How are you doing today?

Vicsun · Post by **Vicsun** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:29 am

Hey, how are you doing? Everything going okay?

Bluestorm · Post by **Bluestorm** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:50 am

good thanks

and yourself, all is well i hope

all i can say is will i make it to 200 posts.....

Tricky · Post by **Tricky** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 7:14 am

I kinda need to take a crap. But that might change in five minutes or so.

SYMIWYG.

Dottie · Post by **Dottie** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 4:35 pm

Answering that question have never been easy for me. I don't want to answer with nonsense, but at the same time people don't seem to expect an honest answer, and even if they did it's very difficult for me to verbalise my current state.

Right now I'm in a place where many people use "how do you do?" as a salute, and that also gives me troubles, just because I'm mentally incapable to react to the idiomatic meaning of the phrase.

so...

---

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:13 pm

Well, knowing Vicsun, he's probably being his usual facetious self...

So, even if I could think of a way to answer that question, there'd be no point in actually providing a serious response.

@Dottie,
yeah... I know what you mean. People on this side of the pond ask that as a matter of course, and it is so totally insincere... You go into a grocery store, and one of the first things they ask is: "How are you today?"
Sometimes I play with them and starting reciting an imaginary list of woes, just to see how long it takes before they think of something that will shut me up.
:devil: *snicker*

Claudius · Post by **Claudius** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:51 pm

Dottie: I felt the same way when I went to highschool and the popular thing to say was "Whats up?"

Now I am used to it. It means the same thing as hello but is more open ended in that there is no formulaic hello back ritualistic answer. "hello" by the way is an option in responding to "how are you?"...

So I know it is disconcerting but its actually fine once you learn to relax at such a social interchange..

Maharlika · Post by **Maharlika** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:11 pm

And here I thought that it was just a rhetorical question. (Especially when it's Vicsun doing the asking.)

All's well for me. Couldn't say the same thing about my countrymen greatly affected by the recent killer typhoon...

How are you, mate? Long time no see.

@DW: Purely evil. :laugh:

That was that sooo you.

@Doticus: My sentiments too.

But then I just had to answer Vicsun's rhetorical question. :mischief:

VonDondu · Post by **VonDondu** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:57 pm

I'm fine, thank you. How are you?

Dottie wrote:Answering that question have never been easy for me. I don't want to answer with nonsense, but at the same time people don't seem to expect an honest answer, and even if they did it's very difficult for me to verbalise my current state.

Right now I'm in a place where many people use "how do you do?" as a salute, and that also gives me troubles, just because I'm mentally incapable to react to the idiomatic meaning of the phrase.

so...

---

You worry way too much. If you normally reveal how uncomfortable you feel when someone asks, "How are you?" then I wonder why they keep asking you that. Do they enjoy tormenting you?

I look at it this way. When people ask that question, they're not really asking for a report on the current status of your life. They are mainly just giving you a greeting and making a simple inquiry along the lines of, "Can you muster a smile and say hello to me?" If you can do that much, then according to tradition, you're "fine". If your life is truly in shambles, the polite thing to do is to frown and reply, "Things could be better, but it's good to see you. How are you?" Otherwise, the polite thing to do is to make them feel as if you are glad to see them and let them know you are "fine" (see above). A smile and a short "I'm fine, thank you," is all it takes.

On the other hand, I haven't forgotten that C Elegans has explained that Swedes do not appreciate "insincere" politeness, so maybe your problem is simply that you are Swedish.

Dottie · Post by **Dottie** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:45 pm

VonDondu wrote:You worry way too much. If you normally reveal how uncomfortable you feel when someone asks, "How are you?" then I wonder why they keep asking you that. Do they enjoy tormenting you?

I'm not sure. It might be pure malice, at least from some people caughCEcaugh but in a lot of cases I think it's merely that they are very used to ask that question. and since I have quite a few annoying die-hard habits of my own I'm not in a position to make a lot of complaints.

More@VonDondu&Claudius: I know they just being polite, and I know that the meaning of the phrase isn't exactly what can be deducted from the words it contain, It's just that even if I know this it still feels like I should give a complete answer, and I can't deal properly with my ambivalent reactions.

On the other hand, I haven't forgotten that C Elegans has explained that Swedes do not appreciate "insincere" politeness, so maybe your problem is simply that you are Swedish.

I believe some people are actually sincere, so it's more likely that I do not appreciate politeness, period.

dragon wench wrote: Sometimes I play with them and starting reciting an imaginary list of woes, just to see how long it takes before they think of something that will shut me up.
:devil: *snicker*

It's funny, but I'm afraid I could never do that. They give the polite response, and it's hard for some poor chap at the supermarket to know that I don't appreciate it.

Also, I'm afraid of conflicts.

Except on the Internet naturally.

Maharlika wrote:And here I thought that it was just a rhetorical question. (Especially when it's Vicsun doing the asking.)

I assumed he was just stirring up trouble, but I thought I could ignore that and use the thread for my own attention seeking purposes.

VonDondu · Post by **VonDondu** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:39 am

Dottie wrote:I assumed he was just stirring up trouble, but I thought I could ignore that and use the thread for my own attention seeking purposes.

Why wait for a message thread like the one Vicsun started? You could seek attention here any time you want.

(Which is probably all he was doing, you know.)

Dottie · Post by **Dottie** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:46 am

I'm being subtle.

VonDondu · Post by **VonDondu** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 9:53 am

As subtle as a brick through a window, maybe.

Tower_Master · Post by **Tower_Master** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 5:31 pm

VonDondu wrote:As subtle as a brick through a window, maybe.

I'm sure the glass appreciates her forthrightness

.

Yesterday, I was wonderful, and today's a dandy! How kind of you to ask, Vic.

Dottie · Post by **Dottie** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:22 pm

VonDondu wrote:As subtle as a brick through a window, maybe.

Do you mean in general? Or just this particular moment?

VonDondu · Post by **VonDondu** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 9:27 am

I meant yesterday at 09:46 AM Central Standard Time. Which is not to say that your subtlety is not heavy-handed in general.

But did you notice that you told us how you "are"?

"How are you today?"

"I'm being subtle."

"As subtle as a brick through a window, maybe."

"Do you mean in general? Or just this particular moment?"

"I'm not saying."

(Your turn.)

You see? That's how you make conversation without sweating over it.

Eerhardt · Post by **Eerhardt** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 12:34 pm

I've been better but still, thanks for asking

I'm sorry to report I can't SLURR quite as much as I used to

, due to both age creeping up on me and work getting the better of me.

Still, I'll be around - no worries (copyright@Beldin and Australia))

BlueSky · Post by **BlueSky** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 2:09 pm

Feeling a little blue due to real life events.

...but have put on a pot of Chocolate Truffle java and plan on rolling down the windows and cranking up the music on the way home..should be feeling better by tonight.
..added bonus, no work for the weekend...

Dottie · Post by **Dottie** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:32 pm

VonDondu wrote:But did you notice that you told us how you "are"?

I interpret that as "being subtle" is a common and polite way to answer how I am. Next time I'm at the supermarket I will give it a try.

You see? That's how you make conversation without sweating over it.

Ah, but you have no idea about how much agony and how many rewrites there where behind each of my posts.

Lady Dragonfly · Post by **Lady Dragonfly** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:35 pm

Vicsun wrote:Hey, how are you doing? Everything going okay?

I am doing just peachy, thanks. Yourself?

Just came back home from a short trip to New York and Washington, DC. Everything is fine over there too, except for the somewhat weedy White House lawn.

Apparently, the poor dears can't afford Ortho Weed-B-Gon. Which is quite understandable, considering all those costly endeavors - you know, the war and such.

snnoopypw · Post by **snnoopypw** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 11:30 am

hi everyone!

7:29pm here.
Studying mathematical analysis for the exam (T minus 10 days). wish me luck.
everything else OK.
AC running (30 degrees out, yuck). keeping it cool@22 inside.