Whatever Happened to "Thank You"?
By LindaOH
@LindaOHio (156056)
United States
September 26, 2022 6:41am CST
I was raised in the Please and Thank You generation. I am amazed these days that some young people seem to not have the same upbringing that I had.
Last year a family friend had a wedding shower. I couldn't attend; but I sent a gift along with my housekeeper who was attending the shower. I never received any acknowledgement that my gift was received or a thank you card. When they got married, we gave the couple a generous check and a card for their wedding. We did not receive any acknowledgement or thank you card for the gift.
Recently our housekeeper got married. Again, we gave a generous check and a card. We were not able to attend because my husband was in the hospital. We have yet to receive a thank you.
I realize things have changed over the years and many people do not send thank you cards in the mail anymore...but a thank you via a phone call or in person would certainly be appreciated.
What are your thoughts on this?
Photo Credit: Pixabay
26 people like this
27 responses
@arunima25 (85269)
• Bangalore, India
26 Sep 22
I totally agree with you. I find that missing so much in the new generation. They live in digital era. And saying that is just a finger tip away.
But nothing beats the charm of hand written cards. They feel so personal.
9 people like this
@Treborika (17259)
• Mombasa, Kenya
27 Sep 22
Glad that you admit you no longer write notes
1 person likes this
@Treborika (17259)
• Mombasa, Kenya
27 Sep 22
There's is no good manners nowadays at all
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458006)
• Switzerland
27 Sep 22
@Treborika I received a thank you note when I offered something to newlyweds.
1 person likes this
@Treborika (17259)
• Mombasa, Kenya
27 Sep 22
Glad that you did the right thing. Though expect that not to be done back unto you.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43074)
• Staten Island, New York
26 Sep 22
If the wedding just took place it may take a little time before they start sending out thank yous. However, if you didn't get a thank you for something that happened a while ago then you are not going to it seems. Not a nice thing to do though I am guilty of that. I never sent out thank you cards to people who went to my wedding. I tried creating one either on vistaprint or maybe it was the staples website but I never went through with finalizing and ordering them. I wish I had.
4 people like this
@lovebuglena (43074)
• Staten Island, New York
27 Sep 22
@Treborika yes but that doesn’t change the situation though. They still didn’t get a thank you card.
@celticeagle (158996)
• Boise, Idaho
26 Sep 22
The world has changed so much since I was a child.
I wouldn't expect a thank you.
3 people like this
@celticeagle (158996)
• Boise, Idaho
27 Sep 22
@Treborika ......After 70 years on this earth, I had better be. 
@LindaOHio (156056)
• United States
27 Sep 22
@celticeagle Thanks for your response. I don't agree; but that's just me.
1 person likes this
@Treborika (17259)
• Mombasa, Kenya
27 Sep 22
Glad that you are prepared for the worst
1 person likes this
@Jenaisle (14078)
• Philippines
26 Sep 22
Yes, people should learn how to say "Thank you". It's a simple word loaded with meaning. One can send it through texts, calls or email. It's actually so easy, Gift receivers usually write down where the gifts came from and then make it a point to thank everyone.
3 people like this
@Juliaacv (48411)
• Canada
27 Sep 22
I agree with you, it is very selfish, almost like the receiver of the gift was entitled to that.
What gets me worse is when a couple lives together, starts a family, owns a home, and then has a bridal shower and a big elaborate wedding where the bride wears white.
I find that very offensive to any of us who did all of that in order after we were wed.
I had all of our thank you cards for our wedding in the mail 1 month after the day we were wed. I did not want our guests to think that we did not appreciate their well wishes, company or their gifts. I did the same with the baby showers that were thrown for me. I sent out separate announcement cards after the baby was 6 months old with the first professional photo.
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (48411)
• Canada
28 Sep 22
@LindaOHio I feel that is a mockery of the institute of marriage.
When our niece did that, I asked someone privately in the family, so what, I buy a new dress, we show up with a card and basically we give them money to make a mortgage payment? That isn't why people should wed, that is convenience and greed.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156056)
• United States
28 Sep 22
@Juliaacv I agree with you. I don't like that people can't get married before playing house.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156056)
• United States
27 Sep 22
I'm glad to hear that someone still is appreciative. Our housekeeper (my husband's second cousin) had a baby, bought a house with her boyfriend, had a shower and a wedding a year later.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (73396)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
26 Sep 22
That is very wrong if not downright rude, Of course, you should have been thanked for your gifts. As they say, it is a brave new world,
4 people like this
@Treborika (17259)
• Mombasa, Kenya
27 Sep 22
That's how the new world is for sure
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156056)
• United States
27 Sep 22
The first wedding and shower I talked about was over a year ago. I won't be getting a thank you.
1 person likes this
@MommyOfEli2013 (81983)
• Rupert, Idaho
26 Sep 22
Sorry to hear that....some people just never learned that I guess, or something...
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Sep 22
Manners of any type seems to be a thing of the past, unfortunately. But despite that, I raised my kids to always say please and thank you and to be courteous and kind in any situation.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Sep 22
@LindaOHio I’m not perfect, but I try.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156056)
• United States
30 Sep 22
@moffittjc I asked you in another Discussion; but are you OK after the storm? Any flooding or damage? Was worried about you.
1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (26780)
• United States
27 Sep 22
Agreed! Then you know, too for sure gift received. I'm waiting for one myself. My cousin's daughter expecting to first child. Her mom, and U facebook each other. It's been a month. (Sent cash) Tomorrow, gently asking my cousin, via Facebook about it I'm after mail delivered.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156056)
• United States
27 Sep 22
It's a real shame when someone doesn't acknowledge that a gift was received.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156056)
• United States
28 Sep 22
@oahuwriter I know the checks were received because they were cashed.
1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (26780)
• United States
28 Sep 22
@LindaOHio
Yes. You know, I find out though...in a nice way I inquire about it.
Just sent my cousin a polite ask about gift card I sent, at facebook.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156056)
• United States
27 Sep 22
That's right. So many people forget that.
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (56302)
• Philippines
6 Nov 22
We have experienced that too. But we never mind it for we know it's more blessed to give than to receive.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156056)
• United States
6 Nov 22
I just think it's a matter of courtesy to acknowledge a gift.
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (56302)
• Philippines
8 Nov 22
@LindaOHio of course, it is. But you cannot expect from them always.
1 person likes this
@lifecoachjerusalem (1070)
• Israel
28 Sep 22
I totally agree with you. It has gogotten so that I don't really want to go to a wedding because I never get any thank you from the bride and groom. I remember that when I had my Bat Mitzvah, I had to write thank you cards until my right hand was sore, and then my mother made me start again the next day until I had written to everyone on the list by hand!! Nowadays, people could just write a thank you on WhatsApp or on the email, so they won't get cramps handwriting. Not such a big deal, so why don't people do it?
2 people like this
@Treborika (17259)
• Mombasa, Kenya
27 Sep 22
Things have really changed this time. People no longer love each other. So you just do good to people but never expect any good to be done unto you. That's the world of today.
1 person likes this
