• The Spectre@lemmy.mlM
    162·
    7 months ago

    I never understood why people just randomly ask “how are you?” if they don’t really care. By that point is just better not to talk.

    • kevincox@lemmy.ml
      1·
      7 months ago

      It’s a greeting. It is meaningless other than a polite gesture. Just like when people say “Good morning” they aren’t really wishing that person a good morning, just saying something friendly.

      Plus the response is naturally escalated based on how well you know the other person. The first time you walk into a shop it is “How are you?” “Good, you?” “Good thanks” But if you have been getting your morning coffee there every day for a year maybe you do actually share something a bit personal. Probably starting off with a positive “Great, I found $5 on the street this morning” and eventually becoming personal and maybe even saying something like “Not great actually, …”.

      So it is actually a nice way to transition into a more intimate conversation as you get to know someone.

      • Ferk@lemmy.ml
        3·
        7 months ago

        The thing is that we do have “Morning!”, “Hello”, “Hey”, “Yo!”, “Hi!”… and many other greetings that are not in the form of a question that actually leaves it open for the other person to respond with honesty and that is often also used as a conversation starter. If you really aren’t open to a conversation, use one of the shorter friendly greetings.

        If I say “how’s it going?” and they answer with something I don’t have time to hear… at most I would excuse myself and politelly say that I don’t have too much time to talk… but complaining about the other person actually answering truthfully makes no sense.

        Of course it’s just a comic, but still… I don’t think the one answering is in the wrong here.

  • brbposting@sh.itjust.works
    6·
    7 months ago

    “I acknowledge your presence and I do hope that you are doing well right now but as you already know I’m on my way somewhere so I will quickly leave yet it won’t be considered rude thanks to my indication of concern for your wellbeing”

    ->

    “‘sup!”

    Not a terrible shorthand all things considered

  • ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works
    2·
    7 months ago

    I used to do this to a few old coworkers that would always work the idle chitchat circuit around the office until they learned to just wave or ignore my cubicle area altogether.

    Worked great.

    • NightAuthor@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      7 months ago

      You can totally drop a “meh”, “could be better”, etc. they’re maybe a bit obligated to ask for more details… or just be one of those people that straight up drop your whole emotional load on em.