" Please and Thank You"

When I was young I was taught to say "Please" and "Thank You".

However, nowadays, I feel the use of those words is becoming extinct in a great part of our society.

For quite sometime now I have noticed this disturbing trend while shopping.

I have noticed that most cashiers no longer say "Thank You" after they have completed the sales transaction.

Many say "Have a Nice Day" which is nice, but doesn't replace a simple "Thank You". "Thank you, have a nice day" would be much better.

Quite a few say "There you go" which makes no sense at all to me. "There you go"---what does that mean exactly? Does anyone know how that phrase came to be or how saying it can justify not saying "Thank You."?

Then there are some who just hand you your merchandise and say nothing at all. That really bothers me and makes me wonder if I said "You're Welcome" to them if they would even know what I was trying to express.

And then there is the word "Please". How often have you heard this word lately? When I was young it was used quite frequently especially at the dinner table. Now, I believe it too is becoming one of those "lost words".

Has appreciativeness become a lost art? Is anyone really thankful anymore? Are politeness and manners becoming extinct?

I just read an article today called "The Death of Customer Service". "How self service checkout is the beginning of the end". The writer, Karen Aho, asks "Where has all the help gone?" Perhaps the absence of the words "Thank You" and "Please" is preparing us for this automated future. However, I would hope the computerized terminal could be programmed to at least flash a simple "Thank You" across the screen at the end of the sale.

Don't you think the world would be a little better if we all started saying "Thank You" and "Please" more often? If you agree "Please" pass this on.

"Thank You"!