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by Penny The Wise on February 28th, 2007

Penny The Wise

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When you ask how someone is doing, do you usually say it in a way that is rhetorrical, as if to say hello, or do you actually ask to ask the question?

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Answers. 9 helpful answers below.

  • by Gideon on March 1st, 2007

    Gideon

    I always try to say what I mean and mean what I say. If I'm addressing a cashier, server or train passenger, I'm asking the question genuinely. It may be rooted in etiquette -- I don't necessarily need to know about your mortgage woes or fungus toe -- but I enjoy the polite banter of it.

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  • by Penny The Wise on March 1st, 2007

    Penny The Wise

    I always get caught off guard by it, because I always end up answering, and looking like a retard... I always ask as a question, if I didn't want to know, I wouldn't ask. Its actually sortof annoying that people say it and don't mean it, it throws alot of people off, as far as my friends and family goes. Maybe it was just the way I was raised.

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  • by KitchenRaider on February 28th, 2007

    KitchenRaider

    I say it in a hello kind of way, but I still expect an answer.
    But if someone's in a hospital, or injured in some way, I say it as a question.

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  • by Adielynn on March 5th, 2007

    Adielynn

    I'm not the one normally asking it, i'm replying to it so most likely i'm asking it just because it's imprinted in my brain.

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  • by TheKnife V2.1 - Grandiose and Obnoxious on March 5th, 2007

    TheKnife V2.1 - Grandiose and Obnoxious

    If I ask someone how they are or how they are doing, I am expecting them to respond with some sort of information about something good or bad that is going on or has recently happened in their life, and to have at least a small conversation. Since I am not a naturally "chatty" person and small-talk does bug me most days, I don't ask the question often, and hardly ever to strangers, but when I do ask it it is a genuine question. I wonder if the people who do say it rhetorically, in the same way they would say "hi", would actually admit they were doing that though... there are certainly plenty of them about... my mum is terrible at it, whenever she asks me how I am I usually only manage to respond for 5 seconds before she interrupts me - she isn't really interested in "how I am", it is just something she says to start the conversation.

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  • by unknown on March 5th, 2007

    unknown

    It's more of a, "Hey, how's it going." I usually get a, "Hey" or a, "Fine, and you?" response. If They say, "Fine, and you?" I say, "fine." If I'm really interested to know how they are doing I'll say, "Hey, how is your family?" or "How have you been?" something more in depth or personal.

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  • by Tinkabelle on March 5th, 2007

    Tinkabelle

    I say it like anyone would say "hey". Some people actually tell me how they're doing while others just respond with a "hello" right back to me.

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  • by Nerdykins on March 5th, 2007

    Nerdykins

    I ask to ask, not as a hello.

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  • by teri.kimmes on April 19th, 2012

    teri.kimmes

    I wan t to know? How are you doing physically?

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