Comment on Procedural Knowledge Gaps

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 19:46:48 GMT

In that particular case I could see "you're welcome" being received oddly, since the social expectation is to thank the other person. That said "You're welcome - and thank YOU for your $GIFT" seems to work decently if it's, say, exchanging Christmas gifts.

I've generally gotten positive reactions to using "you're welcome". It might help that I have a voice that comes across as genuinely friendly and happy, and when I'm not genuinely feeling that way I won't use the phrase. I don't think I've ever seen someone react as though it was insulting, in any circumstances.

Admittedly I also just have a personal dislike of "no problem" - it strikes me as disparaging the effort that went in to something, and I only use it when it was a genuinely trivial effort, or if the person seems to be honestly concerned that they've imposed too much on me.

Saying "no problem" to something big also reads out as having an undertone of "you really shouldn't bother thanking me, I didn't actually put any effort in to this", and my experience is that people DO react somewhat to that undertone.

Hmmm, interesting. Overall, "no problem" seems to move people towards a more neutral response to my gift - reducing both anxieties of imposing on me, and enthusiasm/gratitude for me going out of my way to help.

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