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Why “No Problem” Can Seem Rude: Phatic Expressions

Tom Scott · explainer · Watch on YouTube

Language & linguistics

What it is

Tom Scott explains phatic expressions such as hello, thank you and how are you, which carry social meaning rather than information, and why replies like no problem can seem rude to some people.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN uses it as the short, clear explainer when discussions about greetings and small talk come up.

  • 3 people recommended it
  • 2 different months
  • 1 strong recommendations
  • first 2021, last 2023

What HN commenters said

  1. “Tom Scott has an excellent video that addresses this very issue.”

    Explains phatic expressions like 'how are you' as social ritual

    gsk22, 2021-05 · Strong recommendation · in “Why Russians do not smile (2002)”

  2. “A YouTube video pulled from another comment in this thread that explains what I was trying to say much better”

    Explains phatic greetings better than the commenter could

    justusthane, 2021-05 · Recommendation · in “Why Russians do not smile (2002)”

  3. “Tom Scott did a great 3 min video[1] on this exact thing.”

    Short explainer on phatic expressions like 'how are you'

    ojkelly, 2023-01 · Recommendation · in “Ask HN: Should we be asking 'how did you sleep' vs. 'how are you'?”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: linguistics, small talk, greetings, politeness, tom scott

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