G26ster wrote:Abraham wrote:WildBill,
A plain old fashioned "Your Welcome" works for me.
"Your Welcome" is a simple exercise of social deportment that doesn't impute "Pleasure", but satisfies an exchange of niceties.
Doing some form of work for others is just that: Work, not pleasure. The person one does the work/service for doesn't for one moment think the worker found his effort a pleasure, unless maybe he's a masochist...
However, if I do some form of work for myself, such as mowing my yard, once back in the house, I look in the mirror and loudly proclaim: "My Pleasure" with a simultaneous, energetic shake of the head up and down and then I jump into the shower!
I think it's "You're welcome"
In any case, as you say, it's just a nicety and a very vague one at that. What am I welcome to do? Come back, visit your home, marry your daughter? No real definition here. Just a nicety with nothing specific implied. Same with "My pleasure." Just a nicety with no
specific meaning. My pleasure to serve you, inform you, assist you, get my palm greased by you? Doesn't matter as it's nothing specific, just a "nicety" with the same vagueness as "You're welcome." MHO
From the same source, with the same meaning: "polite response to thanks."
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/defin ... re-welcome" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/defin ... y-pleasure" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I was taught that in informal situations the correct response to "Thank You" was a polite smile and a short nod of the head, or if wearing one, a tip of the hat from the front of the brim. Informal situation, but with thanks presented from a senior or an older person, would include the former with the addition of "Ma'am" or "Sir" which ever the case maybe.
Formal situations are fraught with peril for those who haven't read Emily Post or been tutored by my mothers hand. As illustrated by the previous posts, guessing wrong can create ill will in a moment.
"You're Welcome", while banal, is the appropriate response to thanks in a formal situation to someone higher in the perceived pecking order, as in server to customer.
"My Pleasure" is for formal use between social equals when a service of some magnitude has been rendered, such as hosting a cocktail hour for a political candidate, a bridal/baby shower or some other large event.
"Don't Mention It" "Think Nothing Of It" are used formally only and from a senior to a junior, and only when a major service has been rendered: a recommendation which led to a substantial change in position/employment, a grant of land or funds. The intent of the terms was to alleviate the sense of obligation from the act(the polar opposite of what a Don Corleone would mean using the terms), a remnant of noblesse oblige. Although today such usage could be viewed as condescending by the untutored.
"No Problem" "Anytime" are never appropriate in a formal situation. Their use by friends or social equals in informal situations may be acceptable, I suppose. Though one term denigrates the act that incited the thanks and the other establishes a continuing obligation of service. I, personally, would never use either term.
p.s.
Noblesse Oblige. This term has developed a negative connotation in the last 20 years or so as more folks become unaware of its meaning:
The inferred responsibility of privileged people to act with generosity and nobility toward those less privileged. 
