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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To say bless you to strangers?!

82 replies

Imknackeredzzz · 17/04/2017 07:47

I'm starting to wonder if this is just me being over polite, or am I going against etiquette.

A couple of times recently I've been out and about and someone has sneezed. If I am nearby I've instinctively said "bless you" without really thinking.

recently I've been getting strange looks from people for doing this. Is this now a really odd thing to do?! I always was brought up to do this and assumed it was the polite thing to do.

Please advise me if I shouldn't be doing this, or should you just say "bless you" to those you know?! Or not at all

I'm confused

OP posts:
girlandboy · 17/04/2017 09:04

I like it if a random stranger says "bless you" if I sneeze! And I always say it to them! It always produces a smile and a thank you.

I don't know where this "it's not polite" or "it's rude" rubbish comes from. I think it's completely the opposite.

booellesmum · 17/04/2017 09:09

I say bless you a lot when people sneeze - never thought about it offending.
My DH did point out to me yesterday though he thinks it as little strange that I wish people (like the lady on the check out) a Happy Easter.
I just thought I was being nice!

IrregularCommentary · 17/04/2017 09:14

I say it - total reflex to hearing a sneeze.

Fruitcocktail6 · 17/04/2017 09:18

I find it annoying, but I sneeze so often I get a bit sick of having to constantly say thank you to strangers.

pipsqueak25 · 17/04/2017 09:29

do people know the meaning of why people say 'bless you' though when you sneeze ?just wondering...
it's harmless but pointless in my thinking i'm with fruit as i have on going medical side effects which involve a runny nose and sneezing.

CheeseCakeSunflowers · 17/04/2017 09:48

I've always understood that the history is that the sneeze means you have been possessed by an evil spirit so need a blessing to get rid of it. I think it nice and I Happily say Thank you if I am blessed.

AssassinatedBeauty · 17/04/2017 09:52

I say thank you in response and don't mind it. Maybe younger people don't do it anymore, I was taught it was polite to say it, or gesundheit instead.

CarSeeker · 17/04/2017 10:26

It has its origins in the Black Death, doesn't it? I thought sneezing was one of the early symptoms, so the idea of blessing someone is to hope they don't get it or something.

Original poster
Imknackeredzzz · 17/04/2017 12:20

Thanks for all the opinions! Think I will carry on saying it, just seems rude to me not to acknowledge. If people take offense well tough

OP posts:
WhatALoadOfOldBollocks · 17/04/2017 12:30

It's not something I'd ever say. I mean, why would I want to acknowledge a complete stranger's bodily function? Confused Can you imagine if the sneezer was shy and really didn't want the attention. And I'd prefer if strangers didn't draw attention to me if I sneezed either.

smurfit · 17/04/2017 13:28

I think it's nice to say it. I don't really know how to respond to people when it happens because I'm not religious at all.

My main problem is that I get hay fever. I've had to bluntly tell a friend to say it once and then stop because it's incredibly frustrating when I sneeze repeatedly for an hour and she says it every. single. time.

NewUserNameHere · 17/04/2017 13:33

I do but I'm also one of those annoying people who enjoys making acquaintances and striking up conversation with strangers.

pineapplepenny · 17/04/2017 13:41

This is a thing
I wouldn't notice one way or another?
I might have said it , l have no idea?

Ezzie29 · 17/04/2017 13:44

Funnily enough, this had never happened to me before until a couple of days ago when I sneezed and a stranger stood next to me at the crossing said it. I said thank you, we both laughed a little, then we went our separate ways. I actually thought it was really nice. I don't think it would occur to me to say it unless it was someone I was interacting with already, like if they were serving me in a shop or something.

statetrooperstacey · 17/04/2017 13:45

Well there's rules tho isn't there ? I work outdoors and get hayfever, I sneeze a lot I get a lot of bless yous from random members of the public, I think it's nice! But only one in total please , not one bless you per sneeze! That's madnessGrin
I always say thank you or give a thumbs up. Sometimes I feel a bit tense knowing I'm getting about 20 in a row and me and the random blesser will b stuck awkwardly in a strange social mannered stalemate, That is where the thumbs up comes in.

SpreadYourHappiness · 17/04/2017 13:46

It is rude to say it and you would get a sigh and rolled eyes from me if you said it to me.

MapMyMum · 17/04/2017 13:50

I find it really funny that so many of you are embaressed by a sneeze....

MuttsNutts · 17/04/2017 13:53

Of course it isn't rude to say it!

Maybe change your name to SpreadYourGrouchiness?

SpreadYourHappiness · 17/04/2017 13:57

MuttsNutts I do find it rude; you cannot change that, I'm afraid.

Rainydayspending · 17/04/2017 14:05

For me it isn't polite to comment on something as reflexive as a sneeze. But I know enough to realise those saying "bless you" understand that to be poilte/ the norm, so I don't take offence as I don't have enough time to be offended by things I was raised to believe are bad manners. People have different views.
Those muttering under their breath please don't it sounds passive aggresive (when it's not meant that way) release your blessings or be quiet Grin.
FWIW I am not offended by the thumbs up gesture. Trust me, that can be rude Wink.

photograph · 17/04/2017 14:06

I have been told it is rude since I was a child, and am telling my kids the same thing. It's not really offensive though.

Meekonsandwich · 17/04/2017 17:45

In our house we always blessed each other when we sneezed and we always said "bless me" to ourselves when we sneezed,
I did this in public once I think I was at work and the looks I got!!! Like it wasthe wierdest thing ever!
I just see it as a variation on "excuse/pardon me"
But yeah, I now keep my own blessing to myself haha

Daydream007 · 17/04/2017 17:53

It's polite.

MagicMarkers · 17/04/2017 18:23

It gets really annoying if you sneeze a few times and someone says "bless you" after each sneeze and you feel you have to say "thank you" each time.

Most people don't believe the stuff about being possessed so I do think it's all a bit weird from a stranger.

SpreadYourHappiness · 17/04/2017 18:40

Daydream007 In your opinion.