Freethought & Rationalism Archive

athee · 05-23-2003, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Other Michael
The way I heard it was that your soul came out your mouth when you sneezed, so the "bless you" was to scare away the demons before they could grab it prior to it being drawn back into the body.

I suppose another way to approach it is from an anthropological stance - ask the people "why are you blessing me? What is that supposed to accomplish? Do you really think a sneeze endangers people?" Ask that with an earnest expression on your face and you should avoid insulting someone, but will no doubt leave them flummoxed and at a loss for an answer.

I knew it was something close to what I originally said, although AspenMama has an interesting new myth to pass along to the gullible.

I do like the "why?" response though.

Rhea · 05-23-2003, 06:33 PM

Good one, Zora!

Dark Jedi · 05-25-2003, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WWSD
As I was walking to the bookstore with a freind of mine the other day, I gave a guy a buck for gas, or so that was his story, and he said God Bless You.

As I turned away I said "I don't think blessing is what god's got in mind for me."

I didn't see if hte guy heard me or not. I sort of doubt he would have gotten it anyway, but my friend did. Whenever I sneezy she tells me "goddamn you"

I wish I had more friends like her.

I had a friend that stopped blassing my sneezes when I pointed it out. His response: If I sneezed, he would yell "Die Die Die"

The first time he did it, he asked if that was better. Since I replied "Much.

" he continued to do it.

fried beef sandwich · 05-28-2003, 09:35 PM

These days I just say the very non-sectarian "Bless you"

"God Bless You" doesn't really bother me since I pronounced it "GuhBleshYou" for the majority of my life.

And no, this in no way implies that I have been drunk for the majority of my life.

Cofffee · 05-29-2003, 12:11 AM

I ignore people who sneeze. And more often then not, I get the impression that the other person is thinking to themselves: wtf, he didn't even say 'bless you'.

Similarly, I ignore people who say it to me. I guess for many it's an automatic response, but it seems a bit silly to have people confirming to you that you just sneezed. (And I never sneeze just once, so people usually end up saying it to me several times).

On the other hand, people usually say things when you fart, so why not when you sneeze. Although most people don't say anything when I cough or yawn... people are funny.

Paul2 · 05-29-2003, 09:25 AM

I've responded a few times with "Have your god bless someone who needs it."

Ennazus · 05-29-2003, 02:09 PM

It took me a while to break the "bless you" habit. Now I just ignore sneezes. My 15-year-old daughter " says Whoa Nellie", if anybody sneezes. Sometimes she'll say "Getakleenex".

As far as the regular "God Bless You" (not for sneezing), I just smile an uncomfortable smile and let it go. I'm not one for confrontation and usually the blesser is good-intentioned.

If it's a bless you from somebody who KNOWS about my atheism, that's different. I usually say something along the lines of, "God needs you to ASK him to bless me? Isn't he able to bless me without your help?" Sounds smart-assy, but I do ask the question nicely.

Jutsuka · 05-29-2003, 03:54 PM

Here in Sweden we usually say "Prosit" wich means "May it be beneficial (for you)" in latin.

Another expression i've heard used is "Gesundheit" wich is german for "wellbeing" (not quite but I don't feel like finding a german dictionary right now...).

Never · 05-30-2003, 07:31 AM

I have always just ignored a god bless you directed my way for any reason. I act like nothing was said. I have never used the phrase on anyone either. Sometimes people pause and look at me like they expect a thank you for their words, but they don't get it. If it's for a sneeze and it was in a situation where it interupted something, I follow it with "excuse me".

MzNeko · 05-30-2003, 09:14 AM

When someone else sneezes I usually say "gesundheit" or (among friends) "Eeeeeeeeew! You better not get any on me!"

05-28-2003, 09:35 PM	#24
fried beef sandwich Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 1,156	"guhbleshyou" These days I just say the very non-sectarian "Bless you" "God Bless You" doesn't really bother me since I pronounced it "GuhBleshYou" for the majority of my life. And no, this in no way implies that I have been drunk for the majority of my life.

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05-23-2003, 06:33 PM	#22
Rhea Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Recluse Posts: 9,040	Good one, Zora!

05-29-2003, 12:11 AM	#25
Cofffee Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pickering, ON, CA Posts: 447	I ignore people who sneeze. And more often then not, I get the impression that the other person is thinking to themselves: wtf, he didn't even say 'bless you'. Similarly, I ignore people who say it to me. I guess for many it's an automatic response, but it seems a bit silly to have people confirming to you that you just sneezed. (And I never sneeze just once, so people usually end up saying it to me several times). On the other hand, people usually say things when you fart, so why not when you sneeze. Although most people don't say anything when I cough or yawn... people are funny.

05-29-2003, 09:25 AM	#26
Paul2 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,088	I've responded a few times with "Have your god bless someone who needs it."

05-29-2003, 02:09 PM	#27
Ennazus Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Chicago 'burbs Posts: 1,242	It took me a while to break the "bless you" habit. Now I just ignore sneezes. My 15-year-old daughter " says Whoa Nellie", if anybody sneezes. Sometimes she'll say "Getakleenex". As far as the regular "God Bless You" (not for sneezing), I just smile an uncomfortable smile and let it go. I'm not one for confrontation and usually the blesser is good-intentioned. If it's a bless you from somebody who KNOWS about my atheism, that's different. I usually say something along the lines of, "God needs you to ASK him to bless me? Isn't he able to bless me without your help?" Sounds smart-assy, but I do ask the question nicely.

05-29-2003, 03:54 PM	#28
Jutsuka Regular Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sweden Posts: 144	Here in Sweden we usually say "Prosit" wich means "May it be beneficial (for you)" in latin. Another expression i've heard used is "Gesundheit" wich is german for "wellbeing" (not quite but I don't feel like finding a german dictionary right now...).

05-30-2003, 07:31 AM	#29
Never Talk Freethought Staff Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: OH Posts: 5,266	I have always just ignored a god bless you directed my way for any reason. I act like nothing was said. I have never used the phrase on anyone either. Sometimes people pause and look at me like they expect a thank you for their words, but they don't get it. If it's for a sneeze and it was in a situation where it interupted something, I follow it with "excuse me".

05-30-2003, 09:14 AM	#30
MzNeko Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Long Beach, California Posts: 1,127	When someone else sneezes I usually say "gesundheit" or (among friends) "Eeeeeeeeew! You better not get any on me!"

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