Has "how are you" become a polite but meaningless greeting?
By pilbara
@pilbara (1436)
Australia
May 14, 2007 1:33am CST
If you ask someone "how are you" are you really interested in their answer or is it just a social greeting and you don't really want to know?
This morning I was walking around at work and a colleague approached, they said "how are you" as they passed, without stopping leaving me to say "fine" to their receeding back.
As a matter of fact I wasn't really fine, something had happened that had upset me, but I really couldn't see that they wanted to know that, nor was there any point in yelling that at their back. Then I got to thinking that this happens all too often, and, I have seen people get impatient with someone who will take this question as a genuine query instead of a quick greeting.
What do you think, when you ask someone how they are, is it just a greeting and you really don't want an answer, or are you really interested?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@misheleen73 (6037)
• United States
14 May 07
I think it has become more of a casual greeting now. I do listen to someone if they start to tell me something after I have asked, but to tell you the truth I am shocked. Not shocked because I don't want to hear, just shocked because I am awaiting the obligatory "fine" When someone asks me how I am, I like to switch it up a bit. Sometimes I say "just peachy" or "right about normal" or sometimes I even say "bien y tu?" even if the person doesn't speak Spanish. I like to mix it up and see the expressions on the people's faces that were expecting "fine"
1 person likes this
@tess1960 (2385)
• United States
14 May 07
I think you are right that it has become a polite social greeting. For me it depends on the person and the time of the day. I will ususally try to just say good morning or hello or good afternoon if I am busy as i really don't have time if the person answers the how are you honestly.
