No hay problema
This, having nothing to do with Spanish, is just something I was wondering if anyone else had noticed. There seems to be a trend, here in New England anyway, towards the use of no problem instead of you're welcome. My wife pointed this out to me months ago and we have been paying closer attention to this change ever since. It is most prevalent in restaurants but also at checkout counters and other places where way back in the old days when you said thank you to a person the reply was you're welcome. Now I can understand there may not be anything of this type happening in Spanish speaking countries where de nada is used instead of you're welcome, since de nada itself means it was nothing and that really isn't much different than no problema anyway but here it seems almost rude to me. Well maybe rude is extreme but still it just lacks sincerety. This morning at breakfast our waitress used no problem at least 5 times with us and it took all we had not a laugh since it is now one of those inside jokes that my wife and I now have. So tell me what you think or if you have even noticed this new trend. Thank you!
PS It was Lovely's thread about "How do you do?" that prompted this.
19 Answers
I personally don't have a problem with it. I see it as equivalent to "Don't mention it". Spanish and French both have a similar response:
No hay de que.
Il n'y a pas de quoi.
...which both mean "there is no (reason) for (thanking me)", and I'm sure other languages have something similiar.
I abhor the "no problem" response. It's about the least sincere reponse society has ever come up with.
There is a restaurant here where the wait staff always respond with "my pleasure". For some odd reason it sounds so much more personal and sincere.
I think common courtesy has taken a real beating over time. Is that progress or just the world we live in?
I would much rather someone reply to my "Thank you" with "No problem" than with the "uh-huh" I have encountered on occasion.
It's not quite the same but the clerks around here say the words "hello", "thank-you", and "have a nice day" but there is very little sincerity behind the words. They are talking with the employee next to them, or the eyes are downcast, and even the smiles are fake. Usually the words are said as they are ringing up the next customer. It is not just one store, it is a community problem. Maybe it has to do with larger populations, maybe not. In lovely's post I said something about families not knowing the words "how do you do".
Sadly, language does evolve.
I can´t begin to tell you all the things which grate on my very old ear. 
But also, I understand the need for languages to evolve, so I just attempt to adjust.
Here on the forum I write in the most informal and colloquial way I know. In person, however, I tend to speak rather formally. And I've gotten into more problems with the "formal," and what I would consider polite forms of expression.
Most people seem to perceive me as being stiff, pretentious, pedantic, and any number of other not so flattering terms.
Sigh ... 
Another example is Lazarus. I've seen him misunderstood more times than I can count. Quite frankly, I love his dry wit. But many times it seems others don't quite perceive his humor as I do. 
Ah, communication, what are we to do
The only thing I can offer is:
(1) consider first the age of your interlocutor; and
(2) consider the background of the person.
And hopefully, I try to be kind and forgiving, always giving the best possible interpretation. 
This isn't an example of impoliteness, but something I find weird.
Can I help you today?
Would you like anything else today?
What can I do for you today?
Where did that come from?
I find it hard not to reply with a degree of cheekiness...
- "No, but I may need something tomorrow or next week....."
Do you have this happening in other English-speaking countries?
I tend to think that the way we react to the word "thank you"has a lot to do with the relationship we have with the person thanking us.
Yesterday, my husband and I did a lot to help friends with the wedding of their daughter. We were thanked so many times, I lost count. It would have felt ridiculous for us to repeat a very formal 'Your welcome." each time we were thanked. So some of these responses were used:
Your very welcome.
It was a pleasure
No problem
Don't think about it.
and the very regional:
Now of course I think that it is probably more mannerly to say 'Your welcome."if you are a waitress or responding to someone you don't know well. But depending on the relationship, I think "no problem" simply means "For you.....this was not a problem or inconvenience for me at all."However, I think I will be more selective when I use that expression. You have made me stop to think about it, so for that I thank you. 
I personally don't think of it as "society moving away from politeness" at all.
I usually use "no problem" as I feel that it shows that it didn't put you out to help the person. Personally I use it when I don't want a massive amount of praise for the favours I do for people, (it's better as a shying away from praise/thanks, type of comment).
I feel that "you're welcome" offers more claim to your deed/favour/whatever you're being thanked for.
For example: when someone forgets to thank you we often say "you're welcome!", we feel we deserved to be thanked in this situation and we sarcastically say this.
I will also often use you're welcome if it was a job I almost resented doing, something that definitely was "a problem".
So for me "no problem" is a friendly more sincere way to respond to being thanked. Just my opinion, I'm sure it may vary in different culture etc.
I hadn't given this much thought over the years, until a couple of years ago when somebody told me they thought it rude.
I don't think of it as any more rude than many recent expressions used today without thought to its origins. I've heard "no problem" expressed in the sweetest, most sincere way, by persons who are never rude.
Language changes, as well as customs that we associate with it. Get used to it.
I don't have a problem
With "no problem" at all
When it comes to the not be or to be
Of courtesy
I'd rather not be than be
a problem
While it might be nice to be welcome
It's never nice to welcome
Being a problem—
Though maybe that's just me
or maybe just probably
Whichever the problem might not be
you are always most welcome to—
with all that courtesy's due—
let your flag fly free and please tell me
If you don't have a problem
Well maybe rude is extreme but still it just lacks sincerety. This morning at breakfast our waitress used no problem at least 5 times with us and it took all we had not a laugh since it is now one of those inside jokes that my wife and I now have. So tell me what you think or if you have even noticed this new trend.
Yesero, I agree with you completely. As languages evolve, they seem to represent less feeling and sincerety on the part of the speaker, which also seems to parallel the direction of society in general.
I've noticed this "no problem" response now for quite a few years and I find it offensive when you are paying for a service as if to say "you are not being a problem," which is far from showing appreciation of the business you are giving these people.
The only time "No hay problema / bronca / pedo" is used in Spanish is when the speaker is truly indicating that no problem exists, and no need to worry. Although, I wouldn't be surprised to hear it used in spanglish, imitating the trendy English version.
In defense of your waitress, however, we have to realize that there are many people who gravitate to all these ridiculous, trendy phrases without giving any though to what they are really saying.
No problema is wrong - its 'no hay problema'!
I say 'no problem' all the time. To me the difference between 'you are welcome' and 'no problem' is perhaps in the sincerity. You might not actually 'be welcome', but it may be 'no problem' to do what you ask. Not sure if that makes sense lol, but thats how I see it.
After having a good read at all the replies here, this is what I think...
It is all about sincerity for me. If people actually MEAN what they say, then thats great.
I would much rather somebody give me a bog standard 'no problem' than some more lardy dar - now there's a good English slang phrase for you reply said with false sentiment
When I have to speak to a Call Centre in India (and please don't take this as racist because that is not my intention) I actually hate it when somebody has just given me a load of bull, or not answered my question at all and then says 'thank you so much for calling, is there anything else I can help you with'
Grrrrr, just be straight with me - I've just given you a hard time because my satellite tv is not working..... you are not glad I called, and you dont want to "help" me any more - actually you want to tell me to xxxx off and stop complaining!
Similarly in a restaurant. A guy\girl may have been working for hours - on his feet, running around serving people for a pittance of a wage. I don't really want to hear a "you are welcome sir" or "have a nice day" unless it is actually meant!!!! A simple "no problem" (because that is their job after all) will do for me.
**Can't understand why I'm in this mood this morning lol, had a great night out last night **
For a fact, we know that language changes. As I get older I wish it would not do so while I'm paying attention.* About 15 years ago I offered coffee to a guest. I'm all set was the reply. I had no idea that meant No, thank you.
I have been hearing "no problem" for so long that I haven't given it much thought. Until now.It does sound a little less personal ,however, "no hay problema" is also used with frequency. As time goes on ,who knows ,we all may be saying " the pleasure was all mine ".
