Why people in general ask you "How are you" They don't know you and are note interested anyway.?

Question

Do people care at all? So why ask if it is not important. Are they medical doctors, vets or psyciators? I do not think that people in general realise that they are even asking the question. A lot of times they have already left the room when asking how you are, and just as you are about to say "Not well" they have left the building.

Answer 1

It is just a greeting, they really do not want to know. Do not ask anyone how are you? you may get their complete medical history. It is just a social greeting.

Answer 2

It is an ice breaker. Cashiers and service people say it as a courtesy to acknowledge their customers.

It is much more rude to make NO verbal or eye contact. Or to continue talking to someone else as they ring you up ignoring you completely.

Rudeness abounds in our society NOW, NOT IN THE PAST,

It is nice to try to hold onto the minor courtesies in life.

In a National Big Box Account I call on in work. They used to train their employees to say to the customers "How are you doing"? Because they were moving so fast as the employee would walk by you it became "How ya doin?

I call these stores the How Ya Doin stores. Sadly enough they have stopped doing it. and the quality of their service is way down.

My company provides their employees to give out $100.00 certificates for products in the spring. But amazingly enough people have been so rude to me in the garden departments when I strike up a conversation to find a recipient, that I have given out only 2 since January.

Common courtesy does pay off. What goes around comes around.

Answer 3

This is a form of greeting not a question of inquiry as to ones health and welfare. The typical response is "Great and you?" whereas that person may be having a really terrible or wonderful day. Try responding with a medical report about your latest medical ailment and see what response you get.

Answer 4

It's one of the few polite things still left in our culture. It doesn't HAVE to mean anything, and you don't have to care other than to care enough to be polite and greet someone in a friendly manner. There are other ways to do this, but "how are you?" is customary and acceptable by nearly all. You can say, "Hi Myrtle, how're they hangin' ?" But 'how are you' has just a bit more class.

And how are YOU? Having a bit of a bad day, huh? lol

Answer 5

It's a generic greeting. Nobody pays attention to, or cares about the reply.
My mother worked in a grocery store years ago & asked a customer how he was, then answered his reply with the usual "that's good." She wasn't paying attention because when she asked how he was he said his wife died last week. LMAO! How mortifying! Poor guy!

Answer 6

Its just a cultural thing most Americans ask and its on the same level as asking What do you do? Its a supposed ice breaker for people who don't know how to ask a more intelligent question.

Answer 7

I find it to be a uncomfortable greeting because the ask er usually doesn't stick around to hear the answer. That makes me feel like they don't really care and I end of mumbling the answer to myself.

Answer 8

Actually that question is for someone you know. If it's a person you're being introduced to by a mutual friend or colleague,or someone you're meeting for the first time then the question is,"How do you do"?

Answer 9

I work in a clothing retail store. I ask my customers how they are doing simply because I want them to know that they are welcome in my store. Customers have told me truthfully that things weren''t going their way today. Usually when they tell me bad news, I try to be sympathetic and understanding as possible. Lastly, I let them know that if they need any help, all they have to do is let me know.

Answer 10

ugggghh, i HATE when people ask me that. what is the point?!? why even ask?! so stupid cause the answer ur 'supposed' to give is 'fine, thanx. how are u?' who cares! what if i am having a crappy day? can i answer, 'well, my dog died and i can't shake this wedgie loose.' u know what. fack it. next time someone asks me how i'm doing, that's what i'm sayin'.