Ask Your Question today
When people ask how are you. Specially if it's people you're talking to just for specific purposes, not even a friend. I know it's just being polite but it's make me mad that I have to reply with a lame "great and you?" when half the time it's not true. I'd just rather skip the how are you part and get straight to the point of the conversation. What do you think?
| I like it | 2 | |
| It's just politeness | 31 | |
| I don't mind | 24 | |
| I find it stupid too | 32 | |
| I hate it | 8 |
Clerk: Hello, how are you?
Me: I am not unwell, thank you.
Clerk: Alright, you have a good/nice one.
Me: Yes I do.
No, i think you misunderstand.
Depending on how you look at it, it's not just 'being polite.' People develope these 'formalities' and there's no REAL meaning behind their words. So why do they say it? Just to be polite? No. Out of habit? Yes. People are conditioned to think it's the 'polite' thing to do because everybody else does it. When you say it just because everybody else says it and you don't really MEAN whatever you say then it loses the genuine aspect. It becomes fake. Counterfeit. False. Insincere. Illegitimate. Etcetera.
THAT is what people are saying here when they say they don't like it.
Well I say bless you? Is that wrong to do. I don't think your soul is leaving your body either. I usually say "No mam, sir or no thank you". Some people get highly offended When you say bless you. Some people get offended when you don't. So I always say bless you. If I forget I am usually yelled at. How about shaking someones hands? People generally will either bow or shake your hand. Are you saying I have been doing everything wrong my whole life?
I often answer the question, but that's me. If I don't want to engage, I reply with a "fine, thanks" and rarely feel the need to recipricate the question. I find most people don't expect it and merely say it out of habit. The fact that I often reply with real thoughts throws people off, but I can usually make them smile.
This happens most frequently at the coffee shop or other places of business. Usually I comment on my need for food, caffeine, or chocolate. But sometimes I give them a weather update.
My Manager and I had a talk about that where he decided to stop asking the guards that. When he calls them/they call him, he would routinely ask "How are you", as a social courtesy, and he'd end up listening to them bitch about their lives our spouses or kids. Some people legitimately don't understand that it's a social grace, no more than that.
Personally, I think it's a stupid social grace. I wish it would go away.
I saw a comedian who said he likes to answer that question with the truth, purely because he knows the people asking don't expect a real answer, and it'll weird them out when he says, "Oh god I'm so fucking depressed my life is going nowhere I can't live with this kill me kill me now!" or similar. He ranted better but this was like...eight years ago, I can't remember what he said exactly.
Nick Sun. Aussie, mostly unheard of, cos he's too lazy to do anything with his outrageous talent :( Stupid bastard.
His standard act was depressive arsehole. He'd tell the audience to just leave now, he fucking hates us and doesn't want us there, he'd rather perform to an empty room. When an audience sang him happy birthday once, and gave him a cake, he told us we might as well just throw up on him.
Though his finest/lowest moment was his Seinfeld show. I'm so glad I didn't see this one, I would have been so pissed off that my money was wasted (though he'd often let people in without paying because he didn't give a shit...quite the business man, Mr Sun was). The entire one hour show was, he'd get the Seinfeld theme playing in the background, and he'd roll around on the stage squealing like a pig until everyone eventually walked out. Funny to hear about...but I'm surprised no one punched him :/
Because you know no one cares and if you really told them how you were they'd ignore what you said and not care and they are just jerks.
whats the conversation again i forgot. another thing are you talking about on here or in person how are you.
What about the dreaded double how are you?
How are you? How are you? I asked you first, you didn't answer me.
*blows his undies up**
I hate that too. Same thing when people call into a radio station and they always start with "Hi, how are you?" Makes me mad every time lol.
I think it should be said "how are you doing" because "how are you" sounds like "how are yo doing that?"
Would you rather people be rude to you? I have met many people who are rude. I would prefer the social courtesy. Like please, thank you, bless you, and You are welcome.