"how are you?"

[NumbItAll]

How do you respond to this meaningless question? I don't want to lie, but I also don't want to bombard the person with negativity when they are just trying to be polite. I usually stick to something completely neutral like "okay" or "still exist." The simplest of small talk can be so exhausting.

 

[Desperate_Soul]

It depends on the situation and the person, but I usually just say "I'm okay" and carry on with the main reason we're interacting in the first place (like a business phone call, or ordering food)... on special occasions though, if I feel like it, I'll stick in something about the weather or whatever is relevant at the moment, and they'll just nod and smile. and if I asked them how they are, they would reply similarly.

 

[Lara Francis]

It depends on the situation and the person, but I usually just say "I'm okay" and carry on with the main reason we're interacting in the first place (like a business phone call, or ordering food)... on special occasions though, if I feel like it, I'll stick in something about the weather or whatever is relevant at the moment, and they'll just nod and smile. and if I asked them how they are, they would reply similarly.

Can you imagine if you said how you really felt - they would not know what to say and run a mile !

 

[Lunar]

That very question "how are you?" when someone asks feels me with intense anxiety. I tend to just reply with "fine, you?" so many use it as a conversation starter as well, but it just makes me scream internally and I want to flee out of the conversation as quickly as possible.

 

[Lara Francis]

He was an understanding teacher then !
I guess its just what we say to people on greeting them , Are you OK?
I've stopped answering the question now and swiftly move on.

 

[sadak_the_wanderer]

"Great! How are you?" I smile. If anyone can tell otherwise, they aren't letting on. I do hate the question, though, because I naturally wonder, "Well, how am I?" Then I realize how I am, which is not good, and it kind of kills my mood.