"NO PROBLEM." (?)
Monty Samuels
Marketing, adtech, and financial services, fintech, for the restaurant, entertainment, and hospitality industries.
Is this just a New York/New Jersey thing? I’ve been wondering about this for a while now.
Here is how this usually plays out:
I say, “thank you."
“No problem,” comes the reply.
Say what?! You mean, "Thank you. Right?"
That part is in my head. Who needs to start a fight. My luck the other person is carrying (a gun) and wants to mix it up with a fun-loving fellow like moi who happens to stand 6’4” (That’s 193 CM for my international folks. Don’t worry. I got you covered.)
Okay, is it me? Last I checked “your welcome” was the nice or proper thing to say back. You know, like, “please and thank you.”
Maybe occasionally a “my pleasure” or the rare, “you are most welcome” comes back. That one is a reply I get a lot from folks in the Philippines; so pleasurable to speak with. I get the Jolly Bee thing. The people working there make Disney cast members look like trolls. I should know, I worked for the Mouse.
This “no problem” thing would have been “bad show” during my time as a cast member at Disney World. I mean, Mickey even wanted you to follow it all up with a “have a Disney day.” Hell, no. I refused to sniff that Pixie Dust.
But, “no problem”? What is that? Problem.
So, let me get this straight – now it’s “no problem.” Otherwise, it’s a problem but just in this one instance, for me, it’s no problem.
Really?!
If I had a buck (dollar for my international folks. Still got ya covered.) for every time I heard “no problem” I could order a big meal at the Olive Garden. (For my international folks – O.G. is not authentic Italian-American cuisine.) Pasta Chips are on the menu, like Italian nachos? Oh, come on. Seriously?! What wine should that be paired with, Night Train or Mad Dog 20/20. And, yes, they have wine parings. Just search “John Oliver Olive Garden” Okay, maybe it’s Eye-talian-American. And that’s stretching it. I digress. Sorry.
This “no problem” thing cuts across all cultures in the NYC area. I’ve even gotten the occasional “no probelma.”
So, is this “no problem” line just a NYC-area thing or it is spreading like a bad fungus?
Wondering out loud, that's all.
Mille Grazie for your time, attention, and insights.
Mr. Samuel's, You are such a traditionalist. My husband and I are fond of using, "My pleasure ", but then we operated a Arrelle Fine Linens for 25 years, working with celebrities and CEOs. We are here to serve the public. Habits die hard. We use that phase with everyone. And it IS our pleasure when we can make someone happy. Everyone deserves to have the same attention and respect rich or poor. But then Arnold Schwarzenegger made, "No problema" famous. And there's been a dumbing down of the language, in general, in an attempt of being "real" and authentic. Oy! Those young people! Whada ya going to do? I'm sticking with, "My pleasure." Thank you.