LJ Idol Topic 1: Empty Gestures

[brand0new0day]

Hi, how are you

Comments

[brand0new0day]

Probably hoping you wouldn't spew chunks on her! It was nice of her to add the wish for better health. :)

[jenandbronze]

Luckily that clerk saw your body language of the tell-tale signs of, "I'm sick" and made sure you were back home where you shoudlb eto recuperate! I don't think this happens often, as I am sure many just go to the store and "hide" the fact they are not feeling well LOL!

[banyangirl1832]

I love this. It's so true and it's so sad.

[brand0new0day]

Isn't it, though? It's my least favorite bit of societal conditioning.

[scapegoat]

Despite the fact that I mean it and want a real answer when I ask how someone is, I still feed people with the generic response as well. It's disappointing. :(

[brand0new0day]

I usually mean it when I initiate asking, but if someone asks me first I just spit it out like I've been trained to do it or something.

[brand0new0day]

Yes, exactly. I don't even know how many times I was asked "How are you" during the worst parts of my life. Imagine how the innocent and not really interested asker would have felt if I'd said what I actually felt? "I feel like shit because I just had a miscarriage last week," or, "Terrible - my favorite grandparent is dying a slow, suffering death."

I'm not even sure the question is polite, given how rarely the asker actually cares. But, *shrugs* maybe I'm just a little bit bitter after spending most of my adult working life in customer service.

[drippedonpaper]

I agree with your entry and your comment, brandnewday.

I try to genuinely care when I ask.

I do often annoy people by being honest, "How am I? Tired, out of energy" etc. Often they looked annoyed that I didn't just say, "Fine"

Good entry!

[jenandbronze]

in a way it does with me, I have a bad back and it bothers me way more in the winter months, same with my shoulder as well. My eyes and ears are horrible, some days are better than others, but really?

[brand0new0day]

That does sound like an advantage! From what I've noticed, though, in my family nobody asks how you are in quite the same way a stranger does. Asking how you are in my family pretty much signifies that something is wrong and they want to know about it.