🪖 The hill I will die on

To thank or not to thank?

This was the question posed last week in a newspaper article.

The journalist argued that British people overuse the phrase, and that “thank you” has become almost automatic, almost meaningless.

When I was a child, one rule was often repeated to me:

It meant: always remember to say please and thank you when appropriate.

(Yes, I know there is no Q. But thank you sounds like it has one.)

Now then.

Do people say “thanks” without much feeling at times? Probably.

Is writing thanks in advance at the end of an email irritating? Occasionally.

That said, I will defend saying Thank you:

Politeness is not weakness. It shows emotional intelligence and makes cooperation easier.

And when you add specificity, it becomes powerful.

Not simply thanks, but thank you for doing that specific thing.

I am reminded of a quote:

Politeness costs nothing.

And can gain you everything.

And that is the hill that I will die on.

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