As long as we are speaking of word usage, here are my two cents:  I find annoying the use of "enjoy" without an object.  "Enjoy" is, or at least still is everywhere but in restaurants, a transitive verb.  I know the restaurant servers don't mean it that way, but when they bring by the food and say simply, Enjoy," to me it sounds like the imperative form ("Enjoy the meal, or else!).  As my family would attest, perhaps my reaction simply signals my own creeping curmudgeonliness, as "we all know what they [the purveyors of "Enjoy"] mean."      
                         Robert Emerson

________________________________

From: Academy of Legal Studies in Business (ALSB) Talk on behalf of Ginger, Laura
Sent: Mon 9/27/2010 5:17 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: "No problem" instead of "thank you": today's trivial peeve



I completely agree with you, and share your frustration.  This response has become one of my top pet peeves!!

Laura

 

From: Academy of Legal Studies in Business (ALSB) Talk [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Daniel Warner
Sent: Monday, September 27, 2010 4:06 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: "No problem" instead of "thank you": today's trivial peeve

 

Hi Everyone,

 

Today a student came to visit me briefly, and as he left I said, "Thanks for coming by."  He said, "No problem."  

 

"No problem" does not strike me as a very appropriate response to "thank you."  I wouldn't think it would be a "problem" that he came by my office: I didn't force him to.  Perhaps "no problem" would be an appropriate response to "excuse me," but not to "thank you."  

 

Same with store clerks: I thank a store clerk for waiting on me, and she says, "No problem."  Sigh.

 

Jus' sayin'.

 

Dan

 

Daniel M. Warner

Professor, Dept. of Accounting

(Business Legal Studies)

MS 9071, WWU

516 High St.

Bellingham, WA 98225

360 650-3390