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AIBU?

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Says thanks to bus driver

479 replies

hesnearly3 · 03/04/2021 10:04

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

OP posts:
spiderlight · 03/04/2021 11:25

It's common courtesy. I can't imagine not doing it - it was so ingrained in me as a child. It wa always a simple 'thank you' until I moved to Cardiff, where it is apparently compulsory to say 'Cheers, Drive!' Grin

CloudFormations · 03/04/2021 11:25

Because it’s nice to be polite.

BIoodyStupidJohnson · 03/04/2021 11:26

I grew up in Lancashire and went to university in Manchester -- everyone thanked the driver.

I've lived in London for almost 15 years -- I've only ever heard people do it rarely.

But then the buses here tend to have exit doors in the middle, or in the case of the new Routemasters, at the rear, and no one bellows the length of the bus.

Also, especially in rush hour, the bus is usually so packed with humans sitting, standing and crammed into every tiny space that it would be deeply weird to yell through a wall of sheer flesh to the driver's ears.

It's not that we're not appreciative. It just isn't practical.

PrelovedWithValue · 03/04/2021 11:27

I say thanks because I mean it.

I freaking love that bus drivers do their job, and allow me to get to places without me having to deal with rush hour traffic and arseholes that run red lights etc.

My life is better because there are bus drivers. Why wouldn't I show my appreciation by way of a very simple 'thanks'?

Do you feel unappreciated in your work, op? Is that why you think it's odd to show appreciation for someone doing theirs?

ChronicallyCurious · 03/04/2021 11:27

By that logic you don’t say thanks to many people? Not to the hair dresser, taxi drivers, people in supermarkets, chemists, doctors, waiters? Those are just people doing their jobs so they don’t get a thanks too? Jesus Christ you must be rude.

memberofthewedding · 03/04/2021 11:27

Its just a normal courtesy in some areas, mostly in the country or small towns. Less so in large cities where there are crowds getting on and off and you dont want to get in the way. I thank taxi drivers as well.

I thank the cabin crew for their service when getting off the plane as the pilot (the person who actually flew me there) is not usually around! I always thank the plane as well for getting me safely there.

Nocar · 03/04/2021 11:27

@lizbennett. Nope don’t remember people thanking drivers when I was a kid. Was told to stand up for pregnant women, older people and all that, but genuinely thiought it was some new modern fangled thing when I saw people thanking drivers many years later. Don’t know why as I thank everyone else?

MobyDicksTinyCanoe · 03/04/2021 11:29

We say cheers..... Or if I'm really in a rush. ' ta'

Believe me it saves hours over a lifetime.

I've also started to question why when we ring for a taxi we start the conversation with ' can I have a taxi please'. Not going to be asking for a bloody ice cream van are we? So I've made a point of lopping that off

BIoodyStupidJohnson · 03/04/2021 11:29

Oh and another London observation people might not say 'thanks' to the driver, but most people say a reasonably cheerful hello when getting in/tapping Oyster or payment cards.

Except in the City, but it's dog-eat-dog there and if you show weakness you get devoured in the street.

rachelgreensroom · 03/04/2021 11:33

Because it's polite. Same way it's polite to say thank you when you leave a cafe or the til in a shop. Why wouldn't you say thanks?

Potpourriandpennysweets · 03/04/2021 11:34

I thank my taxi driver, any train staff on the train, cheer the pilot, etc.
I also thank everyone who moves out my path (or stops to let me pass on a narrow bit of road), I say thank you many many times every time I go to the supermarket. I thank the waiter in a restaurant, the cashier in the shop or any retail assistant who has helped me. I thank my children's nursery workers and teachers, my family when they babysit. I thank the delivery driver. I thank the GP, the nurse, the pharmacist, the dentist, the staff in hospital, nurses/midwives and doctor if I have a baby or surgery. I thank my hairdresser, beautician, nail technician, the chiropractor and acupuncturist. I thank my counsellor/therapist. I thank my teachers, class Mates, boss, manager, fellow employees, and my clients and customers. I thank my friends when they are kind or make me laugh and for being there for me. I thank my children when they do what I ask them to or do something admirable/kind. I thank the gym instructor, class leader, the receptionist at the gym, the lifeguard, the other gym and swim goers when they point me to an empty locker or pass me a yoga mat. I thank people all the time.

So why would I not thank the bus driver?

Confusedandshaken · 03/04/2021 11:34

Why bother saying thank you for anything? After all people either do things for you because they are paid to or because they choose to so why do they need thanking?

littlepattilou · 03/04/2021 11:35

@Confusedandshaken

Why bother saying thank you for anything? After all people either do things for you because they are paid to or because they choose to so why do they need thanking?
LOL. ^
SmallPrawnEnergy · 03/04/2021 11:38

If the bus is early, they can’t leave until the scheduled time. So if they bus is 14.45, they can’t leave until 14.45 regardless of what time they pull in at.
It depends, here they can’t wait around like that unless it’s a designated spot as to not impede traffic flow. It was the same in my home city too.

I genuinely can’t believe you think it’s ok not to be polite to a person providing a service for you though. My dad hammered please and thank yous into me as a child and it’s always something I’m super aware of as an adult.

I hope the username of op doesn’t refer to human child as I suspect they will grow up to be as impolite and rude as OP.

Timeisavirtue · 03/04/2021 11:38

I’ve always said it if they’ve got me from A-b in one piece. If they are miserable fuckers I do it to try and boost thier mood a bit.
I also do it because it’s a courtesy and I’m not a self righteous person 🤷🏼‍♀️

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 03/04/2021 11:39

Why not?

I usually do, unless the buss is packed and driver won't hear.

MrsWP · 03/04/2021 11:39

In that case why thank anyone?

Shop worker? Someone who holds a door? Waitress?

Ohnomoreno · 03/04/2021 11:40

It's a very British thing. Doesn't happen anywhere else. Nice, but yes I also don't get it.

Timeisavirtue · 03/04/2021 11:42

I was brought up saying please and thank you. My kids have been brought up like that and I like to think they will teach thier kids he same. I see a lot of this generation expect everything and a lot of them don’t have manners and want for nothing. I say thank you to people who hold the door open, I also say it to those who I hold the door for and don’t say it. I say it to anyone helping me wether or not they get paid for it. It’s just who I am 🤷🏼‍♀️

BashfulClam · 03/04/2021 11:43

It’s very common to do it in no Glasgow. Why not? Do you thank them I a restaurant when they bring your food even though you are paying for the service it are you rude in that circumstance too. When I was young it was drummed into me ‘please and thank you, basic manners cost nothing!’ In fact people still say how polite I am.

katakata · 03/04/2021 11:44

Also, especially in rush hour, the bus is usually so packed with humans sitting, standing and crammed into every tiny space that it would be deeply weird to yell through a wall of sheer flesh to the driver's ears.

This made me laugh.

I struggle to shout 'thank you' without sounding sarcastic. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. It doesn't work. Also you might drown out that poor person shouting WAIT A MOMENT while they try to climb through armpits and over prams to reach the door before it shuts.

I will call thank you on a non-crowded bus, though. Usually in a stupid, too-high voice, for no apparent reason.

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 03/04/2021 11:44

@emilyfrost

they're running a little early and they wait at the stop for me to get there.

@NeverDropYourMoonCup If the bus is early, they can’t leave until the scheduled time. So if they bus is 14.45, they can’t leave until 14.45 regardless of what time they pull in at.

Not quite true. There are other, recessed stops (the next one along, for example), where they will wait, rather than blocking the entire main road.

So, if the 6.40am bus is at my stop at 6.38am, they will go to the next stop and wait - without obstructing the flow of traffic - until they're scheduled to leave that one (at 6.45am). Or, as in my example, they'll stay at the stop whilst I cover the additional 20 yards to get there.

XenoBitch · 03/04/2021 11:45

So if someone is getting paid, they don't deserve a thanks? It is basic manners! You are also paying their company, not them. Your bus fare is not going into their pocket.

DoubleDeckerSwimmer · 03/04/2021 11:45

@Ohnomoreno

It's a very British thing. Doesn't happen anywhere else. Nice, but yes I also don't get it.
Certainly happens in New Zealand. And my Ugandan friends tells me it happens there.
TroysMammy · 03/04/2021 11:45

I always say thanks to checkout staff when they've just opened a till and when I leave. It's good manners to use please and thank you especially as thank you or ta is one of the first words babies are taught to say.

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