You see, “how are you?” Isn’t a genuine quotation, it’s just a way of saying “hello” and feigning interest in someone’s well-being. In all actual fact, nobody gives a shit.
You don’t have to. It’s socially accepted and preferred if you do, but I have, and have had done to me, simply ignoring the question and moving the conversation forward to the point.
I live in Canada, we follow a lot of the same here, I try to be more genuine than the average and give a nonspecific but truthful response. Anything from “I’m having a day”, to “it could be worse”, or “not the worst” kind of deal. Basically setting a low bar for how I’m doing and saying I’m somewhere above that.
You don’t have to reply with “fine”, but it’s one of the fastest ways to end the greeting part of the conversation and move on to more important topics.
You see, “how are you?” Isn’t a genuine quotation, it’s just a way of saying “hello” and feigning interest in someone’s well-being. In all actual fact, nobody gives a shit.
Just say “fine” and move on.
I say “doing alright, how about you”l and that usually covers it
So you have to answer it? To what sort of languical constructs are you expected to answer?
You don’t have to. It’s socially accepted and preferred if you do, but I have, and have had done to me, simply ignoring the question and moving the conversation forward to the point.
I live in Canada, we follow a lot of the same here, I try to be more genuine than the average and give a nonspecific but truthful response. Anything from “I’m having a day”, to “it could be worse”, or “not the worst” kind of deal. Basically setting a low bar for how I’m doing and saying I’m somewhere above that.
You don’t have to reply with “fine”, but it’s one of the fastest ways to end the greeting part of the conversation and move on to more important topics.