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someone just sneezed...

As an ex-catholic I'm very conditioned to see "god bless you" as a polite comment after a sneeze, much akin to thank you and your welcome. What the heck does the atheist say after someone sneezes? I suppose I'm just conditioned here, very deeply seated type thing. I still catch myself thinking after someone sneezes, "should I do it?"...hmmm? thoughts, comments?

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Permalink Reply by Lindzee on December 2, 2008 at 9:54pm

I was very much conditioned to do this response as well, like a reflex. Since I realized this, I just don't say anything. I mean, big deal, they sneezed. Or if I did get concerned, I sometimes say, "You ok?" Then "Thank You" and "Welcome." Same thing. I mean people do not really mean for God to bless those who sneeze when they say "God bless you." =)

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Permalink Reply by John on December 3, 2008 at 12:04am

exactly. But you excuse you and you ok just don't do it for me...i'm going to go with nothing haha XD

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Permalink Reply by Kevin on December 3, 2008 at 5:14am

At work my catholic co-worker says it to me out of habit and then always says "I am never sure what to say to you" with a laugh. Happily she leaves out the "god" part. As an athiest it does seem a bit odd to say "god bless you" and I never say anything.

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Permalink Reply by JessEpiphany on December 3, 2008 at 6:12am

It's been years since I've said anything after someone sneezed, though "bless you" still pops up in my mind.

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Permalink Reply by HailVectron on December 3, 2008 at 6:36am

It’s only in the US that you stress the 'God' part, over here in Blighty, we only ever say 'Bless You'.... Which, when you read it as just words, has no religious connotations at all, in fact, it’s quite a pleasant thing to say to someone...

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Permalink Reply by Dawn K on December 3, 2008 at 7:17pm

I had a chat about "bless you" online the other day. Apparently people get really annoyed when you don't say it to them. I generally do say bless you after someone sneezes but it is reflexive and sometimes I actually think before speaking and leave it off. I don't really care one way or the other, but really it is sort of a silly custom. I mean, we don't say bless you when someone farts right?

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Permalink Reply by Joshua on December 3, 2008 at 8:10pm

This issue arose in a Seinfeld episode (if for different reasons). When someone sneezed, Jerry took to saying, "You are so good looking." I always liked that.