When someone asks, "how are you?", is one actually expected to say "good", even if they doing bad? Any why?

Question

Most people can relate: you see somone and you greet them saying, "hey how are you?", and they say "I'm good", or vise versa and you are the one saying "I'm good". But what happens when you are doing bad... you still say "I'm good".

How did this become so standard, and do you think its annoying, funny, a "who cares" kind of thing, or etc..?

Answer 1

If someone wants to know how you are doing, why not just tell them? Most people ask to just be nice and try to show interest in how you really are feeling at the time.
Maybe that person is really NOT interested in how you are doing and was just trying to make convo. A lot of people feel as though it has become a routine way to greet someone, so they use it loosely/freely. Now-a-days no one wants to hear people complaining and bitchin so they would give a quick self-explanatory answer like I'm fine, and you?, to carry on about their business. lol

Answer 2

well it's a greeting. Imagine walking past some one you know and not saying a thing. It would feel awkward.. How are you is a sort of an icebreaker and assures the other that you are concerned about them. Unless they are really close they don't really mean it.

I don't bother to tell people how I'm really doing unless I really trust them.

Answer 3

I always say I'm fine. People don't want to hear oh my foot hurts,oh my head is really killing me today, etc. It is just a way to make conversation. People don't want to hear someone complain about their aches and pains.

Answer 4

If somebaody say "how are you", answer him " I am fine" Everything is OK". This is to compliment the other side asking your condition.
jtm

Answer 5

usually people dont really want to know. i have answered truthfully and they say "ohhh"