Sneezing Etiquitte
 

Let's try this again.
This maybe just a silly question, but I'm curious, and with all the colds/flu, I thought it timely.

When you sneeze, and someone immediately says "Bless you"/"Guisundheit"/etc...
What do you say?

Usually I try to say "excuse me" right away before anyone even gets to a "Bless you". Then I would say "thankyou". Otherwise any kind of response post blessing seems fine to me. Just don't ignore the "Bless you".

I say absolutely nothing. No one says "bless you" when you fart or belch, why when you sneeze?

Oh, and my 14 month old thinks sneezing is hilarious. Whenever he or someone else sneezes, he laughs. He even fake-sneezes, then laughs.

I don't say anything to anyone that sneezes, but if someone says bless you to me after I sneeze, then I usually say "thanks." I always hold my nose when I'm about to sneeze though...that makes my sneezes almost inaudible.

-Lasereth

I try to say "excuse me" before anyone reacts.
If someone says "bless you" before that, I'll answer with a simple "thank you"...

Never really thought about etiquette in this...

I generally sneeze into my shoulder (as I don't like having wet hands), then bless myself ("Whew! Bless me!")

If someone else blesses me, I usually respond with a simple "Thanks." It's a nice gesture, but it's not like we still believe that people run the risk of expelling their souls with Nature's tremendous sneeze force.

I always respond with a "Thank you."

No "Excuse me" is required for sneezes - it's not like you did it on purpose.
However, if you're rude enough to not turn away and cover your mouth, then I would guess an "Excuse me, here - let me dry you off," might be in order.

I say "Thanks" and sort of smile, but it's more a knee-jerk reaction than anything. :)

I say "Whatever". Some people find it rude, but I think it's just plain stupid and pointless.

I rarely ever sneeze enough that other people notice. Usually i just hold it in. You kinda jolt a little from the force, but no spraying, no slimy hands, no noise. Sometimes feels like your face might explode...but i hate sneezing. I dont want to, so i wont. I always turn away and try and cover my face, just incase its a mega sneeze and DOES blow my face open.

If i do sneeze though, an "excuse me" is in order ( as with almost all bodily noises) before they say anything. If they do bless me or whatnot, they usually get the obligatory "thank you". Sometimes just a "ehh..." is in order though, depending on how im feeling or if theres more coming. Generally people aren't sure what to do when they bless you and get a "im not done yet....more coming" in return.

You're soooooo good looking!

I grew up saying blesh you...that's what my kids and I say.
It's a stupid custom IMO.

I say "excuse me" whenever I inadvertantly let anything loose through an oriface.

If someone takes the time to say bless you or geshun...whatever than I feel it's only polite to thank them. I know I'm not going to lose my soul to a mischevious demon (you don't say....:rolleyes: ), but it's the thought that counts. And as long as the intent was polite, I'll reciprocate

I'm usually too busy trying to keep the second and third sneezes from coming to respond, but when it's all done and over with, usually a quick thanks.

When I sneeze I always turn away from any other people who may be in the immediate area. I don't expect someone to "bless you" because sneezing is simply an involuntary reaction of the body. If someone does say bless you I usually ignore them.

hehe, i watch too much Seinfeld as well :o

Anyway, as for the question, i think "Thank You" is apt. These ettiquette things are gold :D

Tanks.

*Farts* WHOOO! That was a fukin awesome fart!
*Belch* Ohhh you motherfucker, that was just nasty...
*Sneeze* Jesus fucking christ, that was wet!

Above 3 mentioned is good nuf for me

That's cute :)

I just turn away from people and aim down when I sneeze, and usually nobody says anything. If I hear a bless you then I say thanks.

Yep.



You should come down South--someone sneezes, and half the city says "bless you" or some derivation thereof. :D

I was taught at primary school that saying "bless you" when someone sneezes originated in the Middle Ages when the Black Death was decimating the population of Europe; sneezing was a symptom of the plague, so when someone sneezed you blessed them as some sort of protection from the plague.

Personally, I never say "bless you", and other than my mother, I can't think of anyone I know who does. I never say anything in response, though I guess it probably would be polite to. But then as I said, no-one ever says it to me (maybe they want me to die of the plague for having such bad manners ;)) so it's a non-issue in the end.

Yeah i always say thanks but someone once told me that it is unlucky to say thank you to the person who says bless you so i dont like it when they do. Because you feel like you should say thankyou but if its unlucky thats not good :confused:

I will always say Bless you when anyone sneeze's. Doesnt matter who it is.

I was always taught that the Bless You had religious connotations. People of old thought that when a person sneezed that it was their soul was escaping and going to the devil killing them. By saying bless you it caused the soul to return to the person therefore saving their life for another day.

Either way the stories sure sound cool.

does anyone else here ever smell that crazy sneeze smell after they sneeze. i know im not the only one out there...

I have another question: if a person sneezes multiple times, how many times do you have to say "bless you".
I think that if its obvious that the person is have a sneezing fit you wait until they finish and say bless you once. But what if its a sneeze that's separated by a few seconds, what do you do? Bless you in between each sneeze?