Thank You?

You know, I have said before that I am old and out of the loop on many things. There is a lot of stuff floating around out there that I don’t understand. But the thing that is bugging me the most – right now – is the response I get when I say, “Thank You.”

I was taught to say, “You’re Welcome.” Now, I admit that I don’t even understand what that comment means. You’re welcome to say other nice things. You’re welcome to stay? You’re welcome to do as you please? You’re welcome to leave as soon as you leave a tip? What? But I have used it all my life. And I have heard other people use it as well.

But for the last year or so, when I say thank you to someone, I get the reply, “No Problem.” Why? I didn’t ask you if you were having difficulty in serving me. I didn’t ask you to go out of you way to hold the door open (but I thank you for doing it.) I said nothing about a problem or the difficulty you had in doing what ever it is, or was, you were doing. So why say it?

Are they teaching this in etiquette class in school? If they are, why didn’t someone email or blog me about it? I need to know this stuff so that I want choke on my food or look at someone like they are a dilbert asshole who doesn’t understand the meaning of the comment.

I can change. If it is a correct replacement for “Thank You,” then I will live with it. But if I am right, however, and “Thank You” is the proper reply, should I tell the ignorant person the proper response; give him/her a “Jap Slap” across his lips; or jump up and grab him/her by the collar and shake him/her while hollering, “Say THANK YOU, dumb ass?”

I’m too old to be worrying about stuff like this. I need to know so I can be cool and hip, too.