Says thanks to bus driver

[hesnearly3]

Why do ppl do this? Why thank for a journey that u have paid for? And the driver hopefully drove safely but that's their jobs. So why say thanks? I don't get it

For the same reason as I say thank you to the shop assistant, the doctor, the binmen if I see them. Just because I’m polite and pleasantries cost me nothing.

“Cheers drive” is the only suitable thing to say...or maybe that’s just in Bristol

They do this in Ireland. I don't remember people doing it in the UK, but maybe I was the rude one not saying thank you there.

It depends on the bus, if you are getting off at the back it's not easy to say thank you.

I usually do - but can't remember the last time I was on a bus, it's been so long! I spent years going on a bus daily in London though and agree that it varies according to bus type and volume of people exiting at once.
The proper old buses, that aren't much/at all in use any more, where you could jump on and off the back plate and had a real conductor, you couldn't really thank the driver as his cab was totally separate to the bus. But I always thanked the conductor then!

My Dad always uses his best "parade ground" voice if he's getting off the bus elsewhere than next to the driver. Pretty sure the driver hears him (and the driver of the next bus along too, usually! )

Do you really not know? It's polite and courteous. Not to mention just decent.

I get off at a ‘middle’ door (London buses) but still call thank you to the driver. So do quite a few others.

Were you not raised with basic manners OP? Do you thank the staff in coffee shops or restaurants & pubs & shops when they serve you? Under what circumstances do you find it acceptable to say please and thank you - or perhaps you don’t!?

It’s very odd that you have to ask & if you really don’t have an understanding of basic manners it’s not too late to learn. If you do learn then it will probably mean you not only find you have a smoother path through life but also won’t be perceived as really fucking rude and entitled as you swan about not saying thank you to people.

God who dragged you up

My DH and I disagree over this - he thinks it's a peculiar thing to do, though he follows my lead and thanks bus drivers.

But my mum and I disagree over crossings. I will thank drivers for stopping on a zebra crossing but not at a pelican/toucan and she doesn't get why I make the distinction - I just think if they have a red light they have to stop, whereas there's a little more discretion with a zebra.

It's a highly old fashioned and time embedded practice, that takes two parts, common courtesy, and good manners. I was always taught that the two most valuable words of our old and much exported language, where "Please and Thank you" The pleasantries at all times. We live in a pig ignorant, self satisfied world now, where no one seems to think they should have anything to be thankful for. But we do, in spades.

But OP ignore all the virtue signalling over "good manners". MNers love to say how perfect they are.

My DH is anything but impolite, he is generally much more polite than I am, yet with this we're the other way round.

I never did this when I lived in London, never occurred to me. but now live in Dorset and it’s common practice, my kids even do it. I think it’s nice and would do it wherever I was.

Well it's good manners. I also say thank you to the following (all of which are just 'doing their job'):

The supermarket cashier
My hairdresser
The postman when he delivers a parcel
My GP at the end of my appointment

etc.

@WiseOwlOne

They do this in Ireland. I don't remember people doing it in the UK, but maybe I was the rude one not saying thank you there.

I've never seen it NOT done in the U.K.

yeah I really don't understand why some people can't just be courteous! It brightens the day to be nice.

Because it’s basic manners

But OP ignore all the virtue signalling over "good manners".

Displaying or belieiving in good manners is virtue signalling now
I've heard it all now lol
Bring on the virtue signalling then if it means having manners.

It’s courtesy. If you go in a shop, purchase something and they pop the item in a bag and give to you, people say thank you. Even though the shop keeper is getting paid to do a job. It’s just basic manners.

Phew, I’m glad I’m with the majority on this one! I also shout thank you when the postman drops the letters through the door, but I might be in the minority with that one! Why would you not say thank you to a bus driver, it doesn’t cost anything to be nice. Just because you are paying someone doesn’t mean you can’t be polite to them!

@hesnearly3

Why do ppl do this? Why thank for a journey that u have paid for? And the driver hopefully drove safely but that's their jobs. So why say thanks? I don't get it

It's polite. And friendly.

The world is a tiny bit poorer every time someone doesn't show just basic good manners. God help us all if more people are like you.

Here’s an idea for you OP - why don’t you just try it? I can guarantee that it will make you feel a tiny bit better. And the driver will feel a tiny bit better. And the people around you. It costs nothing and, to turn it on its head, why wouldn’t you?

Since when is thinking good manners are important "virtue signalling". Thanking people for performing a service for you, paid or otherwise, is a floor standard utterly basic thing to do. No "virtue" involved, just not being a twat.

It's just good manners being friendly and courteous, we could do with a bit more of all three really as is better than all the nasty bollocks people spout
No it's not virtue signalling or perfect it's just normal and most and people know that,

It's traditional, good manners, polite and friendly.

Wow you are an awful person for not understanding manners

I also say Good Morning when I get on, and make a comment like isn’t it lovely weather, or similar. Shock horror! It costs nothing to acknowledge somebody, and makes the world a more pleasant place. And I live in central London.