Date: Tue, 21 Oct 1997 14:19:00 -0400

From: Sarah Bug sawhit02[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]MOREHEAD-ST.EDU

Subject: Re: Thank You



On Mon, 20 Oct 1997, Grant Barrett wrote:



A couple of thoughts on "thank you":



-- When I worked in fast food eleven years ago, we used "thank you" as an acknowledgement

of any request, as in:

Shift manager: "Four four-to-one buns, please"

Toaster person: "Thank you!"



-- I find I feel more comfortable saying "you're very welcome" rather than "you're welcome".

My general sense is that the latter is less sincere, although I have no idea why the "very" should

make any difference.



-- I also find myself saying "of course" instead of "you're welcome." I intend it to mean "of

course I would be glad to render that service to you, and never thought of not doing it." I work as

a computer tech (more or less), and as it is a service-oriented job, this is a useful shorthand.



-- Am I the only person who uses "my pleasure" any more?



-- This thread reminds me of the greeting and closing in written letters. I think we are long past

the point in which "Dear Lynne" actually meant anything other than "To Lynne" or "Hey, Lynne,

I'm Talking to You!" In the same way, "Sincerely" doesn't mean sincerely at all. It means, "Now I

Am Finished" or "My Inability to Conquer Formalities Requires That I Put This Word Here."





You are not the only person who says "my pleasure." I say it all the time!





--Sarah White



"America I've given you all and now I'm nothing."

--from "America"

by Allen Ginsberg