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Thread: What happened to "thank you"?

  1. #1
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    What happened to "thank you"?

    I had a bike I no longer wanted so I put it on Craigslist for free. A guy called and I told him to come over and get it, he said he'd been at my house in 10 minutes. I had it in my driveway and after waiting about 30 minutes I looked in my driveway and it was gone. I didn't expect anything for this bike but a "thank you " would have been nice.
    Dennis

  2. #2
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    In this day and age, leaving the bike out may have sent an unintended signal to the receiver, like "just take it and be gone". There is a lot of craigslist paranoia, so they may have assumed you'd rather not talk to/ meet them because, you know, serial killers are known to want free bikes all the time.

    Or, your first impression is right and they just lack social skills... also a good bet these days.

  3. #3
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    That is extremely rude- not only to not say "thank you," but also to not even acknowledge you were there to pick up the bike.

  4. #4
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    I wonder if you would be surprised if I told you that a large number of people here, who have won FreeStuff Drawings, failed to say thank you to the drawing sponsor.

  5. #5
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    Dennis

    Social skills, and grace, are rapidly disappearing from our everyday life. It's kind of sad.
    "The first thing you need to know, will likely be the last thing you learn." (Unknown)

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Cutler View Post
    Dennis

    Social skills, and grace, are rapidly disappearing from our everyday life. It's kind of sad.
    Even Thank You cards are are on the endangered species list. I never expect them but am always happy to see one. Three wedding presents and free photography to kids from the same family and not one thank you card? Says something about their parents...

    JKJ

  7. #7
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    I find myself frequently saying “you’re welcome” when a thank you was left out. Like when I go out of my way to help someone or open a door etc.

    My kids will be saying thank you on their own, I can tell you that much.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Karl Andersson View Post
    In this day and age, leaving the bike out may have sent an unintended signal to the receiver, like "just take it and be gone". There is a lot of craigslist paranoia, so they may have assumed you'd rather not talk to/ meet them because, you know, serial killers are known to want free bikes all the time.
    This was my first thought too.


  9. #9
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    Any person unappreciative of your generosity, who can't even thank you, certainly doesn't deserve the bike. You could call the phone number he used to call you to find out who he is, if you want to, just to say "you're welcome" to get your point across.
    Last edited by Al Launier; 12-08-2017 at 9:59 AM.
    Thoughts entering one's mind need not exit one's mouth!
    As I age my memory fades .... and that's a load off my mind!

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  10. #10
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    [QUOTE=John K Jordan;2752422]Even Thank You cards are are on the endangered species list. I never expect them but am always happy to see one. Three wedding presents and free photography to kids from the same family and not one thank you card? Says something about their parents...

    Totally agree with John. Experienced this myself several time after giving expensive gifts. Evidently thanking someone, for whatever kindness or gift, appears to be a lost art.
    Thoughts entering one's mind need not exit one's mouth!
    As I age my memory fades .... and that's a load off my mind!

    "We Live In The Land Of The Free, Only Because Of The Brave"
    “The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living."
    "
    Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by John K Jordan View Post
    Even Thank You cards are are on the endangered species list. I never expect them but am always happy to see one. Three wedding presents and free photography to kids from the same family and not one thank you card? Says something about their parents...

    JKJ
    My wife and I have friends who, whenever we go to dinner with them or invite them over, never fail to follow up with a thank you note. It gives us a very warm feeling and encourages us to want see them regularly. ..That, and the wonderful conversations we have. Cordiality seems to be becoming a lost art but, it's so easy to do and people who don't exercise it don't realize what they're missing and how it makes folks feel.

  12. #12
    I'm nuts on this topic. I'm a thank you note guy and I'm teaching (insisting) my kids do the same. Whenever they get a gift for any occasion, they aren't allowed to play with the gift or cash the check until the thank you card is in the mail. At this point (they are 10) they enjoy writing the note. This started as soon as they could write their name.

    The other thank you I miss is when a motorcyclist splits lanes on the freeway and I move over to give him room. 20 years ago 9 out of 10 riders would give the low wave in acknowledgment. Now 99/100 don't.

    Entitlement knows no bounds. Societally speaking, I think it's less about the "thank you" than it is about a rampant lack of gratitude, in general. Except for the biggest ticket items, (cars, houses, cabinet saws) everything anyone could want is available in an instant. We've created this instant gratification world and in turn we've lost most sense of gratitude.

    interesting times....

  13. #13
    Around here, putting things out on the curb, or along the street is the same as saying, "Here take it, don't bother me" There are dozen's of "curb alerts" here weekly. In addition, folks just put unwanted items out on the curb, without a craigs list post. I do it several times a year. Old mowers, metal junk, used lumber. it all disappears. I have put bikes out, even old farm equipment.

  14. #14
    I believe in insisting children write notes of thanks. I just reread Washington's letter to Phyllis Wheatley. She was a slave who was treated like a family member by a Boston family. She composed and sent GW a poem about being our president. The care that he took to make it clear that he was appreciative of her work is a great model.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Perry Hilbert Jr View Post
    Around here, putting things out on the curb, or along the street is the same as saying, "Here take it, don't bother me" There are dozen's of "curb alerts" here weekly. In addition, folks just put unwanted items out on the curb, without a craigs list post. I do it several times a year. Old mowers, metal junk, used lumber. it all disappears. I have put bikes out, even old farm equipment.
    I agree. Leaving it out like that means you don't want to be bothered; you just want to get rid of it. I think it would have been rude to have thanked you.

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