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Posts: 171
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When did "you're welcome" become "no problem"?
At the risk of sounding like my father, which I find myself doing more and more (and being bothered by it less and less), when did it become commonplace to say "no problem," when responding to someone who has just said "thank you"?
"No problem" is not the same as saying "you're welcome," but it has certainly replaced it in the vocabulary of most restaurant employees in their 20's. I know the English language is constantly evolving, but this change bugs me. It's not a substitute that conveys a suitable response. Thanks for reading this. "Hey, no problem." Arrrgh. |
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05-01-2004, 04:38 PM
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Location: Tucson AZ USA
Posts: 8,228
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In Spanish, it has been "Por Nada" as long as I can remember...(It is nothing).
The language is evolving. How about the cable news shows where they greet each other with "Hey!!" My favorite for misuse is the word "decimate" which means "one out of ten", not to totally destroy. There are more.....Many more.
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Bob S. former owner of a 1984 silver 944 |
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05-01-2004, 05:01 PM
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B58/732
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Hot as Hell, AZ
Posts: 12,313
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It all started when the T101 in Terminator 2 learned how to say, "No Problemo."
I typcially say "My pleasure." That conveys the proper attitude, I think.
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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ I don't always talk to vegetarians--but when I do, it's with a mouthful of bacon. |
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05-01-2004, 05:03 PM
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Team California
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You could say, "I never thought that it was a problem. I was simply thanking you". A few of those, and even the most dense of teenagers might get the message.
My personal breaking point comes when some young idiot behind a counter calls me "boss", as in, "no problem, boss".  I usually tell them, "I'm not your boss. But if I was your boss, I'd tell you to stop addressing customers as 'boss'. 'Sir', 'Ma'am', or even nothing at all would be preferable to 'boss', 'employee'. For chrisakes". 
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Denis |
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05-01-2004, 05:05 PM
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Location: Tucson AZ USA
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Do you think this is a reflection on the condition of our educational system? Or could it also be in part due to the influence of things like MTV?
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Bob S. former owner of a 1984 silver 944 |
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05-01-2004, 05:15 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Linn County, Oregon
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Hmmm, I'll have to think about this one. "I'll be Bach" Or not...
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05-01-2004, 06:00 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Colorado
Posts: 914
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Hey wut up?
You guys are officially old!  Laaaaaaate
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83 SC (gone) // 72 T (gone) |
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05-01-2004, 06:08 PM
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Location: So. Cal.
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I hate that too. I always feel like asking if there was a problem in the first place. Another think I hate a lot is when a waiter or waitress asks me if I'm "Still working on it?"
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Marv Evans '69 911E |
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05-01-2004, 07:04 PM
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Quote:
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Amir '83 911SC |
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05-01-2004, 07:28 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Long Beach CA, the sewer by the sea.
Posts: 37,661
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"No problem." Very 1980's. It has stuck around. My peeve is all the "you know" 's that are inserted 3-4 times a sentence.
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05-01-2004, 10:07 PM
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Information Junky
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: an island, upper left coast, USA
Posts: 73,189
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Heeeeyuh champ. . . looks like you need a towel, after that climb.
. . . Really; here ya go; no problem. 
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05-01-2004, 10:07 PM
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Location: AZ
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I tink it starrted in JahMAYka. Noooo problom mon.
No worries, mate. anytime. Don't mention it. glad to help. what are friends for. I wouldn't have it any other way. The pleasure is all mine. It's the least I could do. No, no, no, THANK YOU! |
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05-01-2004, 11:22 PM
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You do not have permissi
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: midwest
Posts: 39,831
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Island, please tell us that pic is fake. If not where is it, so I can run up and down the stairs pointing and laughing.
The "no problem" thing is not so bad if it's said with good intention. I'd rather hear that than "why it's certainly been my utmost pleasure being in your service" with a frozen smile. What I hate is "yup" or nothing.
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Meanwhile other things are still happening. Last edited by john70t; 05-02-2004 at 08:52 AM.. |
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05-02-2004, 08:50 AM
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Join Date: May 2001
Location: Peoples Republic of Long Beach, NY
Posts: 21,140
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Quote:
I can dig that.
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Ronin LB '77 911s 2.7 PMO E 8.5 SSI Monty MSD JPI w x6 |
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05-02-2004, 09:32 AM
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Just thinking out loud
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Close by
Posts: 6,884
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"You bet!" I bet what?
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83 944 91 FJ80 84 Ram Charger (now gone) |
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05-02-2004, 09:42 AM
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Location: Downtown LA CA / North Texas
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I always liked George Carlin's take on stuff.
" Have a Good One " hmmm.... " I already have a good one, what I need is a longer one " |
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05-02-2004, 10:23 AM
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Location: Peoples Republic of Long Beach, NY
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doctors call what they do practice.
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Ronin LB '77 911s 2.7 PMO E 8.5 SSI Monty MSD JPI w x6 |
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05-02-2004, 10:30 AM
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Free minder
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No problem means: Do not worry about me suing you for giving me a service, although you and I know that if anything went wrong as a conseqence of this free service, I would be entitled to sue you. Since we do not have a written agreement about that service you just gave me, I say no problem as a way of assuring you that those are not my intentions.
So, I think that `No problem` was introduced when lawyers took over this country Aurel |
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05-02-2004, 10:54 AM
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Location: West of Seattle
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While we're on it, what ever happened to the old fashioned greetings: "Good morning!" and "Hello there!" More specifically, when did "What's up," and "How are you doing?" stop being questions?
Dan
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'86 911 (RIP March '05) '17 Subaru CrossTrek '99 911 (Adopt an unloved 996 from your local shelter today!) |
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05-02-2004, 12:10 PM
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When I'm asked how my "morning's going?", I reply, "good, but it's early. A lot could go wrong yet."
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05-02-2004, 12:44 PM
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1983 Porsche 911SC 3.0 liter flat-six 204hp
1971 Porsche Targa 2.5L
