DEAR MISS MANNERS: I moved in with my boyfriend and discovered he has, in my opinion, a rather unusual habit. Not only does he say “bless you” in response to sneezes, but he does so in response to burps and flatulence as well!
When I asked him about it, he said he was taught it was polite. (He is from the South, while I am not.)
Is this true? Saying “bless you” in response to flatulence seems rather rude to me, though I can’t put my finger on why. I would love to know if this is a normal custom that I’m just unaware of, or if it is as strange as it feels.
GENTLE READER: There is no real logic as to why flatulence and burping are rude and sneezing is not, presuming they are all unintentional. Still, saying “bless you” after anything other than a sneeze seems like admonishment — as though a sneeze is what the person meant to do, and it just came out wrong.
Miss Manners seems to have put her finger on it. Although she would have been just as happy not to have done.
(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)
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