Just because it's quick and easier not to explain problems or depression, illness, etc.?
2006-10-17 08:56:43 · 33 answers · asked by Unknown 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
many times theyre just being polite...i usually say OK not fine
2006-10-17 08:58:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because it is the expected automatic response. Unless the asker is your mother, your therapist, or your best friend they probably don't really expect another answer. If you do give another answer - for the sake of honesty or just because - then keep it brief. For instance: "I'm a little under the weather today.", "I'm having an off day, how about you?", "Work's been pretty dreadful lately, but I'm hanging in there." , "My spouse has been very ill, but we're getting through it." If you choose to really go in-depth about your problems, folks generally aren't sure how to respond to you. If there is an immediate crisis in your life, you might adjust your 'automatic response' for awhile, but again keep it brief and resist the urge to unload unless the asker is someone fairly close to you. For instance, 'My mother passed away yesterday, so I'm somewhat distracted. Could we reschedule the meeting for next week? Thanks for your understanding." or "I've just received some unsettling news and I'm pretty distracted by that right now. How are things going for you?" Now, if the asker then pursues it further, you are free to share as you are inclined - you still may not want to go into too much detail though, especially with an acquaintance or someone you just met.
2006-10-17 09:16:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I am not one who is a "I feel Wonderful" person
so if I say fine it doesn't mean I feel bad it's like saying good .... if I felt bad I'd say ok.....I really wonder about people who say they are wonderful or great every time asked that is a sign to me. I have a problem with depression and the last thing I want is for anyone to know I am feeling bad that is why I have a mask to hide those feelings for no one to see
2006-10-17 09:06:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lot of time people say 'how are you' as part of a greeting and not as an enquiry. 'Fine' is the usual response. A casual aquaintance doesn't not really want to hear a long winded explaination of someones problems or illnesses.
2006-10-17 09:03:18 · answer #4 · answered by Morley 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is because they don't want to tell you how they are really feeling. Or they may be in a hurry or they may think that you are in a hurry and say fine because they know that there is not enough time to tell how they really feel.
It's all about time. If you show them that your not in a hurry or vise versa then they will stop saying fine. Fine to me is a way of saying that they are really not fine and something is wrong. But that is my personal opinion.
Or it could be that they don't trust you yet to tell you about what is going on. Like if there's a deeper trouble that they are going thru and then they really don't have the time to tell you what's going on.
The other reason is. There may be other people near by that they don't want them to hear the new's and so all they say is fine.
2006-10-17 10:59:42 · answer #5 · answered by jrealitytv 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Do you watch the show "Hero's" on NBC? Well in last weeks episode, one of the characters was in the bar and the bartender asked him how he was doing. The character looked up at the bartender surprised that he cared enough to ask and was about to go off on a long story about how he can read minds, and the character was reading the bartenders mind which was saying "it was a rhetorical question, I didn't really mean for you to go into such a long story please just say fine and move on.". I think people just do it out of politeness. =)
2006-10-17 09:02:28 · answer #6 · answered by aloneinga 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually the person asking how they are really doesn't care they are just being polite and the polite response is ok or fine. A stranger doesn't usually want to know you're problems.
2006-10-17 09:05:02 · answer #7 · answered by Stasia 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Exactly right, its easier to say just fine than to drag out whats really going on...think about it if you asked a stranger how they were doing and they started telling you all their problems what would you do?
2006-10-17 09:00:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because most of the time the person asking really doesn't care either way they are just being polite, I mean you ask how are you doing and the automatic reply is fine and you, and the person is hoping you don't go any further than that.
2006-10-17 08:58:56 · answer #9 · answered by Teaza19 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think that it is the common answer or the standard answer that everyone gives. Also, the person may be being polite. Do u really want to share your probs and crisis with everyone? A lot of people ask how someone is doing when they really do not care.
2006-10-17 09:00:30 · answer #10 · answered by tanyae2002 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because "fine" really doesn't mean anything, so it is the perfect answer to an insincere question. People would stop asking how someone is if they got the full low-down. "Jeez, I'm glad you asked .. I just totalled my car; my dog was in it and he died, so I feel like hell, plus I was on my way to the hospital to get this lump removed; hope they don't operate until I get rid of this flu, and ... hey! Come back here! I'm not finished! ..."
2006-10-17 09:03:20 · answer #11 · answered by Miz Teri 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋