I have a pet peeve. It may be intensified by my age but I feel the need to share it with you.
Say I’m at a nice restaurant. The tableware has been set, and I have a dirty fork. Like old egg yolk hangs between the tines.
I ask the waiter, “May I have a clean fork?”
Waiter says, “No problem.”
Or, I’m at the grocery store and the clerk gives me the wrong change for my purchases. I tell him he shorted me 20 cents.
Clerk responds, “No problem” as he gives me the change I’m due.
“No problem” makes it sound like the individual is doing me a favor by doing what he or she should have done from the start.
What’s wrong with, “My apologies” or “Thank you for pointing that out.”
I hope common courtesy isn’t getting old with me.