Response to a sneeze?

[Doubting Thomas]

One of my hobbies is ham radio, and one morning I was getting ready for a net. I heard someone sneeze on the radio, so I replied "gesundheit." He laughed and said that he was across the room away from the radio when he sneezed and didn't realize anyone heard him. I guess he had VOX (voice activated transmit) enabled on his radio.

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[Faith No More]

When my mother sneezes, it sounds like a quarter stick of dynamite went off.

I never used to say anything when people sneezed. I don't see how I can be considered the rude one for not saying something when someone next to me just expelled germs and snot at a high rate of speed from their nose. Regardless, I started saying "bless you" once I got married, because it was something that my wife would do when I sneezed. I felt I should do it back. Except my wife has bad allergies, and she never sneezes once and rarely sneezes twice. I've just gotten to the point that when the third one comes I say it.

[Diamond]

I say "à tes souhaits", French for "your wishes" (I've never heard of anyone using "santé") from time to time. Or I will say "gesundheit".
I don't know why, but I'd feel kind of rude if I don't say anything at all.

I would find it annoying if You responded to me for each of my 10 sneezes, being allergenic and all.

I feel your pain, dude. I usually avoid anything that could trigger those annoying "10 sneezes". But when I can't avoid them (e.g. friend's house where cats are present) and I keep hearing "bless you" or something like that, I eventually say "I get it!"

[Walking Void]

If I had a troll friend around doing that I would just yell "shut up!".

[CleanShavenJesus]

I say "bless you". It's just a polite thing to do, for whatever reason.

I have, however, told someone they look good when they sneeze.

That was a joke. You are incapable of looking good during a sneeze.

It's not an attractive thing.

[Whateverist]

I so want to totally ignore sneezes. But as a classroom teacher I can't get away with it. So the German version is my compromise. At least that way I can hope they don't know what it means. I'm such a sell-out. I feel so dirty.

[c172]

I just stare at the person like he just put wine in his Grape Nuts.

Either that or, "Excuuuuuuuse YOU!"

[Violet]

I vary my response. Sometimes nothing, sometimes bless you, but usually? I rate their sneeze.

"Weak, you've done better."

"Oh my god THAT WAS AMAZING!"

"3 points! Bet you can't do it again."

"You're an elephant and you never told me?! GREAT... now I've slept with an elephant. Thanks for that."

[freedomfromforum]

I don't get my panties in a bunch if I hear someone say "bless you" it to someone else, but for me personally, it is rude once you know I prefer you not respond that way to me. It would be like offering a Jewish friend pork. That is your thing, not mine.

When I sneeze if you insist on expressing concern simply say "Are you ok". That is the atheist "bless you". But people who use it have to know it's literal superstitious roots. You can say it is watered down now but that does not change the fact that when originally used people literally thought that if they did not invoke a blessing from god on you when you sneezed, your soul could escape out of your body.

Exactly. Not too many people know about the roots of this saying. If christians knew about the pagan origin they'd stop using it. But then again, they do celebrate "Easter". I say nothing when people sneeze. I usually don't want to open my mouth so soon following such a potentially harmful atmospheric release. I usually distance myself from the one who sneezes.

[LostLocke]

I say "Bless you" too. It has no real religious meaning to me, just a polite formality.

What I'd really like to do, if it's a stranger next to me who sneezes, is throw my arms up and run screaming.
Just to see.....