Why is it when asked "How are you" people usually say fine even when they are not fine?

Answer 1

because they percieve not being fine as a weakness

Answer 2

In English "how are you" has developed from being a question to an an equivalent to "nice to meet you". I.e. a ceremonial nice thing to say in addition to the greeting.
For some people, like us Dutch, this can be confusing since when we say it in Dutch we really mean to ask. So you sometimes have a confused Englishman suddenly getting confronted with a Dutch telling his whole life story after a greeting. LOL

Answer 3

most people dont want to share their ups and downs with a passing acquantaince, some people however when asked the same question spend hours telling you all about their life. We try and avoid these people dont we?
what does that tell you?
We just give an automatic response to a question which is just a polite exchange, very few people are really interested in an honest answer.

Answer 4

It's more of a greeting and not many people really want to know your problems not to mention some people treat you differently after hearing your problems. Really it depends on the conversation and how the question was asked.
IE
Hey Latoya It's been forever how are you? You'd probably say I've been fine, yourself?
where as
Latoya I just heard your mother died, how are you? It would be a totally different answer and that one they would really want to know.

Answer 5

Coz we are conditioned to be fake. Society is fake and to conform is often living against your beliefs. I am a non-conformist.I prefer to do things my own way-not society's way.
Also when people ask how you are they don't really want to hear how terrible you feel and how things really are. It is just something people ask without really thinking about what they really mean when they say it. It is just expected that you will say something positive like I'm good thanks. It is just small talk like the weather,people aren't really asking how you are.They are more passing time with needless conversation. If they really wanted to know, they would take the time to listen,rather than saying it in passing.

Answer 6

They probably don't want to burden the other person with their problems, and that person probably doesn't want to hear them. I usually say I'm fine unless I'm with a close friend, because I can always talk to them about my true feelings. Also, I'm one of those rare people who actually wants to hear peoples' problems and help them out to the best of my ability.

Answer 7

Because the asker usually doesn't want a play by play and most people don't droll on about their problems. It's just a polite question to greet someone.

Answer 8

Because the reality is... mostly this question is really rhetorical. Most people are just doing a quick polite check in. They really don't have the time to hear the real deal.

Answer 9

because they are fake! everything in USA is fake. Look when those Yankies smiling, you can easily tell that they are not making it up, it is just something that they are trained to do on a job. I hate the whole How Are you thing!!! If someone will ask me that next time, I will let them now my lifestory...or else why asking than?

Answer 10

Most people don't really like to open up.
I know personally sometimes I just don't have the energy to go into how I feel or a conversation about it so I just say fine.

Also sometimes people don't want to burden others with their problems.

Answer 11

It is funny that. When I was seeing a psychologist for my depression, she would ask that when I came in and I would often just say "fine".