Is it normal i find it hilarious when people get pissed at "bless you"?

83% Normal
27 Comments

Sir certain Is it normal I find this so funny? People usually say "bless you" when you sneeze. Christian or not it is an old custom that many people just seem to fallow. Regardless of its custom.

People will get very insulted when you say it to them if they do not believe in religion. However we do not have an alternative phrase to this situation. So what should we say? It is like not being able to say "Thank you" anymore since it has suddenly become impolite.

Often these people will substitute other phrases which just mean "bless you" in another tongue. Which just is really dumb. I say we should think up a new phrase to replace "Bless you" as an alternative for none religious people if they are so offended by this courteousy.

To answer my first question is it normal I think its funny and my second is "What do you think the alternative phrase should be"?

Voting Results
83% Normal
Based on 23 votes (19 yes)
Help us keep this site organized and clean. Thanks!
[ Report Post ]
Comments ( 27 )
  • wigsplitz
    11 years ago

    Actually most foreign phrases translate to "to health", "to your health" (usually the same word used as "cheers!")and have nothing to do with God/religion.

    Just pick your favorite foreign phrase. Or say "cheers!" since "to your health" doesn't sound very good in English. My favorites are na zdrowie or salud.

    Or if you want to be different then wish them good luck or money. That would be pretty cool.

    To answer your other question, I've never actually seen a person get pissed over someone saying 'bless you' to them. I HAVE seen people get pissed for you NOT acknowledging their sneeze though.

    I can imagine there's a small group of people who would get offended over 'bless you' though, I've just never seen it nor do I really care about offending them.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    3
    3
  • charli.m
    11 years ago

    I've never heard anyone get pissed off over it. If they did, I honestly wouldn't give a shit.

    I use the Hebrew at work. I don't know how to spell it, but it translates to something like good health, like wigsplitz said.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    2
    2
  • dirtybirdy
    11 years ago

    I tell the blessers to go to hell. They don't like that.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    2
    2
  • Ldizzy1234
    11 years ago

    People are dumb and take things way to literally too. If I want to say 'God bless you', or 'bless you', I'm just going to say it.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
      -
    • Ldizzy1234
      11 years ago

      too*

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0
  • bananaface
    11 years ago

    I've never been offended by it, and I've never heard anyone else get offended by it. I've always thought it was quite a nice gesture, and I'm not religious. It does seem like a pretty trivial thing to get annoyed about, so I think it's understandable that you'd find it funny.:)

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
  • kingsleycrowne
    11 years ago

    hmm I dunno

    I'm leaning towards a nonsensical word, just because it sounds fitting.

    "adoonkishun."

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
      -
    • bananaface
      11 years ago

      Hahaha, that's hilarious! I'm going to have to use that one next time someone sneezes just to confuse them:D!

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      1
      1
  • suckonthis9
    11 years ago

    Hey stupid, which language do you speak?
    English?
    English is a German language.
    The Germans use 'gesundheit'.

    ge·sund·heit \gə-ˈzu̇nt-ˌhīt\
    interjection
    —used to wish good health especially to one who has just sneezed
    Origin: German, literally, health, from gesund healthy (from Old High German gisunt) + -heit -hood — more at sound.
    First use: 1914

    Or you could just say 'sound health', or go back even further to the Proto-Germanic, 'sundaz'.

    So you think it's funny or hilarious to start this shit all over again?
    Have you not learned a fucking thing, in the last few thousand years?

    "Bless", means 'blood'. Why should we wish someone who has sneezed, to be bloodied?

    You have used a term which divides people who believe in the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, from other people, who also believe in the teachings of Abraham. This also divides these people from people who have other religious beliefs, and from people who are not religious. This might be offensive to some people, whether they are religious, or whether they are not religious.

    Why are you creating division in society?

    Apparently, you have not heard the message. THIS PLANET EARTH, IS IN SERIOUS TROUBLE. WE ALL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THESE PROBLEMS.
    And you think it's 'funny', to start all this divisive shit, all over again.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    -1
    -1
      -
    • Anonymous Post Author
      11 years ago

      bless·ing
      /ˈblesiNG/
      Noun
      God's favor and protection.
      A prayer asking for such favor and protection.

      To ask for a blessing is to asks for good favor. So they are wishing well. I looked up this definition. Just for you since it is so hard to comprehend.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      2
      2
        -
      • suckonthis9
        11 years ago

        Fine.

        Who are "they"?

        I can see that you prefer the Oxford dictionary definition.

        Definition of blessing
        noun
        God’s favour and protection:

        a prayer asking for divine favour and protection:

        Please answer all the following questions:

        Which deity are they referring to?

        What type(s) of favours should a person expect to receive?

        What is this deity protecting a person from?

        But, did you bother to look up the definition for 'bless'?

        Definition of bless
        verb
        [with object]
        pronounce words in a religious rite in order to confer or invoke divine favour upon; ask God to look favourably on:

        (bless someone with) (of God or some notional higher power) endow someone with (a particular cherished thing or attribute):

        Origin:

        Old English blēdsian, blētsian, based on blōd 'blood' (i.e. originally perhaps 'mark or consecrate with blood'). The meaning was influenced by its being used to translate Latin benedicere 'to praise, worship', and later by association with bliss

        Why should a person want to be marked with blood in a religious rite, when they sneeze?

        Furthermore, this is in direct violation of Rule #8.
        Not all persons are religious, or have the same religious beliefs. They (people who spread such Archaic nonsense around) are imposing their beliefs on others, which might be offensive to others.

        Comment Hidden ( show )
        -1
        -1
          -
        • Anonymous Post Author
          11 years ago

          You assume all religiousness practices involve blood. Simply sitting and praying in a church does not require blood. Even if it did I do not 100% of them. Saying "God bless you" or "Bless you" involves no blood. It is saying may god bless you. Since an old superstition says that when you sneeze your soul leaves your body. Some believed it meant bad creatures used this moment to enter your body. Different cultures seem to have different things to say to it. It is often out of conman courtesy. Though it is an old custom. Also please quit with that because I do not give a flying fuck about your rules. I do not see either why you DEMAND we follow them. This was never agreed to. So I do not see how you expect me to listen to them.

          Comment Hidden ( show )
          1
          1
            -
          • suckonthis9
            11 years ago

            I "assumed" nothing, I researched it.
            To "bless", is derived from a Pagan religious bloodletting ceremony, which was subsequently incorporated into later religions.

            It does involve blood, because that's what it means.

            Yes, it is now all old superstition, thus Archaic. There is no such thing as a "soul", in this Universe, or in any other Universe.

            I am not "demanding" anything, but you had better have a close look at all the rules that you currently live under, many, many of which do make demands, and have been imposed on you.

            You are a heedless fool, for not caring about anything but your greedy self.

            Comment Hidden ( show )
            -1
            -1
              -
            • suckonthis9
              11 years ago

              By the way, you did not answer a single question that I had asked.

              They are all very simple, straightforward questions.

              Please answer them.

              Comment Hidden ( show )
              -1
              -1
        • suckonthis9
          11 years ago

          Sundaz.

          Comment Hidden ( show )
          0
          0
            -
          • Anonymous Post Author
            11 years ago

            So explain why you think you have a right to command us? You just demand and expect us to follow? Tell me who cares? Show me one person who cares about these rules you command us to follow. Tell me why we should follow you. I am not switching to the church you made up. If you really expect our worship I am expecting more. I don't worship just anyone who says I should. Prove your worth. Explain why you have such a low vote rating if people do follow you and your silly rules?

            Comment Hidden ( show )
            0
            0
          • Anonymous Post Author
            11 years ago

            If I did not know any better I think you thought of yourself as god. If you think you are so powerful why am I not listening? Why is it no one cares about your rules? What makes you think that you have a right to order any of us? What gave that too you? Sure you stomp around demanding power over the net but I bet no one listens in real life. You might be a self proclaimed GOD but no one else thinks so. I do not believe it either.

            Comment Hidden ( show )
            0
            0
              -
            • suckonthis9
              11 years ago

              I am not a deity.

              I am powerful, primarily because I spent much time learning about this Universe, and subsequently coming into a communication with a Very Highly Advamced Technological Civilisation (VHATC-L2). Why you are not listening is beyond me, but I suspect it is because you are stubborn, selfish, and stuck in your Archaic belief system, and you refuse to accept that things change. A new reality is upon us.

              Incorrect. Most people do care about the Rules (including you).

              I am not "ordering" anyone. In fact, my aim is to completely do away with such a militant hierarchical Archaic structure, altogether.

              Not "what", but 'who'.

              Comment Hidden ( show )
              -1
              -1
  • Maya05
    11 years ago

    I think the alternative phrase should be nothing. I think it's stupid that we feel the need to say something when someone sneezes. It doesn't make any sense to me.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
      -
    • Anonymous Post Author
      11 years ago

      It is basic manners.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      2
      2
        -
      • Maya05
        11 years ago

        But why does it have to be 'basic manners' it doesn't make any sense to me. Who cares if they just sneezed? People don't usually say things to people if they cough or other body functions so why does sneezing get acknowledgment?

        Comment Hidden ( show )
        0
        0
  • kingofcarrotflowers
    11 years ago

    I find it's the other way round I don't like having to say bless you, as an athiest I find it hypocritical of me to say bless you and i've always thought we should have 2 versions but I don't know it would even start to be implemented.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • SangoNyappy
    11 years ago

    I've never been offended by it because in my language it's also translated like "on your health" as said above.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0