Date:  Fri, 24 Oct 1997 02:22:37 EDT
From:  Julia Cochran <COCPROFS[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]UGA.CC.UGA.EDU>
Subject: Re: hello/good-bye

On Thu, 23 Oct 1997 22:34:04 EDT RonButters said:

>No, "Good-bye" does not "really mean" "God be with you" (whatever its
>history). It "really means" 'this conversation is over' or 'I am leaving'.
>"Bless you," on the other hand, has no meaning at all (other than 'I am being
>conventionally polite by uttering this prayer formula'). The difference is
>that "Good-bye" serves a conversational function, while "Bless you" has no
>primary function whatever.

No function other than to provide an excuse to make contact with a fellow
human. Those who say "bless you" when you sneeze likely have some interest in
making contact with you, or with other people in general. Those who do
not, likely have no such interest.