"How are you?" is merely a rhetorical question.

[everlastinggoo]

Has anyone noticed that when someone asks "How are you?", it seems to only be a rhetorical question that they don't expect or desire an answer to?  I've been noticing this a lot, particularly at work

Comments

[jaysons_lady]

I know what you mean. If I ask somebody how they are, it means I want to know.

but I did get used to, when I was a teenager, just replying "fine" whenever someone asked how I was. I knew they didn't really care. (I apologize for the horrible grammar in that sentence.)

[everlastinggoo]

Yeah I do know what you mean there. Whenever someone asks me, I usually respond with either "Good, and you?" or "Cold!" or "Hot!"...because you're right, they don't want a long drawn out answer. But still...damn people...at least LISTEN to my one word answer! haha

[street_show]

Very true-- How are you is a question very few people are interested in hearing the reply to. :(