Quote:
Originally Posted by Double
I couldn't decide which forum this thread belonged to best, it mostly centers around mental responses and relationships with others.
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I get this question all the time it seems, and I can never seem to get away from it. It's a friendly gesture (I guess), but sometimes I have to wonder if people really care, or are trying to strike up a helpless conversation. I can never decide how I should respond to this. Do I be honest and tell them I'm feeling like a "sorry loser", or do I fake it and say "I'm doing good", when really I'm just not in the mood to respond to something like that ever again!?
My dad's not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. He often repeats himself on a daily basis, and thus I get this question from him every single day, whether I like it or not. There have been times where I'll answer him with something, and he'll completely ignore it and start babbling on about something else. It almost seems like he's learned to use it as a greeting, when really a "good morning" or "good evening" would do much much better.
Then I'll go to church, and get the question from a fellow member. If I sound down in the dumps, they won't want to hang around me; but if I tell them something just to make the greeting go over well, I'm usually lying in my response and often my body language could answer it best. My dad will respond to them with an annoying "I'm hanging in there!" kinda thing which is just STUPID. He never says anything different, lmao 
I can't seem to find an answer to this question. My life sucks, if I ever do find happiness in it I'd be happy to respond with something a little more unique. What are some ways do deal with this? |
IMO, this phrase *is* used as a greeting. It's like a "ping" from someone, who wants to acknowledge your presence and start a conversation. It's not an invitation to dump all of your negativity on the asker. So, no, I don't think people who ask this question as a conversation opener necessarily want to, or are prepared to deal with an honest answer to this question. That is especially true if the honest answer is very negative, again in my opinion.
I think that your answer should be guided by your relationship with the asker in other words. If my husband or best friend asks me how I'm doing, I'll be honest. If some stranger asks me, I'll say something polite like "gosh, things are hectic right now, how are you?!"