4 people want people to stop saying 'bless you' after they hear a sneeze.

It's far more interrupting than the sneeze. The original gesture was meant to keep evil spirits from entering back into the body (after they were expelled by the sneeze). We know that not to be true now.

I don't know how many times I've been in a class, or a meeting or even in a studio and have the lecture, lesson, train of thought, conversation, or recording interrupted by someone having to place their stamp on someone else's sneeze. It's sooo annoying and disruptive. (I'm in the library now and I just heard someone call out across the room "bless you" to someone who sneezed! Ugh!)

And why not a bless you for a cough, a burp, a snart, a twitch, a bone crack, an itch, a trip, a bump, a stutter, a slobber, a wink, a whistle...???

I also find it very domineering and assuming to expect that a person wants to be blessed, or be blessed by the person who is giving the blessing. (I mean, by what authority are you blessing me anyway?!) I was in a church once and during a prayer someone sneezed...and the prayer was interrupted by a couple people saying bless you! I mean, come-on!! Wasn't that what we were in the process of doing? I mean, did it become a more fervent prayer or a double-blessing because of the additional call to the Lord during our trying time of sneezing??)

Why not at least live by the mantra that Seinfeld created by saying "You're so good looking" after a person sneezes. At least that's something that a person might want to hear from a stranger, or associate, or loved one.

So, please. I beg. We all beg. Stop blessing blessing me after I sneeze. Just ignore it. Don't draw attention to me and embarrass me anymore. Let me...let us...sneeze in peace!

Thank you.