The Obsession with Discussing the Supposed Rudeness of Atheists

[Kitty Galore]

Ummm...must of the time I say nothing. If I do feel compelled to say "bless you" it is because I would feel like a jerk if I don't because I'm the only one there or something. (Like at work in my Catholic hospital)

[Homeless Nutter]

I say thank you when someone "blesses" me when I've sneezed.

I don't. As someone with allergies - I f-ing hate that on more than one level. When I'm in the middle of a long, violent, incapacitating and embarrassing cavalcade of sneezes - the last thing I want is some sanctimonious c*** bringing up religion...  It's an expression of a bodily function - no need for anyone to say anything, unless they're prepared to exclaim "Hallelujah!" when I yawn, or "Amen!" when I let out a loud, moist fart...

[Thumpalumpacus]

I say thank you when someone "blesses" me when I've sneezed.

I say "bless you" or "salud" when someone sneezes.

[Salacious B. Crumb]

I say thank you when someone "blesses" me when I've sneezed.

I say "bless you" or "salud" when someone sneezes.

I say, "Shut the fuck up!" cuzzz I'm an atheist!!

[Iroscato]

"Away with ye, leper!" Always fits better.

[Neo-Scholastic]

Stereotyping or generalizing people is always bad.

I disagree. If you have to qualify your every observation about cultural tendencies to account for all possible exceptions then many fruitful and interesting conversations would stop before they even start.

[brewer]

I say thank you when someone "blesses" me when I've sneezed.

If you haven't been "blessed" even when you don't sneeze your not getting out enough.

When someone sneezes I'll say "bless you (pause) said the atheist" just for the reaction. Sometimes I regret it.

[Pyrrho]

I say thank you when someone "blesses" me when I've sneezed.

Hell, I'll still say "bless you".

Some of you should learn "gesundheit."  It means "health" and it is wishing the person good health.  Which is what they need if they are sick.

See:

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/defini...ctCode=all

It is religion-neutral, fine for both theists and atheists to say.

[Pyrrho]

Stereotyping or generalizing people is always bad.  People are individuals and may choose to label themselves under certain banners, but that in no way gives anyone the right to assume what they believe or how they behave without getting to know them personally.

You might want to rethink that.  What you are saying is, when someone labels himself a theist, you would be wrong to "assume" that the person believes in a god.  Of course, it is not an assumption at that point.  It is just taking the person at his word.  If someone is a stupid moron who does not know how to properly label himself, that is a failing of his, not of the people who initially take him at his word.  I will grant you, however, that there are quite of few complete morons who label themselves inaccurately.  Of course, if they are that stupid, when they directly tell you, "I believe X," you would be equally wrong to suppose that you could count on that being true, since the person clearly has no clue what they are talking about.

[Catholic_Lady]

Stereotyping or generalizing people is always bad.  People are individuals and may choose to label themselves under certain banners, but that in no way gives anyone the right to assume what they believe or how they behave without getting to know them personally.

Agreed. Generalizing is always bad. Even when you're talking about cops, Catholics, Protestants, or Republicans. 
Interestingly enough, no one seems to complain about those generalizations.