown. In current practice, it is a socially recommended response.<sup id="cite_ref-Snopes_0-0" class="reference">[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_bless_you#cite_note-Snopes-0)</sup>

<sup id="cite_ref-Snopes_0-0" class="reference"></sup>
Origins and legends

Several possible origins are commonly given. The practice of blessing a sneeze, dating as far back as at least 77 AD, however, is far older than most specific explanations can account for.<sup id="cite_ref-Snopes_0-1" class="reference">[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_bless_you#cite_note-Snopes-0)</sup>

A legend holds that it was believed that the heart (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart) stops when you sneeze, and the phrase "bless you" is meant to ensure the return of life or to encourage your heart to continue beating.<sup id="cite_ref-Wilson_1-0" class="reference">[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_bless_you#cite_note-Wilson-1)</sup><sup id="cite_ref-Dope_2-0" class="reference">[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_bless_you#cite_note-Dope-2)</sup><sup id="cite_ref-Snopes_0-2" class="reference">[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_bless_you#cite_note-Snopes-0)</sup>

One explanation holds that the custom originally began as an actual blessing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blessing). Gregory I (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Gregory_I) became Pope in 590 as an outbreak (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plague_of_Justinian) of the bubonic plague (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubonic_plague) was reaching Rome. In hopes of fighting off the disease, he ordered unending prayer and parades of chanters through the streets. At the time, sneezing was thought to be an early symptom of the plague. The blessing ("God bless you!") became a common effort to halt the disease.<sup id="cite_ref-Dope_2-1" class="reference">[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_bless_you#cite_note-Dope-2)</sup>

A variant of the Pope Gregory I story places it with Pope Gregory VII (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Gregory_VII), then tells the common (though untrue) story of "Ring Around the Rosey (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_around_the_rosey#Plague_interpretation)" being connected to the same plague.<sup id="cite_ref-West_3-0" class="reference">[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_bless_you#cite_note-West-3)</sup>
Another version says that people used to believe that your soul (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul) can be thrown from your body when you sneeze,<sup id="cite_ref-Snopes_0-3" class="reference">[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_bless_you#cite_note-Snopes-0)</sup> that sneezing otherwise opened your body to invasion by the Devil (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil)<sup id="cite_ref-Dope_2-2" class="reference">[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_bless_you#cite_note-Dope-2)</sup> or evil spirits (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_spirit),<sup id="cite_ref-Wilson_1-1" class="reference">[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_bless_you#cite_note-Wilson-1)</sup> or that sneezing was your body's effort to force out an invading evil spirit.<sup id="cite_ref-Snopes_0-4" class="reference">[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_bless_you#cite_note-Snopes-0)</sup> Thus, "bless you" or "God bless you" is used as a sort of shield against evil.

Alternatively, it may be possible that the phrase began simply as a response for an event that was not well understood at the time.<sup id="cite_ref-Snopes_0-5" class="reference">[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_bless_you#cite_note-Snopes-0)</sup>
Another belief is that people used to see sneezing as a sign that God would answer your prayers<sup id="cite_ref-West_3-1" class="reference">[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_bless_you#cite_note-West-3)</sup> or an omen of good fortune or good luck.<sup id="cite_ref-Snopes_0-6" class="reference">[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_bless_you#cite_note-Snopes-0)</sup> In this case, "Bless you" would be in recognition of that luck.
Tibetan Buddhists believe a sneeze (like meditation, falling asleep, preparing to die) can provide a moment of "clear consciousness," when people are opened to greater understanding

[Cringer]

Gesundheit, ftw?

I just feel it's too goofy sounding to say to someone. I will say it to my daughter sometimes, which helps form my stated opinion on the word I guess because she usually laughs at it.

I will say bless you, no bad reactions here. If someone did I would probably be pissed, because I am far from saying it in a religious way. It is the same as "good health to you" in my eyes, but shorter and rolls off the tongue easier.

[Schmidty]

per wikipedia

Thanks Cliff!!!

;)

[Cringer]

I love me a good bubonic plague story.

[stevew]

I think multiple bless you's are annoying. I appreciate the first one but if I'm on a sneezing spree one will be enough.

[Honolulu_Blue]

im an atheist and I say bless you.

+1

I've never heard of anyone reacting like that. That's very strange.

[Schmidty]

+1

I've never heard of anyone reacting like that. That's very strange.

It's Northwest Washington, and specifically, Bellingham. It's very, very weird, especially for a midwest guy like me.

[AgustusM]

I've always said "bless you" and I say it to everyone (unless they appear to be a rude person) who is in my presence when they sneeze, stranger or not. I've never had a bad reaction to it.

+1

[Groundhog]

Put me down as a "bless you" speakin' heathen.

[Karlifornia]

If anyone ever has the gall to say bless you to me, I wrap my hand around their throat, bring 'em in real tight to my face and sternly say "If you pull that Bible-thumpin horeshit again, you're gonna be the one who needs the blessings..."

I get arrested a lot.

[Groundhog]

:D

[sterlingice]

Thanks Cliff!!!

;)

Cliff as in... Clavin? If so, nicely done :D

If not, ignore I said anything

SI

[sterlingice]

Boy that's overly sensitive.

Tho I also get a nice chuckle out of everyone who is pissed and saying "eff you with an effing eff eff eff" in the act of condemning people who won't accept a polite greeting :D

SI

[sterlingice]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Gorgonian14/nahtzee3559482.gif

Hadn't seen this. Very nice :)

SI

[Schmidty]

Cliff as in... Clavin? If so, nicely done :D

Bingo!!!

[Toddzilla]

Wow. People can go fuck themselves afaic+1 Tell the next asshole that gives you a hard time not to fucking sneeze in public if they're going to be so uptight.

[Eaglesfan27]

I think multiple bless you's are annoying. I appreciate the first one but if I'm on a sneezing spree one will be enough.

I think the proper etiquette is one "bless you" at the end of the sneezing fit.

[Autumn]

I think the proper etiquette is one "bless you" at the end of the sneezing fit.

I agree, but some people don't get it. I often sneeze in tears of seven or eight, and when I lived with other people it would take months before they would finally give up on saying bless you every time. After a few years they stop altogether.

[Marc Vaughan]

I always say 'bless you' if someone sneezes, to me its like saying "please" and "thank you" - its just something you do out of politeness, no particular religious affection involved really.

[KWhit]

I'm also atheist and think it's no big deal and sometimes say it to someone myself. It's a weird tradition, I'll grant you that.

I will say that I almost shat a brick when I was last in Las Vegas and me and my buddy played golf. We had to be paired up with 2 other guys because the course was crowded and the first thing out of one of the guy's mouth when we shook hands before we started was "Have a great round. God bless."

THAT was annoying. Saying "bless you" after someone sneezes? Not so much.

[KWhit]

You're so good looking.

I love you for this.

[JS19]

I never say it. I used to all the time, but then I got to thinking, I'm not religious in any way, assuming ti even has to do with that, and what the hell does it even mean? So, I stopped, but I usually get the opposite reaction, I'm the asshole for not saying it.

[Schmidty]

I'm also atheist and think it's no big deal and sometimes say it to someone myself. It's a weird tradition, I'll grant you that.

I will say that I almost shat a brick when I was last in Las Vegas and me and my buddy played golf. We had to be paired up with 2 other guys because the course was crowded and the first thing out of one of the guy's mouth when we shook hands before we started was "Have a great round. God bless."

THAT was annoying. Saying "bless you" after someone sneezes? Not so much.

Ok, not to derail this, but why did that bother you? Maybe that will help me understand the people that got mad at me.

If you're an atheist and don't believe in a creator or God of any sort, why would it annoy you? Wouldn't you just think, "How quaint" and move on? If you know/believe that God doesn't exist, he can't actually bless you can he? If you have no ties to what the guy is saying and he isn't giving you a pamphlet and telling you that you're going to hell, what's the problem with him giving you goodwill from the perspective of his worldview?

I'm just curious. Good gracious, I hope I didn't turn this into a poopy thread. :)

[KWhit]

Well, I don't know if this is an adequate analogy or not, but I would never presume to make an anti-religious comment to someone I never met.

I wouldn't start off a round of golf with, "Have a great round. There is no God." or anything like that.

It doesn't have anything to do with him challenging my belief system and me feeling threatened or anything like that, but it was very assumtive on his part, I think. Saying "bless you" after a sneeze is just a nonsensical phrase that doesn't really mean "May God look after you in your time of sickness and protect you from harm" in this day and age. It's just a shorthand way of acknowlaging the fact that you sneezed. But in the odd context that he said it, it was more meaningful from his perspective. And just weird.

I don't want strangers blessing me all over the place. That's just creepy, IMO.

[Schmidty]

Well, I don't know if this is an adequate analogy or not, but I would never presume to make an anti-religious comment to someone I never met.

I wouldn't start off a round of golf with, "Have a great round. There is no God." or anything like that.

It doesn't have anything to do with him challenging my belief system and me feeling threatened or anything like that, but it was very assumtive on his part, I think. Saying "bless you" after a sneeze is just a nonsensical phrase that doesn't really mean "May God look after you in your time of sickness and protect you from harm" in this day and age. It's just a shorthand way of acknowlaging the fact that you sneezed. But in the odd context that he said it, it was more meaningful from his perspective. And just weird.

I don't want strangers blessing me all over the place. That's just creepy, IMO.

I don't get it since he's not asking you to take part, he's justsaying something he thinks is true.

Anyway, it's no big deal. Have a blessed day!! :)

[KWhit]

Anyway, it's no big deal. Have a blessed day!! :)

Grrrrr.....

:devil:

[BishopMVP]

I think the proper etiquette is one "bless you" at the end of the sneezing fit.Yeah, but what about the times when someone sneezes once, you say bless you, then they try and hold off the next one so it comes like 10 seconds later? How long a time lapse between sneezes should you feel compelled to issues a second bless you? Do you then switch it up and go with gehsundheit instead? :)

Not as much fun as judging people based on whether they reciprocate a yawn, but it can be amusing.I will say that I almost shat a brick when I was last in Las Vegas and me and my buddy played golf. We had to be paired up with 2 other guys because the course was crowded and the first thing out of one of the guy's mouth when we shook hands before we started was "Have a great round. God bless."

THAT was annoying.Don't move to Texas.

[Galaxy]

I think God would have better things to do besides blessing a round of golf. :)

[EagleFan]

Bless you KWhit

[BrianD]

I'm also atheist and think it's no big deal and sometimes say it to someone myself. It's a weird tradition, I'll grant you that.

I will say that I almost shat a brick when I was last in Las Vegas and me and my buddy played golf. We had to be paired up with 2 other guys because the course was crowded and the first thing out of one of the guy's mouth when we shook hands before we started was "Have a great round. God bless."

THAT was annoying.

If people say things like that to me, I just do a quick internal translation. Someone says "Have a great round, God bless"...I hear "Have a great round, enjoy the day". Rather than be annoyed at the words someone uses to wish you something nice, just mentally translate the good sentiment to words that work for you.

[Mustang]

I say Gesundheit not bless you. God has better things to do than micromanage sneezing

[duckman]

God bless us every one!

[JediKooter]

Doesn't bother me when somebody says it to me when I sneeze. I know they are just being polite. I usually say Salude, when someone sneezes.

May the Flying Speghetti Monster envelope you in his ever loving noodly appendages.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

I had a class a few years ago where I was sitting next to this kinda cute, but smart girl. She sneezed. I simply said "bless." Not even "you." She replied: "I do not believe in god."

Awkward...

Now I just say "Ewww!" :)

[JediKooter]

Now I just say "Ewww!" :)

Haha! Love it. Or just go, "daaammmmnn!" and then act like you are wiping off your sleeve or something.

[Passacaglia]

Haven't you people seen Singles? Always say bless you, because then you might end up finally getting together with that girl you've been a jerk to for so long.

[JediKooter]

I always thought chicks like the bad guys?

[RomaGoth]

I think God would have better things to do besides blessing a round of golf. :)

While I believe as a society we are waaaay overthinking things, I would agree with this statement.

We all know God is too busy blessing athletes and their accomplishments...

Walters: Does God care who wins the Super Bowl? - Super Bowl XLIII- nbcsports.msnbc.com (http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/28897707/)

[Passacaglia]

I always thought chicks like the bad guys?

If I recall, according to the movie, they do, but they keep them at arms length, leading to a troubling relationship -- until the bad guy says bless you, then everything is great.

[JediKooter]

Rat farts!!!

[lurker]

Are you saying it's stupid to say bless you?

Yeah, it's a stupid, meaningless tradition, but I still do it because it's seen as polite.


If I recall, according to the movie, they do, but they keep them at arms length, leading to a troubling relationship -- until the bad guy says bless you, then everything is great.

Man, that movie sucked.

[JediKooter]

If I recall, according to the movie, they do, but they keep them at arms length, leading to a troubling relationship -- until the bad guy says bless you, then everything is great.

Ah ok. Is it anything like Swingers?

[Passacaglia]

Ah ok. Is it anything like Swingers?

Maybe, since I almost called it Swingers before correcting myself. Other than that, probably not. Oh, I guess they're both set on the west coast.

[KWhit]

But Swingers is awesome.

[Passacaglia]

But Swingers is awesome.

He didn't ask if it was anything unlike Swingers.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

Butt Swingers is awesome.

Please do not explain.

[SCgoatman]

uh yeah, i'm a total angry atheist, but i don't even care about the sneeze bless you. clearly it's more an issue of sticks being lodged wherst they shouldn't.

[RainMaker]

I'm an atheist that says bless you all the time. I also say Jesus Christ and God Dammit when something goes wrong.

[Izulde]

Blessed be. :D