I guess that makes me modern then. I never say "bless you" when someone sneezes, I generally just ignore them when they sneeze, and then acknowledge the following apology with a slight nod of the head, and get on with what I am doing.

I'm not one of those stern people who can't bend. I'm not religious at all and if it honestly makes people happy if I say it, then I'll say it. I don't really care all that much. I'm not one of those people are are like I WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT SAY IT, I AM AN ATHEIST. It isn't hurting anybody so I don't consider it that big of a deal.

What I hate about it is the etiquette though. It is like if you don't say it to some people they consider it rude. They don't even stop to think that there may be a reason they don't say it other than them just being impolite. Some women will put not saying "bless you" on the same level as not opening a door for a woman or not pulling a chair out for a woman. I don't think they are the same level at all. The latter two are kind deeds to help a woman. Bless you is just a habitual custom that people have learned to say in society. The whole premise of it means nothing. It was originally started I believe to "bless" someone so they don't get sick. Because a sneeze is a sign that the person may be getting sick.

Now that we know it doesn't prevent a person from getting ill, it just seems pointless to say and I actually prefer it when someone doesn't say it and bring attention to my snotty nose.

If a person sneezes within close proximity to me, I do say "bless you" in reply. For some reason, I think it is the courteous thing to do, even though I am personally agnostic and harbor no strong religious/spiritual feelings.

Perhaps a more neutral reply could be "you are excused" much like when someone belches accidentally.

Since I am Athiest, I do not believe in that whole sneezing and losing your soul bit. I do sometimes say "bless you" but that is due to a force of habit from the past. It doesn't happen often however.

Yeah, exactly. I just hear so many people using "bless you" every time someone sneezes that it gets annoying after a while. Plus, sometimes the person does say "excuse me" after he/she sneezes, isn't that enough? What do people say when they fart, burp, shit and cough? Actually, no one shits in public, but I mean, with the other three, don't they just say "excuse me" and move on? If "bless you" had some relevant meaning with "excuse you," I could understand. It's almost as bad as slang that doesn't make sense with what you apply it with.

I don't think much people say it out of respect to the religious connotation, but moreso out of habit. I say it without meaning anything in particular, although every once in a while I would wonder if someone would take offense to me saying it, or just ignore it at worst. Fortunately I haven't run into any pricks that would flip out over a good intention.

My friend says it every single time she's within earshot of a sneeze which is sort of cute and it makes her come across as a nice person to others.

I don't say "God bless you" because I'm an atheist. I don't say "bless you" because I feel stupid saying that. I don't do anything when people sneeze. I adhere to most tenets of common courtesy and good manners, but I really don't think sneezing is a big deal.

I think it's really funny when atheists take offense to someone saying "God bless you" to them. Admonishing people for being polite, that's good times.

I think it's rude NOT to say "Bless you" or something similiar.

I am a militant atheist as well, but I've been raised to be mildly courteous to others. I will react to a sneeze with "Bless you" always. Because it's polite.

It's a superstition as Bigblah said. The put 'God' in there because they believe the spirit tries to leave the body when you sneeze. Don't y'all watch the Simpsons?

The other day I sneezed any my little brother says, "Shuttup." I laughed for nearly 15 mins.

I say "gesundheit". It's what my Austrian grandmother said, and when I was a kid I thought it was the best thing ever, so it stuck.

Ypu people come up with such a wierd superstitions, whenever someone sneezes I just say: "There won't be circus today, the bear caught a cold :D"

Epic post.

I don't say 'bless you' just like I don't say 'goodbye'. I say 'see you later,' or 'laters' or something along those lines.

I've come to dislike "gesundheit" simply because few people say it correctly.

It doesn't matter to me. I think when it first started, way back when, it was meant to be a religious comment. Nowadays, it's evolved in to a saying commonly used, and most people say it without even thinking about it. Another example would be the saying "god speed". I guess religious folk use the term as well, but when people say it for no reason, it's just another way of saying "run hecka fast!"

It may be considered a superstition but I was brought up to think of it as common courtesy, so like quite a few of the people here it's pretty much a reflex.

Speaking of which, what is the proper way of saying that? I pronounce that as ga-zoon-height, less stress on first syllable..

Whenever someone sneezes around me though, I don't normally say anything. I'd probably act as if nothing happened, or if I'm really close to the person sneezing, I'd back off a little. I think everyone I know who does say something, says "bless you".

I believe the proper was is guh-zoond-height. I used to take german classes like 10+ years ago when I was in grade school, so I forget the exact pronunciation.

It's said pretty much exactly as it's spelled - Geh-zoond-height, or at least that's how the accent I heard it spoken with sounded...

I find it's more a reflex, but sometimes (as silly as it may seem) I try not to say it because I am proving a point that I don't believe in a god (or a devil, considering the origin of the phrase). I don't want to give anyone any misconceptions. It's the same with saying "Oh my god"; I have stopped saying it.

I rid myself of the saying a while ago. It doesn't even phase me anymore. Occasionally I may say, "thank you," if I'm trying to make a good impression, but otherwise I try not to encourage people to say it. =D If I don't want to deal with it, I just muffle or, when possible, prevent my sneezes.

I do, on the other hand, say, "Jesus Christ!" and "Oh my fucking God!" just for the irony.

I used to say it, but I recently stopped. It's awkward and there's no reason to say it. I don't even consider it being polite. Like Kolba said, why don't we say anything when someone coughs? I don't care much for what society has come to expect; tradition can be a real bane sometimes.

I don't say it for the same reasons as Kaleb. It feels weird saying that over a natural function, and I actually prefer that people don't say it to me, because then I'm made to feel like a rude asshole if I don't thank them.

I say something along the lines of a mumbled "bleshoo"

"bleshoo" X3 Cute.

I don't say it myself, but if someone says it to me, I just say "thanks." Habit replies to habit.