this post was submitted on 17 Nov 2023
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Americans are explaining why they don't say 'you're welcome' in customer service settings after foreigners complained that 'mmhmm' comes off as rude (www.insider.com)
submitted 1 year ago by elfpie@beehaw.org to c/chat@beehaw.org
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I was watching a video from two years ago about different social norms and this showed up. Found someone questioning the same eight years ago on reddit (when it seemed less normalized). It feels so weird not being aware of this shift, even as a foreigner.

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[–] stolid_agnostic@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This is the most non-issue article I've seen in a long time. We're apparently seeing a language shift between generations and the argument really comes down to "kids these days". If retailers thought this was important, they'd set a policy on it.

[–] blindsight@beehaw.org 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I found it really interesting. As a Canadian, I always found it jarring getting an "mmhmm" in response to my "thank you".

Canadians are generally so conditioned to be polite that we both say sorry after stepping on someone else's foot: the person being stepped on saying sorry for getting in the way, naturally!

Saying "you're welcome" to a "thank you" is as automatic as a "you too!" after an "I hope you have a good day!"

Hearing that Americans consider "thank you" rude made me rethink my cultural biases. I literally just thought Americans didn't value politeness as much, but now I'm questioning that prejudice.

[–] stolid_agnostic@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago

I wonder if this is also a regional thing. I can’t recall having someone respond with an mmhmm. Perhaps it’s pretty pervasive in other places.