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About the "How are you?" question

California
over 6 years ago

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. 

Parents
  • over 6 years ago

    I think most of us understand that the answer or reaction expected to this question is context dependent.

    In a social situation nobody wants to know how you really are or cares.  It's just a way of acknowledging your presence and the usual answer that is expected is along the lines of "fine thank you and how are you?"

    In other situations such as being a patient in hospital or at a doctor's they actually want factual information.

    In some situations asking this can lead to violence or verbal abuse.

Reply
  • over 6 years ago

    I think most of us understand that the answer or reaction expected to this question is context dependent.

    In a social situation nobody wants to know how you really are or cares.  It's just a way of acknowledging your presence and the usual answer that is expected is along the lines of "fine thank you and how are you?"

    In other situations such as being a patient in hospital or at a doctor's they actually want factual information.

    In some situations asking this can lead to violence or verbal abuse.

Children
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