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"How Are You?" (I don't actually care though)

When we talk to people, we always seem to start our conversations with phrases such as, "how are you?" or "what's been going on with you lately?". But what is the purpose to asking these questions if the responses that we get back essentially don't mean anything to us? What are we getting from one-word answers like "good", "I'm fine", or just "yeah"? By nature, we ask these questions without actually caring about what the person answers back to us.
However, I actually believe that these questions are of crucial use to us. For example, when your parents force you to meet someone like their "high school friend" and all you have to do is be polite, these questions are quite handy. You're able to fill awkward time and be polite at the same time. While it might seem cold-hearted to think this way, in reality, everyone does it.
On the other hand, I'm sure there are some people who are asking these questions to get a genuine response. However due to what our society has taught us to be acceptable and proper, we ask and respond to what sounds appropriate and polite. For example when someone says "nice to meet you". I'm sure that not everyone always thinks that to be true but we say it anyways. This proper behavior has been taught to us through our society and now is just natural. Therefore, it becomes difficult to make these questions mean something other than a time-filler or something that we say when the conversation is awkward or dry.

Comments

  1. Julia StarrMarch 22, 2020 at 1:02 PM

    I like how you said that even if saying “it’s nice to meet you” may sound cold, but we all do it. It would be ridiculous for us to stop doing so, when we all do it ourselves.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sai RavulaMarch 22, 2020 at 2:27 PM

    I agree in that we are sort of conditioned to reply with a typical answer when questions with the usual polite expressions. It serves as a quick way to perhaps start a discussion, even when you answer in an unorthodox way.

    ReplyDelete

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