raistlinjones

How do other Atheists deal with people sneezing - what is a good alternative to saying "God Bless You"? It seems rude to say nothing, but I have no idea what to say. Please post suggestions.

Ab_Normal

I usually use gesundheit - IIRC, it's German for "good health".

Jamie_L

I just say "Bless you".

It's a polite-ism. Only particularly religious people actually say or interpret this as a religious intonation anymore than people think someone is actually requesting divine intervention when they say "God damn it".

I always thought the German Gazunteit (no, I can't spell it) actually meant "good health", or something equally non-religious. If true, that's a recognizable option. Likewise, I think in Spanish people often just say "salud" which is equally non-religious.

Jamie

southernhybrid

I'm rude. I say nothing.

Rhea

I say "kerchoo" I went through a trial period of various responses and this is the one I like. I think it's stupid to consider people rude for failing to acknowledge your bodily functions. But Society seems to be stuck on that for now, so I say "Kerchoo" as in, yup. You sneezed. I heard you.

Gesundheit is indeed "Health" and I think it is part of a line of replies that start with Health and subsequent sneezes used to get additional good wishes...

Health
Long Life
Wealth
Good Relationships.

Something like that.


Kerchoo!

simian

I have been so tempted to say "Stop it."

Simian

Mageth

On Seinfeld, Jerry wrestled with this very problem, and settled on "You are so good-looking!"

Perchance

I say, "Bless you," too- no more "God bless you."

I'm actually a little bothered by the fact that I say "Bless you" (because I don't want to be saying it, any more than I want to say "God!" as an exclamation, not because I think it's bad for anyone else), and have been trying to change to something else. I like "salud;" it does mean "health," and it's the same thing said in some Spanish communities when making toasts. Unfortunately, not many people here speak Spanish, so it garners me some strange looks.

I'm wrestling between ignoring it and trying to find another solution for now. (I have sympathy, simian; I have a sister who goes into sneezing fits where she'll sneeze ten or fifteen times, at which point I feel like yelling, "Shut up!")



-Perchance.

frostymama

Me too I've never understood why it is considered rude to ignore a sneeze. Should I have to say "God bless you!" when someone farts? Shouldn't the person spraying their mist of boogies and germs all over my breathing space need to say something? "Excuse me" maybe?

Someone has taught my kid to say "bless you" whenever someone sneezes and I can't for the life of me figure out who did it.

Ab_Normal

I have a co-worker who does just that. It's good for a laugh, but we're an uncivilized bunch of nerds.