what do you say, if anything, when people sneeze

[toey]

i have a habit of saying "bless you" but my friend jokingly said you can't say that if you don't believe in god...so i guess gesundheit would be more appropriate, but doesn't that mean the same thing in german?

i hate to be rude and not say anything, but i do sort of get my friend's point.

[geniph]

1. Actually, I believe the literal translation of gesundheit

is "good health."

Depending on how well I know the sneezer, I've been known to say, "get any onya?"

[Az]

2. Sneeze acknowledged

Standard atheist response. :D

[toey]

3. maybe it could be universally shortened to "SA"

i tend to trip over my own tongue sometimes...i fear i'd make an ass out of myself...or should i say "more of an ass"

[Modem Butterfly]

4. "Do you need a tissue?"

[salvorhardin]

5. Eww! Cover your mouth next time jerkwad!

That's just to my friends though. :evilgrin:

[Sabriel]

6. Why say anything?

Isn't it kind of a holdover from the days when they believed evil spirits flew into your mouth when you sneezed?

I'm fairly sure they enter through your armpits.

I never say anything...just ignore it.

[toey]

7. ok so what do you do when people say bless you to you when you sneeze?

[Az]

8. Depending on the individual

I say "That doesn't work on me, but thanks anyway".

[geniph]

14. "Excuse me."

[HawkerHurricane]

24. Depends....

If it's someone I know well...
"Are you authorized to bless people?"
or
"Thanks"
depending on how I know they'll react.
Strangers/people I don't know get a thanks.
Yes, it doesn't mean anything... but they think it does, so be polite and say thank you.

[defiant1]

20. As do I....

And I don't expect people to say to me either.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

9. You could say, "I didn't say WHAT bless you."

An "evil face" while saying that would be nice too. :evilgrin:

[trotsky]

10. Gesundheit.

Which, as geniph noted above, does not translate into god-related terms. I took German in college, studied in Germany for a semester, and plus I just like the sound of "Gesundheit."

[BurtWorm]

11. Me too.

A coworker once thought I was saying, "Shazaam!" though, so I always say "Shazaam!" at work.

[trotsky]

12. LMAO

I don't know why, but that REALLY made me laugh. I'm gonna have to try that, the next time someone sneezes in a meeting or something.

[BurtWorm]

13. The really funny thing is

most people don't even bat an eyelash when you say it after a sneeze. :wtf:

[Lars39]

15. You're the one!

I knew I'd read that somewhere here! We started saying that at our house 'cause of you. :D

[BurtWorm]

19. Hey! I made a meme!

:patriot:

[Taxloss]

16. Idioms are meaningless.

Say "Bless you" as much as you like. The next time they say "Wednesday", ask them why they say that if they don't believe in the Norse god Wotan.

[Ravenseye]

17. Bless You.

I say bless you. Me. I'm blessing them. Just confering well-being. Nothing more.

Actually I lied. Usually I dont' say anything. I'm a rude bastard.

[leftofthedial]

18. Wet cleanup in aisle three

need a mop?

[Beetwasher]

21. SHUT UP!!!

SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!!!!

Most people don't appreciate it though. :shrug:

[geniph]

23. Bill? Is that you?

wanna share my falafel?

[phantom power]

22. Your friend probably says "the sun sets and rises"

Does he have to believe that the sun revolves around the earth?

[Zenlitened]

26. Exactly. It's just leftover language, quaint custom.

:hi:

[MindPilot]

25. Expel thee, foul demon!

Usually good for a laugh, or at least a few odd looks.

[immoderate]

27. I vary it.

But I never use the G-word. O8)

People expect to hear something after they sneeze. I'll try Shazam as discussed above. I'm sure it will work.

On a religious scale, I find it near the level of "good b'ye."

On edit: What we need to find out is what to yell when you're having an orgasm.

--IMM