Readers respond to Sangeeta Pillai’s objection to Britons’ ‘pointless stream of politeness’

I do not agree with Sangeeta Pillai (The hill I will die on: Britons love saying thank you – I think we should ban the phrase, 7 February). I do not like sarcastic or passive aggressive “thank yous”, but what is wrong with thanking people in the service industry for the service they give? I do not believe that it is overworked or meaningless. I love to thank baristas, shop assistants, bus drivers or other people because they more often than not provide a very good service. They work hard and are not paid a lot of money. They are often people doing jobs that are difficult for one reason or another.

Why not be kind and appreciative? Isn’t there enough hardship and negativity in these febrile times?
Deirdre Breen
Dublin, Ireland