Sneezing

[rjoubert]

It's amazing how many people say "God Bless You" or "Bless You" when someone sneezes. Why are we blessing someone for spreading their germs around? I ask that rhetorically, since I am guilty of saying that myself.

I've heard that people in the old days were fearful that your soul was attempting to escape when you sneezed, and saying "Bless You" would force it back in. Has anyone heard of any other origins?

I'm also curious to know what is said, if anything, across the pond (in European countries) when someone sneezes.

 

[AnotherHiggins]

Welcome, Scott.


I know this is quite a long thread, but those theories on saying "God bless you" are covered in a link provided earlier by CajunCenturion in the thread date stamped 7 Sep 06 10:23.

There is also a section about Sneeze blessing at Snopes.com.

http://www.snopes.com/language/phrases/blessyou.asp

They acknowledge that the origin is undertermined, but do cite a reference that predates Pope Gregory the Great.

I have also heard that a gentlemen walks between a lady and the road to help protect the lady from splashing water/mud or being hit by a car. Similarly, good etiquette stipulates that "ladies first" does not apply when descending a staircase. Whether going up or down, the gentleman should always be on a lower step than the lady, so that if she falls, he may catch her (or cushion her fall, I guess).

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[Sympology]

Similarly, good etiquette stipulates that "ladies first" does not apply when descending a staircase. Whether going up or down, the gentleman should always be on a lower step than the lady, so that if she falls, he may catch her"

There was me thinking it was so he could try and cop an eyeful......

Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[jebenson]

I have also heard that a gentlemen walks between a lady and the road to help protect the lady from splashing water/mud or being hit by a car. Similarly, good etiquette stipulates that "ladies first" does not apply when descending a staircase. Whether going up or down, the gentleman should always be on a lower step than the lady, so that if she falls, he may catch her (or cushion her fall, I guess).

I have heard that the explanation above was actually an early example of "spin", because the (supposedly) real reason the man walked on the outside was because people emptied their chamber pots out of second story windows, and being closer to the street meant less likelihood of being inundated with human waste. Much better to get some mud on you than.... But the "gentlemen" made it look good by claiming to be protecting the women from being splashed by mud, etc.

I don't know if it's true.



I used to rock and roll every night and party every day. Then it was every other day. Now I'm lucky if I can find 30 minutes a week in which to get funky. - Homer Simpson

Arrrr, mateys! Ye needs ta be preparin' yerselves fer Talk Like a Pirate Day! Ye has a choice: talk like a pira

 

[MeGustaXL]

Maybe we could get all the spraying Sneezers who don't cover their mouths with hands or elbows and lock them in a Halon-filled, airtight room until they cut their way out with a blunt sword or a polished bowl and a ruby, so we can cover them in mud or ordure while chanting "Gesundheit, God Bless you, Bendith, Dude!"

Then take pictures.

And maybe video.

<AAAAAAAAHHHHH - CHOOOOOOOO!!!!!> Excuse Me!

Why do we say Excuse Me when we sneeze? Or is that just me?

Chris

Varium et mutabile semper Excel

http://www.insys-ltd.co.uk

 

[gbaughma]

It seems to me (since I wear a sword at the Renaissance Festival) that it makes sense to be between the sword and your lady-faire, in the event that the sword needs to be drawn.

I wear my sword on my left, so I can draw it with my right hand; it certainly wouldn't do to protect your lady's honor with your sword, slashing her in the process of drawing it.



Just my 2¢

"In order to start solving a problem, one must first identify its owner." --Me
--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[MeGustaXL]

I know that if I try to walk next to the kerb to protect my Lady-Faire from the passing carriages or the mud they throw, I'll get a thick ear and accused of patronising or SH behaviour!

Why can't it justbe put down to chivalry and good manners?

Like covering your mouth and nose when sneezing.

Chris

Varium et mutabile semper Excel

http://www.insys-ltd.co.uk

 

[saw164]

My wife loves that fact that i walk next to the street, and also that i always open doors for her. she thinks chivalry and good manners. There are a few women out there her like a man to do that for you, but you are right Chris i have dated a few women who thought it was machismo....they even got mad at me for opening doors for them, spouting stuff like, what a women isn't good enough to open doors.


Scott Williams

IT, United States Coast Guard.

 

[SantaMufasa]

This is where being sensitive to the spirit of the situation trumps chivalry and good manners:

1) If you are dating a activist-feminist, then treat her/him as you would a buddy of your same gender.
2) If you are dating one who admires traditional chivalry, then you exhibit the appropriate behaviour.

That is, of course, if you want to score points. If, however, your goal is to p*** off your date, choose the opposite. <grin>

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I can provide you with low-cost, remote Database Administration services: see our website and contact me via www.dasages.com]

 

[SantaMufasa]

...And back on the topic of "Sneezing" behaviour...my 26-year-old son has always sneezed by holding in the sneeze. I have warned him over and over that one day, he's going to sneeze that way and we will all be splatted with gray matter extruding out his ears.

I would much rather pay for antibiotics to treat those in the room following his "letting loose" with the fine mist of sneeze germs than pay for the brain surgery to restore his gray matter to where it should be once it all escapes his cranium, right?

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I can provide you with low-cost, remote Database Administration services: see our website and contact me via www.dasages.com]

 

[gbaughma]

More likely he'd pop an eardrum....

That *really* hurts, btw....



Just my 2¢

"In order to start solving a problem, one must first identify its owner." --Me
--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[Lunatic]

Cajun,

Yes, outside versus left makes more sense as a general rule. I was thinking in US-centric terms about what rules I expect foot-traffic to follow (always walk on the right-hand side of the road in the direction you are facing).

Jebenson,

I'm sure that in some cases walking on the outside did make you less likely to get hit and the inside to be more likely (and maybe as buildings changed design as well). The drawings of the buildings I saw that were associated with the beginning of the custom showed buildings that had an over-hanging 2nd story, so the women would walk under the overhang and the man outside of the overhang (it would also help keep the woman dry if raining).

As for being less likely to be hit on the street side if the building did not contain an overhang, it would probably depend on what was the common trajectory of the waste materials. If tossed then you would be safer closer to the building, if dumped you would be closer to the street.

I would imagine that tossing was more likely in order to get the foul stuff as far away as possible, but that is merely speculation on my part.

 

[Stella740pl]

As for the main topic posted, sneezing, all this "Bless You" seems ridiculous to me, but if it is what is supposed to be said, then what can I do? I just say it.

In Russian, we say to a sneezing person what translates as "Be healthy". To a child, you often add "Grow big". Or "Be healthy" after the first sneeze, and "Grow big" after the second, if it follows immediately.


As for the other topic that developed from it...

Hey, guys, sometimes women don't like certain behavior for reasons completely different from being a feminist-activist. Say, convenience. Can you imagine that?

I don't care what side is the street side, but I always prefer my husband to walk on my left side, simply because I am used to carry my purse on my right shoulder, and it's more convenient when it stays on the outside, not between us. Unless, of course, he carries something big and heavy in his right hand (even if it is not a sword – and so far it never was).

I wouldn't mind a man (or a woman) holding a door for me (instead of releasing it in my face), but I equally wouldn't mind holding a door for a man (or a woman) if I got there first. But I hate when people hold the door for me when I am ten or more steps away (and that door is not an elevator door) - I feel awkward to keep a person there waiting for me, so I start rushing to get to that door faster, even if I didn't mean to. Why inconvenience people?

I am in no way a feminist-activist. I would always ask for help if I need it or want it (say, being lazy). But I absolutely hate jars being taken out of my hands. If I wanted help, I would not hesitate to ask, really. I open them better, anyway. I don't apply force to them. My father taught me (and my mother, too) to always keep a straight wide screwdriver in the kitchen junk drawer. You just do one motion with it on the underneath of the lid (you can put the jar upside-down on the table if you wish, or just hold it if you like), you hear a pop of air coming in, and the jar opens effortlessly as if it was already open before.

Lunatic,
I was thinking in US-centric terms about what rules I expect foot-traffic to follow (always walk on the right-hand side of the road in the direction you are facing).
I agree with you wholeheartedly. If only all other people would know that and agree. But so often this doesn’t happen.

 

[SantaMufasa]

Actually, I agree wholeheartedly with Stella: It is more a matter of generic courtesy than gender-based chivalry.

I recall holding a door open for a female stranger at an office building one time. On her way through the door, she asked with a wink, "Are you an 'MCP' (Male Chauvinist Pig)?"

My response was, "I'd hold the door open for anyone, regardless of gender, and I'd hope that your parents taught you the same." It seemed to satisfactorily take care of business.

To the issue of appropriate/inappropriate gender-related behaviour in the office place, my Rule of Thumb is (for any particular behaviour), "If I would <put behaviour here> to someone of either gender, producing no discomfort or uneasiness to me or the other party, then <behaviour in question> is probably acceptable."

For example:

1) At company parties, would I hug (or kiss) a co-worker of the same gender? If not, then I don't hug (or kiss) co-workers of the opposite gender.

2) Would I ask out on a date a co-worker of the same gender? If no, then I don't ask out co-workers of the opposite gender. (My wife would kill me either way.)

3) Would I hold a chair for a same-gendered co-worker?...Et cetera.

Now, these are my rules for my success in a professional environment. Others may have different rules that work for them. But I can say that I've never been accused of any harassment, either.

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I can provide you with low-cost, remote Database Administration services: see our website and contact me via www.dasages.com]

 

[saw164]

Sorry all if i came across as saying it was feminist, i didn't mean it that way.


Scott Williams

IT, United States Coast Guard.

 

[gbaughma]

Funny about the door-opening thing.

Of all people, our HR assistant at work has a bit of an attitude about this.

I hold the door open for anyone who's within a few paces behind me. Male, female, it doesn't matter.

Well, the HR assistant was behind me by a couple of steps, and I held the door open (as I would for anyone). She stopped, and said "You don't have to hold the door open for me." I smiled, and said "Sorry, it's habit. I hold the door for anyone behind me." "Don't do it for me," she said.

Well, I went to her supervisor (also a lady, but that's irrelevant) and asked her (without letting her know that it was her employee) how I should handle this.

Here was my argument. If I "let the door slam in her face", and refused to hold it open for her, I could be seen as being passive-agressive, because the other 125 employees *know* that I will hold the door open.

The HR manager asked if it was her assistant. (Evidently, this wasn't the first time this had come up). When I confirmed, she said "Do you want me to talk to her?" I said I didn't, because I felt that she would know that I was talking about it, and I didn't want to cause any *more* problems.

I was informed by the HR manager that what I was doing (holding the door) was perfectly appropriate, especially since I wasn't singling anyone out based on gender, etc. and that I should continue doing what I was taught and comfortable doing.

Our HR manager rocks. I told her "You know, I was biting my tongue to keep from saying 'I'm sorry, but I refuse to give you preferential treatment by not holding the door if you're behind me, since I would for any other employee. That would be favoritism.'" The HR manager and I had a laugh over that one....



Just my 2¢

"In order to start solving a problem, one must first identify its owner." --Me
--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[jebenson]

As for being less likely to be hit on the street side if the building did not contain an overhang, it would probably depend on what was the common trajectory of the waste materials.

I really love this forum. Nowhere else have I ever seen a considered, thoughtful discussion of the trajectory of human waste.

;D



I used to rock and roll every night and party every day. Then it was every other day. Now I'm lucky if I can find 30 minutes a week in which to get funky. - Homer Simpson

Arrrr, mateys! Ye needs ta be preparin' yerselves fer Talk Like a Pirate Day! Ye has a choice: talk like a pira

 

[Lunatic]

I didn't even realize how absurd of a discussion this had become if you walked into it cold until you pointed it out ;p

 

[Gooser]

I've been gone a week and this forum quickly slid off into pooh-trajectory!?

Has any one ever heard "Bless You, Bless me, Bless The Pope" for sneezes one-through-three?

--Gooser

 

[SantaMufasa]

Since my family and co-workers will confirm that my median number of sneezes per episode is EIGHT, I believe that my "sneeze-witnesses" will need about five more heads of religions to bless besides The Pope.

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I can provide you with low-cost, remote Database Administration services: see our website and contact me via www.dasages.com]

 

[2ffat]

My Dad never mentioned the "You, Me, Pope" thing but he always used to say after the third sneeze, "That's it! No more blessings." I wonder if that was the reason?


James P. Cottingham
-----------------------------------------
^{I'm number 1,229!
I'm number 1,229!}