Recently I visited a Big Box store to find a water filter for my refrigerator. Nothing was where I had seen it last, so I enlisted the help of an associate who checked the store's computer and located said item. Two minutes and a couple mouse clicks later versus a half hour of wandering and the filter was in my hand. I expressed my gratitude with a resounding "Thank you!" to which my young almost-new-best-friend replied, "No problem!" with equal enthusiasm.
"What was that?" I said.
"No problem!" he said again, still smiling.
"Oh," I said, feeling confused.
Had I just been dissed? Wasn't the expected response to my thanks supposed to be "you're welcome"? What did "no problem" mean? Had there been a problem? Did I have something to do with that problem?? My joy at receiving his help suddenly faded.
Responding to my look of bewilderment, my new acquaintance asked, "Is something wrong?" No doubt he thought he had just provided me a most excellent shopping experience and was probably anticipating glowing remarks from me to his manager about his outstanding customer service. At this point I was torn between delivering a brief but well-meaning lecture or letting go of the exchange and consigning the experience to the inevitable devolution of social niceties. Not one to overlook the opportunity of a teaching moment, I decided on the former, and here's why.
"What was that?" I said.
"No problem!" he said again, still smiling.
"Oh," I said, feeling confused.
Had I just been dissed? Wasn't the expected response to my thanks supposed to be "you're welcome"? What did "no problem" mean? Had there been a problem? Did I have something to do with that problem?? My joy at receiving his help suddenly faded.
Responding to my look of bewilderment, my new acquaintance asked, "Is something wrong?" No doubt he thought he had just provided me a most excellent shopping experience and was probably anticipating glowing remarks from me to his manager about his outstanding customer service. At this point I was torn between delivering a brief but well-meaning lecture or letting go of the exchange and consigning the experience to the inevitable devolution of social niceties. Not one to overlook the opportunity of a teaching moment, I decided on the former, and here's why.
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