Pedants' Paradise

[vinteuil]

In this age of "small mercies" I guess we have to appreciate Southwark council for still providing weekly collections for all our bins.

... here we get food bins emptied weekly - but the recycling bin and the rubbish bin are emptied twice a week



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[Serial_Apologist]

Yes, good point, oddoneout. I do tell the council litter bin emptiers that I think they're doing a valuable job.

Which hopefully they know! I always thank them (when I catch them) for returning the bins to the bins compound rather than as usual leaving them at the end of our collective driveway, blocking residents' garages, where it is then up to Yours Truly (the one retired regular in the block) to do. In this age of "small mercies" I guess we have to appreciate Southwark council for still providing weekly collections for all our bins.

[smittims]

Yes, good point, oddoneout. I do tell the council litter bin emptiers that I think they're doing a valuable job.

[Old Grumpy]

The fact that someone is paid to provide the service you have just received isn't necessarily a reason for withholding thanks. Most of those who provide the kind of services that make life that bit better(refuse collection and toilet cleaning for instance) will receive no thanks from their employers, and are largely ignored unless something goes wrong, so a word of thanks from those of us who benefit from their work costs nothing and can be a real boost.

[vinteuil]

Used to having staff not so long ago?
It's just thank you here, and what I've found interesting is that youngsters will often say it as they leave the bus - and may even look up while doing so - and the older generation generally do so, but there is quite a large age cohort in between who just barge off the bus as quickly as they can without any acknowledgement.

... interesting, I had not noticed the younger generation doing this : here it is those of African / West Indian heritage (and particularly the women) who most clearly say "Thank you, driver" when leaving the bus. I think I did not do this when younger ; I do now...

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