Blessed a stranger on a bus

[Imknackeredzzz]

Yes on a bus earlier, lady sneezes next to me. I immediately say “bless you” without thinking. I like to think I’m polite!
Then was majorly awkward as she looked at me like I had 3 heads.

Wrong or right thing to do in this scenario! Do I have to accept this is not the done thing anymore! If it ever was!

I would thank you and mean it! It was polite and kind.

I would have done the same.

Seems normal to me.

I say bless you mostly every time I hear someone sneeze. I’ve heard about people getting antsy about it but I’ve never experienced it. If anyone did ever say anything to me I’d just point out that I was just being polite (and get over yourself)

I think you can safely continue with your life without worrying over it.

Your probably right Huzzah! Although it is the little things that rankle!

Should have said, "Fine! Unbless you then!🙄"

Crikey. I do it all the time without thinking.

Im always sneezing and I appreciate and thank a “bless you”

I bless myself and other people because it’s ingrained in me. I think it’s sweet and you deserved a thank you

Don't most people do this if someone near them sneezes? I do it to strangers and have had strangers do it to me. I've never thought about it. It's just habit. The normal/usual reaction is just to say thank you.

I always say bless you to strangers. I think it’s ok. I also excuse myself out loud... even if I’m alone

Oh good thanks everyone- fell a bit more normal now /)

@Imknackeredzzz

I usually say 'bless you' when someone sneezes...

Or 'Gesundheit!'

I have never had a bad reaction. People usually say 'thank you!'

Could the woman have been someone who doesn't have English as their first language? So the 'bless you' comment got lost in translation???

Perhaps it was the way you said it whilst you ran down the bus trying to don a hazmat suit?

How can anyone get offended about a greeting that, these days at least, generally means “I hope that’s nothing serious and you aren’t ill or going to be ill”

I always reply with, "Thanks - I need all the blessings I can get!"

And I'm an atheist.

My guess would be she misheard you. Or was an obnoxious old bat.

It's such a wonderful hangover from the past

It's basically "I hope and pray for you and will ward off evil spirits quickly so you don't come down with the lurgy that could kill you"

So fantastically nuts 🥜

I’ve said it & had it said to me on the tube before. The usual response is a quick smile & a thanks.

the nuns at my school told us it was said because sneezing was your body’s way of defending itself against Satan trying to enter you via a nostril

I always say it. Just habit!

You were being kind not unreasonable

I say bless you all the time, I don’t really notice any reactions

Maybe she had Spider-Man hands and needed a tissue rather than a blessing?

You wait til you tell a whole train carriage of commuters to look at that amazing patch of bluebells.....

I say it for people I know but not strangers just because I don't like talking to people, haha!
I wouldn't think twice though if someone said it to me, would probably give a polite smile. 🤷🏼‍♀️
It's quite a silly saying really when you think about it, your blessing someone to protect them from sneezing their soul away. 😁