[4pkjai]

When people give me a hello back I raise them a “how are you?”

[macintux]

It took me a depressingly long time to figure out that when people (offline) ask me how I am, they don’t expect, or want, an answer.

[int_19h]

The whole "How are you?" ritual is quite possibly the most nonsensical thing about the Anglo cultures. Like, I get that the point is to feign polite interest in the other person. But then by asking this question with the expectation of the same formulaic reply "I'm fine!" (and confusion if the response is something else) - even if the other speaker is emphatically not fine - it literally does the opposite, making it clear that the way they actually feel doesn't matter.

[IshKebab]

Fine thanks, how are you?

[askew]

askew is typing…