Published on 12, July, 2020
What do you think about the "How are you?" question?
I, personally, do not like this question and I have never liked it.
I do not know what to answer.
Also, a lot of the time, I think it is expected just to give a positive answer, but I often feel awful to say "Fine!" simply to be polite if I am not fine.
It is a question asked to which no one who asks it wants to know the answer.
i usually say something like "I'll do", much to the consternation of neurotypicals. A work colleague many years ago used to give a shopping list of her ailments every time she was asked.
A book of etiquette I read once said that the answer to it is to reply the same. So "How do you do" should be answered with "How do you do?" which makes no sense at all and is merely exchanging breath.
Different cultures have different ways of greeting besides verbal. Westerners shake hands, give a 'high five' or a Glasgow kiss depending whether they like the person or not. Other cultures may bow, rub noses or stick their tongues out. My preference is just a simple nod and a "Hello". No insincerity in making someone else think I am in the least interested in their health.
Because in most cases I am not!
My stock answer is usually a mock-weary 'Getting there.' Actually, it most often isn't mock.