Human Behaviour

**Janszoon** · 12-11-2012, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisnaholic

True to stereo-type, Mexicans use a lot of emphatic gestures when they talk, while as a Brit I barely move my hands out of my lap. Probably comes across to a Mexican as cold, unconvincing and dull.

What amuses me though is that even when they`re talking on the phone, Mexicans continue to use lots of gestures that are completely wasted because the guy on the other end can`t see them.

Heh. That's how I am too. Lots of hand gestures. And I too use them when I'm on the phone. On a related note, I also catch myself nodding in agreement during phone conversations, which probably comes of as me having no response to what's being said to me.

**Janszoon** · 12-11-2012, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Engine

I think most people casually accept "no problem" but I personally think it sounds crude unless you've asked somebody to go above and beyond their normal call of duty in which case they may say "not at all" or something.
I guess it's generally acceptable as a laid back alternative to "you're welcome" in everyday life.
In a professional setting, however, saying "no problem" translates to "Dude, I'm still just a kid so this is the best way I know how to say you're welcome." So if you ever have a job where you regularly talk to clients that spend a lot of money on your services you'll quickly learn not to say "no problem" when they thank you.

I think you're the first person I've ever heard of who has a problem with "no problem". It must be a regional thing or something because everywhere I've lived "no problem" is completely acceptable in a business setting.

FETCHER. · 12-11-2012, 07:16 AM

I normally say "no bother" to people. I don't say you're welcome because I don't get a thanks in the first place.

Trollheart · 12-11-2012, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

I think you're the first person I've ever heard of who has a problem with "no problem". It must be a regional thing or something because everywhere I've lived "no problem" is completely acceptable in a business setting.

Back when I used to work in an office, we had one of these bloody seminars where we were all told how to provide customer service (as if I hadn't been doing that unaided for about twenty years before they came along!) and we were told that we were to avoid using the phrase "No problem", because apparently people only hear the problem part, and start thinking there IS a problem.

My arguments, that the "no" de-qualifies the "problem", fell on deaf ears. I think it was she who had the problem! I mean, how stupid and single-minded do you have to be to only hear the last part of a sentence, the worst part?

**Janszoon** · 12-11-2012, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Back when I used to work in an office, we had one of these bloody seminars where we were all told how to provide customer service (as if I hadn't been doing that unaided for about twenty years before they came along!) and we were told that we were to avoid using the phrase "No problem", because apparently people only hear the problem part, and start thinking there IS a problem.

My arguments, that the "no" de-qualifies the "problem", fell on deaf ears. I think it was she who had the problem! I mean, how stupid and single-minded do you have to be to only hear the last part of a sentence, the worst part?

Following that logic, if they told you "don't say that", I guess you should have responded as if you only heard "say that".

Engine · 12-11-2012, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

I think you're the first person I've ever heard of who has a problem with "no problem". It must be a regional thing or something because everywhere I've lived "no problem" is completely acceptable in a business setting.

I don't think it's regional, perhaps it depends on the work environment though. My longest professional run was in an industry and company where I was usually the most inexperienced of everybody I worked with, and involved brief relationships with huge numbers of people from all over the country and world, so I became conditioned to see "no problem" as a sign of lack of maturity or experience.

That said, it's not like anyone was actually sincere about their pleasantries - it was all just tradition for tradition's sake in a business where nobody truly cared about anything at all but the bottom line. And to be honest, I hope and intend to never work in an environment like that again.

Stephen · 08-01-2013, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Engine

Along those lines, I do have a pet peeve in this realm. When you thank somebody for something and instead of saying nothing or just giving a slight nod (both of which are totally acceptable to me), they say "Mhm" or "Sure" or "No Problem" or, god forbid, "No Worries". I'd much rather hear nothing than those meaningless words. I already know I wasn't creating a 'problem' or a 'worry' so just say "You're Welcome" or be humbly quiet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Engine

I don't think it's regional, perhaps it depends on the work environment though. My longest professional run was in an industry and company where I was usually the most inexperienced of everybody I worked with, and involved brief relationships with huge numbers of people from all over the country and world, so I became conditioned to see "no problem" as a sign of lack of maturity or experience.

That said, it's not like anyone was actually sincere about their pleasantries - it was all just tradition for tradition's sake in a business where nobody truly cared about anything at all but the bottom line. And to be honest, I hope and intend to never work in an environment like that again.

I tend to use "No worries" a lot. I don't really work in a professional setting though. I'm not sure what I would use in that context. Usually it's in response to someone thanking me for something trivial so the "No worries" is just a way of saying thanks for the thanks but my actions were pretty inconsequential and I'd do it automatically for anyone so no need to thank me really.

On another matter, just something I notice on my morning school runs to drop off my kids. No matter what variations there are getting ready in the morning we always seem to arrive just as the bell is going. The thing is every morning I see the same people arriving seemingly in the same order of lateness. It's like we all have these finely honed routines that ensure we get there for the same late arrival every morning.

Paedantic Basterd · 08-01-2013, 09:36 PM

If I thanked someone and they ignored it or merely grunted, I'd think they were a stuck-up prick.

~~John Wilkes Booth~~ · 08-01-2013, 10:47 PM

I have a problem with slow, mindless shoppers. I hate going to the store here (I live in the south) because the aisles are always blocked by oblivious fat people waddling around like penguins. I could deal with the slowness if they were even the least bit aware of their surroundings, but no. They just drift aimlessly in your way, leaning on their shopping carts.

The other day I ran into the store to get a single item. I was obstructed by this massive woman who wandered right in my way and started trying to pick out what kind of chips she wanted. She was practically facing me, and I was staring right at her hoping she would acknowledge me and decide that maybe she didn't need to occupy the entire aisle to make her decision. No luck. She might as well have been in a trance.

Stephen · 08-01-2013, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Wilkes Booth

She was practically facing me, and I was staring right at her hoping she would acknowledge me and decide that maybe she didn't need to occupy the entire aisle to make her decision. No luck. She might as well have been in a trance.

LOL. Reminds me of how people in horror movies always have zero peripheral vision.

08-01-2013, 09:36 PM	#88 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	If I thanked someone and they ignored it or merely grunted, I'd think they were a stuck-up prick.

08-01-2013, 10:47 PM	#89 (permalink)
~~John Wilkes Booth~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 2,235	I have a problem with slow, mindless shoppers. I hate going to the store here (I live in the south) because the aisles are always blocked by oblivious fat people waddling around like penguins. I could deal with the slowness if they were even the least bit aware of their surroundings, but no. They just drift aimlessly in your way, leaning on their shopping carts. The other day I ran into the store to get a single item. I was obstructed by this massive woman who wandered right in my way and started trying to pick out what kind of chips she wanted. She was practically facing me, and I was staring right at her hoping she would acknowledge me and decide that maybe she didn't need to occupy the entire aisle to make her decision. No luck. She might as well have been in a trance.