History Main / DoesNotKnowHowToSayThanks

* Squidward from SpongebobSquarepants

* From TheKingsSpeech'': (paraphrased)

* In TheBigBangTheory, Sheldon, when he [[spoiler: recieves LeonardNimoy's napkin from Penny as a Christmas present.]]

* Ishida Mitsunari from ''SengokuBasara'', due to mental instability, sullenness, extremely messed-up life and a complete lack of social graces. The Saica blue path, in which the Saica mercenaries work for him, exemplifies this: Mitsunari spends the entire campaign threatening Magoichi with horrible horrible death should she even think of betraying him. It turns out that Mitsunari values the Saica as employees, but has no real idea how to do that whole "positive reinforcement" thing and simply defaults to death treats and generally acting jealous. When Magoichi notes that one of his comments is practically a compliment, Mitsunari gets annoyed.

* Ishida Mitsunari from ''SengokuBasara'', due to mental instability, sullenness, extremely messed-up life and a complete lack of social graces. The Saica blue path, in which the Saica mercenaries work for him, takes this to a head: Mitsunari spends the entire campaign threatening Magoichi with horrible horrible death should she betray him. It eventually comes to head that Mitsunari values the Saica as employees, but has no real idea how to do that whole "positive reinforcement" thing and simply defaults to threatening to kill them all for potential disobedience. When Magoichi notes that one of his comments is practically a compliment, Mitsunari gets annoyed.

* In TheBigBangTheory, Sheldon, when he [[spoilers: recieves LeonardNimoy's napkin from Penny as a Christmas present.]]

* In TheBigBangTheory, Sheldon, when he[[spoilers: recieves LeonardNimoy's napkin from Penny as a Christmas present.]]

* From The King's Speech'': (paraphrased)

* [[PhoenixWrightAceAttorney Miles Edgeworth]] has this problem, at least in the first game. By speaking out of turn and getting herself arrested for contempt of court, Maya Fey keeps the trial going when otherwise Miles would have been found guilty of murder. During the recess, Miles hems and haws on the subject before chickening out, telling Phoenix to remind Maya to mind her manners in the courtroom. (Of course, he also paid her bail himself, so he's not all bad...)

* Jack from ''MassEffect2'' has a lot of trouble coming up with a simple thanks for Shepard after her Loyalty Mission, because basically, Shepard is the first person in her life who did something good for her that she didn't have to extort by force. She does get better at it later, though.

* In FinalFantasyTacticsA2, one mission to unlock the Dragoon job for your clan's Bangaa units involves protecting a Dragoon who's getting flack for it from some bullies named Kyrra. After your clan defeats the bullies, he offers to teach your Bangaa units how to be Dragoons as his way of saying thanks.

* Likewise, the golem Shale from ''DragonAge'' DLC, who spent most of her life (as far as she remembers) as a slave, with the Warden being the first person to actually help her selflessly.

* [[SuzumiyaHaruhi Haruhi]] doesn't know how to apologize or thank anyone. However, at one point, Kyon tells her that her the one time he saw her in a ponytail it was "so cute it was criminal," and from then on whenever she ''really'' screws up, she puts her hair in a ponytail in the next scene, since its the only way she can apologize.

See also: PoisonousFriend and RidMeOfThisPriest for other failed attempts at pleasing someone. See also EntitledBastard for someone who rudely decides not to thank anyone. When it's a person suffering lack of gratitude, it's AllOfTheOtherReindeer.

A character who doesn't know how to show their appreciation for something. Perhaps they were RaisedByWolves, or maybe their lives were [[BrokenBird so]] [[BreakTheCutie messed]] [[TheWoobie up]] that they simply don't know how thank someone because they never before experienced kindness or helpfulness from other people. Characters like this may give {{Disproportionate Reward}}s of some sort. Alternatively, they may do something they think would be a appropriate way to show their gratitude, only to shock or anger the person they were trying to thank instead.

* [[StarTrek Mr. Spock.]]

* [[{{Watchmen}} Rorschach]] seems to have this trouble for the longest time.
* [[TheMillenniumTrilogy Lisbeth Salander]] has this problem. Understandable, as she has massive trust issues and [[WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove doesn't know how to be friends]].

* Jack from ''MassEffect2'' has a lot of trouble coming up with a simple thanks for Shepard after her Loyalty Mission, because basically, Shepard is the first person in her life who did something good for her that she didn't have to extort by force. She does get better at it later, though.
* Likewise, the golem Shale from ''DragonAge'' DLC, who spent most of her life (as far as she remembers) as a slave, with the Warden being the first person to actually help her selflessly.

* [[BlackLagoon Gretel]] does this to Rock when she tries to express her gratitude for being the first person who was nice to her and [[HeWillNotCrySoICryForHim shedding tears for her]], something that had been completely alien to her until then... by dropping her panties and sexually proposing to him. Rock is shocked and horrified and immediately leaves the room to go upstairs, where he proceeds to [[PrecisionFStrike curse]] the men who caused her and her brother Hansel to become like this. Also a example of EvilCannotComprehendGood [[TearJerker played for drama]].