How are you? Response...

I think it’s bad form to list all our ailments when greeted with a “Hello, how are you?”
Nothing worse than people going on about their physical health when you are just mannerly passing the time of day.

I’m allergic to hypochondriacs, as was my mother, who scooted as soon as someone started telling her how they really felt.

Way back in the mists of time when I was working at a section of the Bodleian, the best greeting was from a certain fellow Lancastrian who used to say "Eyyup!" A grin from me was all he expected and all he got.

There's beauty in simplicity.

40+ years ago, our hospital gave every patient a 2pm appointment for the ante-natal clinic that ran till 4:30.
After waiting for a very long time yet again one day I was asked, "How are you?"
To which I replied, "Do you really want to know? I'll start at the top and work down... eczema flare up on my face, heart burn, piles, varicose veins, swollen ankles..."
"Oh we can't do anything about that."
No, so can we please do my check-up and let me go home... 😑

I loved that GrannyGravy. I hope I can think of something witty to say when I’m on my last legs. My sister volunteers in a hospice and one old lady used to say oh God, am I still here? when her curtains were pulled in the morning.

The last conversation my darling dad had was when the nurse in the hospice asked him how are you his reply was bloody marvellous

He died a few hours later, he always had a gallows sense of humour 💙

Oreo

watermeadow

I dislike the reply ‘Good’ as I wasn’t asking about their behaviour.
I was brought up to reply, ‘Very well, thank you’. It’s a greeting, not a request for a health bulletin.

Just that, it’s a greeting not a request to hear all your health problems.😁

Definitely this.

I'm apt to reply "OK thanks, and you?" even if I'm not.

I usually either initiate "How are you?" or reply and ask how someone is in return.

It used to bother me if people didn't ask me how I was, after I had asked them but it happened so often that I don't even notice anymore.

My DD has a friend who always replies "Not too shabby".

In my job as a hygienist, I asked every patient, how are you today ? The younger ones would say I’m fine/good thank you . The older ones would say , I’ve been better and then give me a long list of ailments and problems. I had been there for 16 years and knew most of my patients quite well and I would listen and make sympathetic noises as some of the older ones were quite lonely.

One of my aunties, when asked, always replied “not so bad”, then proceeded to tell us all her ailments. My reply is always “well, thank you, and you?” People don’t really want to know every detail, unless it’s close family/friend. ‘How’s it going’ is more of a greeting. Interesting comments.

watermeadow

I dislike the reply ‘Good’ as I wasn’t asking about their behaviour.
I was brought up to reply, ‘Very well, thank you’. It’s a greeting, not a request for a health bulletin.

Just that, it’s a greeting not a request to hear all your health problems.😁

Mollygo

I like that Aveline.
My Dad used to respond, Alive and kicking! Would probably be taken the wrong way today.

My Dad used to say ‘Still alive’ 😁

I struggle every day.

Doodledog

GPs now seem to say 'How are you?' when you go into the surgery. I wonder how many of us smile bravely and tell them we are fine?

True-frequently followed by “What would you like me to do for the pain?”
Am I alone in hoping they’d have the knowledge to make suggestions.

Doodledog my GP once greeted me with 'Hello, are you alright?'
We both began to laugh and she said, 'You wouldn't be here if you were!'.

GPs now seem to say 'How are you?' when you go into the surgery. I wonder how many of us smile bravely and tell them we are fine?

I was also taught to say, ‘I’m fine, thank you’ by my image conscious mother.

In her later years she started saying, ‘Not so badly’ often adding, ‘for an old’un.’ - sometimes in a weird country accent.

Goodness knows where that came from. 😂

I love some of these! I usually say I’m fine, unless it’s close friend or family. DS usually says “upright and breathing”.

I always say I am fine, as at least one part of me is!!

I often say “it’s too early to tell”.

I reply 'I think I'm well. Whoever knows?!'. Is usually amusingly received which is what I aim for.

Depends on the age of who is enquiring.
My reply to young ones is (sorry I know some don’t approve)
‘I’m good thanks’, or if an older person ‘I’m well thanks’.
Always cheerfully and with a smile, as in my opinion, nobody likes a miserable old sod.

Since I turned 80 a few years ago, my response now is 'I'm still standing'. And sometimes I sing it, - the Elton John song..

I do consider it as a real request and do not say fine if I am not nor would I ask it of someone who has been recently bereaved or is depressed otherwise words have no meaning. My DH replies “Moderate” or “ As well as can be expected at my age.”

Correct watermelon.

I dislike the reply ‘Good’ as I wasn’t asking about their behaviour.
I was brought up to reply, ‘Very well, thank you’. It’s a greeting, not a request for a health bulletin.