Of all public-facing professions, bus drivers probably get told 'thank you' more than anyone else
Maybe doctors get more thanks per capita, but I would bet it’s not by much.
This is a cultural anglo thing. I have never once thanked a bus driver. I was very confused when that became a meme in Fortnite and so forth. Even if you left the bus via the front door (which you don't, here front door is go in, back door is go out) you'd say "bye" or "have a nice one" or whatever. Never "thanks".
So I'm gonna say very dependent on country/region/language.
Seems like still aligned on the general theme of "polite acknowledgement".
Yeah. I mean, you are interacting with a human being. It's not that you're rude, you're cordial and casual.
It's just that it's not like a "thank you" thing. I'm more likely to thank a waiter just because they brought me a drink and put it in front of me, so it gives you more of a cue to say thanks specifically. Leaving a place seems to suggest a polite goodbye type of interaction.
I often thank or salute the driver and hear others do it too. For context I'm spanish.
Can confirm. I've lived in the Netherlands, France and Germany for basically all my life and I don't recall ever actively saying thank you to a bus driver. I don't even remember when last I exchanged any words with one thanks to modern fare systems.
On the contrary I say thank you to cashiers at the supermarket or staff at the bakery several times per week.
I live in southern California and have never noticed a racial aspect to this, most people thank the driver. Either when boarding or just calling out ‘thank you!’ as they leave through the back.
Wait, who said anything about "race"?
Maybe it's just a misread, but it sure feels like some severe US-brain thing to see someone say "it's a cultural thing" and assume it's related to ethnicity in any way shape or form.
I mean, yes, I believe you that in Californian culture it's common to thank the bus driver. None of that contradicts my statement.
I know I don't (mechanic)
I always find it funny. I compare myself to a doctor just with a car.
But if a doctor misdiagnoses you it's "oh no problem, I know you'll figure it out"
But if I misdiagnose a car problem it's "we're going to file a lawsuit against you, you fucking scammer!"
It's crazy how much people hate mechanics lmao.
Doctors face lawsuits too. That’s why they gave malpractice insurance.
What about vice presidents? They practically insist on thank yous
I fantasize that someone selling ice-cream gets lots of thanks.
Just occurred to me that vampires probably can't ride the bus unless the driver invites them in.
I'm working with kids. I get a lot of thanks.
Do you work with younger kids? I have an in-law who teaches middle school and is generally pulling his hair out over lack of parental involvement. Kid-wranglers deserve all the thanks!
I work in primary school. Parents thank me when picking up their kids. Kids thank me in little things or in big things when we part ways