Saying (God) Bless You: I don't do it

Hugh Freaking Dillon

I know it sounds strange, but I've always had a problem saying this to someone after they sneeze. I guess, being agnostic, that's where it stems from. It kinda makes me uncomfortable blessing someone.

Anyone else have this (possiby) odd tendency?

Hugh Freaking Dillon

how bizarre. I sneezed the exact second I hit "submit".

Jason P

Paul David wrote:

how bizarre. I sneezed the exact second I hit "submit".

God bless you. :wave:

arq

I'm the same boat :?

I normally say "magnesium" to substitute the more famous but boring "god bless you"

polaris_x

guilty here ...

i say gezundheit ... :geek:

UpSideDown

I don't say anything when somebody sneezes. Its just not a conversation starter for me.

cincybearcat

I usually just say "Bless You"

Hugh Freaking Dillon

to me it's the same.

cincybearcat wrote:

I usually just say "Bless You"

cincybearcat

Paul David wrote:

to me it's the same.

cincybearcat wrote:

I usually just say "Bless You"

Huh, to me it isn't. People usually believe in something...karma, a God, nature, luck...so Bless You is just hoping that whatever you believe in shows you some good fortune.

All very silly for a sneeze really.

Hugh Freaking Dillon

cincybearcat wrote:

All very silly for a sneeze really.

I agree! but it's just a gut feeling that I get, it's almost like a perpetual social obligation to say something religious to someone. Bugs me.

cincybearcat

Paul David wrote:

cincybearcat wrote:

All very silly for a sneeze really.

I agree! but it's just a gut feeling that I get, it's almost like a perpetual social obligation to say something religious to someone. Bugs me.

Yeah, I get that. I don't know why, I'm on auto pilot really and say Bless you whenever I hear a sneeze. I think it just nice to show someone that you hope they feel better. But I see how silly it is really.

marcos

Paul David wrote:

I know it sounds strange, but I've always had a problem saying this to someone after they sneeze. I guess, being agnostic, that's where it stems from. It kinda makes me uncomfortable blessing someone.

Anyone else have this (possiby) odd tendency?

I only say it to ladies, never dudes, and it's usually just bless you dependent on the religious or lack there of beliefs, I can tell if a chick is religious or not.

Sidnum

You're soooo good lookin

twisted thoughts

i dont say it either...
make me feel like a hypocrite...not following religion and all
i mean seriously...does anything need to be said aside from...."need a tissue?"
you dont hear people going around and saying it after someone farts or burps...
same theory..yes? expulsion of air from the body...
damn bible thumpers...thinking im rude... :roll:

catefrances

dont say it and i feel slightly uncomfortable and real annoyed when it is said to me. i dont need your blessing or that of your invisible friend in the sky so dont say it to me. its like when a stranger says hello/good morning/hi how are you? they dont really care so why ask? a smile in passing is just fine thanks.

cincybearcat

catefrances wrote:

dont say it and i feel slightly uncomfortable and real annoyed when it is said to me. i dont need your blessing or that of your invisible friend in the sky so dont say it to me. its like when a stranger says hello/good morning/hi how are you? they dont really care so why ask? a smile in passing is just fine thanks.

Hey there Cheery!!!!

catefrances

cincybearcat wrote:

catefrances wrote:

dont say it and i feel slightly uncomfortable and real annoyed when it is said to me. i dont need your blessing or that of your invisible friend in the sky so dont say it to me. its like when a stranger says hello/good morning/hi how are you? they dont really care so why ask? a smile in passing is just fine thanks.

Hey there Cheery!!!!

:wave:

Hugh Freaking Dillon

catefrances wrote:

dont say it and i feel slightly uncomfortable and real annoyed when it is said to me. i dont need your blessing or that of your invisible friend in the sky so dont say it to me. its like when a stranger says hello/good morning/hi how are you? they dont really care so why ask? a smile in passing is just fine thanks.

yeah, I feel uncomfortable too when it's said to me.

Hugh Freaking Dillon

Sidnum wrote:

You're soooo good lookin

Hugh Freaking Dillon

the possible origin is when the plague was going around. people thought the first symptom was sneezing, so they'd "bless you" to make you healthy. Another theory is that people thought your heart stopped when you sneezed, and/or your body trying to let your soul out when it happened, so people would say "god bless you" to, in the words of Milhouse van Houten, "cram your soul back into your body".

Farting and burping are, in theory, voluntary actions. Just don't tell my wife.

twisted thoughts wrote:

i dont say it either...
make me feel like a hypocrite...not following religion and all
i mean seriously...does anything need to be said aside from...."need a tissue?"
you dont hear people going around and saying it after someone farts or burps...
same theory..yes? expulsion of air from the body...
damn bible thumpers...thinking im rude... :roll:

Hairy Dane

Odd how something as liberating as a sneeze can get mixed up in religious sayings. Luckily here in Denmark we usually say 'prosit' which roughly translates from latinified Danish in to something like 'hope it may benfit you' (very rough). Might have something to do with the black plague, as a sneeze often were seen as a sign it might be creeping up on you.
So be cool and start telling people 'Prosit' each time, and try to roll the r's
And even cooler prosit or prost is 'cheers' (as in drinking beers cheers) in German.

Edit: A burp or a fart need to be accompanied by an applause - always worth it, at least I do so.

_

I used to have a problem with saying it - not for any religious reasons, just because I thought it was a stupid custom. But then one day I had a boyfriend who got really hurt with me that I didn't say it to him when he sneezed. He felt like saying "bless you" is the polite thing to do and it shows care/concern for your fellow people. I see his point and now I always say it - either that or "salud". I think it's polite. We could use more polite people in this world. It has nothing to do with religion.

mysticweed

cincybearcat wrote:

I usually just say "Bless You"

yes, a good generic bless you

mysticweed

Paul David wrote:

Sidnum wrote:

You're soooo good lookin

i had forgotten about that one
funny and functional

arq

Next time i will say:

*Covering my nose and mouth*

"I heard that sneezing is a symptom of a new airborne killing virus..."

and then i walk away fast...

Commy

i say "god damn you"


no joke.

arq

Commy wrote:

i say "god damn you"


no joke.

FUCK YEAH I like it!

catefrances

scb wrote:

I used to have a problem with saying it - not for any religious reasons, just because I thought it was a stupid custom. But then one day I had a boyfriend who got really hurt with me that I didn't say it to him when he sneezed. He felt like saying "bless you" is the polite thing to do and it shows care/concern for your fellow people. I see his point and now I always say it - either that or "salud". I think it's polite. We could use more polite people in this world. It has nothing to do with religion.

its just a sneeze. :roll: hope you didnt marry that boyfriend.

Smellyman

Commy wrote:

i say "god damn you"


no joke.

I like it..:)

Seriously it bugs me too. I hate how everything is wrapped up in religion

_

catefrances wrote:

scb wrote:

I used to have a problem with saying it - not for any religious reasons, just because I thought it was a stupid custom. But then one day I had a boyfriend who got really hurt with me that I didn't say it to him when he sneezed. He felt like saying "bless you" is the polite thing to do and it shows care/concern for your fellow people. I see his point and now I always say it - either that or "salud". I think it's polite. We could use more polite people in this world. It has nothing to do with religion.

its just a sneeze. :roll: hope you didnt marry that boyfriend.

Yeah, I thought he overreacted at the time, but I do think it's important to be polite to others. No, I didn't marry him - but that's a whole other story.

FiveB247x

I get what you're saying although on this particular saying, I generally ignore it from habit... but it annoys me when people say things like "have a blessed day" or wish me celebratory saluations for religious holidays for which I don't practice or believe. .. ie merry x-mas or something.