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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[–] apis@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

No, I know, but it still sounds bizarre, as if it were going to be an imposition to be brought food, or that asking for a jug water might be. Imposing on someone is still a difficulty & as a customer, one is imposing on the worker to a degree.

I agree that tone & body language are far more important than the words, and also that a lot of people use whichever phrase their boss prefers them to use.