Person 1: How are you?
Person 2: Fine, You?
Person 1: Fine
Me: BULLSHIT!
We do this everyday! Why? It is a script we learned long ago. And, anyway what would we do without these pat answers? You may think no one really cares anyway… and sometimes that is true.
So what I am proposing is that we (you (all of you reading this) and me) STOP!
Are you fine???! Ok, great if you are…but some of you are far from it. Are you sad, angry, hurting, sick, fed up?! Are you happy, nervous, anxious, excited? Well are you? Say something…anything but just following a stupid script.
Oh and important part: Do not ask someone how they are if you don’t really care to hear!
Thank you… that is all.
This has been a public service announcement (also known as a rant) brought to you by Melanie Thomason
Wordifull 
LOL a public service announcement. Perfect. It’s true. I think people mostly don’t care and just want a pat answer and I think a lot of people don’t want to admit that everything isn’t fine. Also, playing this game is supposed to keep us civilized and I don’t know who to tell, but that’s not working. Excellent rant.
LOL it was just brewing…had to let it out. You are right…it isn’t working.
No, it sure isn’t, at least as a whole. You are doing such great work. I love to see your new posts. Each and every single one.
well, sometimes it’s also a catchword to engage somebody in conversation, just as a door-opener. i think intonation makes the difference. it’s along the lines of “i’m an honest person” (after studies one is lying about 200 times a day). except me 😉
True…it is sometimes genuine.
And the lying thing…any time someone says “to be honest” or “To tell the truth” or “Honestly” to me i think “No, please lie….” LOL
I’m sure it doesn’t apply to you 😉
I totally agree but with the caveat to temper the honesty a little bit. For example:
coworker: Hi! How are you today?
Me: anxious and panicked by the realization that death is one step closer than it was yesterday…and you?
People don’t like facing their mortality before they’ve had their coffee.
Well I was fed up today! And a little sad! Things turned out to be ok be ok so now I am relieved! Now I am tired my brain makes me tired! It thinks too much! I’m telling it to shut up and sleep now!
I love your rant it’s true don’t ask me how I am if you don’t want to know. Hehe! 😄😄
:DD Thank you for sharing! Really! Here is hoping today finds you happy and excited!
OH yes today! I am over my weirdness! Thank God. Big hugs and much love to you!
Glad to hear it! ❤ ya!
Melanie, thanks. I once was visiting friends with my mother-in-law. Someone kindly asked me how i was doing. I answered that i was a bit down. Once our friends were out of earshot she turned to me and said, “No one really wants to know how you feel. It’s just a way of being polite.”
I was appalled! When i ask folks, i really say it from my heart. Of course, in defense of my MIl, she’s never fought Clinical Depression.
Been through this so many times… and your MIL is right…unfortunately, most people don’t care it is just a formality…a thing to say.
BUT we can choose to change that at least with in our worlds 🙂 When i ask you can be assured I actually want to know.
So, how are you today?
Doing well, thank you. 😊
Hope your day is good, too.
Yay! I’m having a wonderful day so far…reading blogs, drinking coffee, kitties snuggling whats not to love!
You are having a ‘Perfecto-Mundo’ day! 😘
I couldn’t agree more. I’ve never been able to stop myself from giving the truth!
It isn’t always met enthusiastically but still I’m glad you are off script!
I usually try to do it with a bit of humour such as ‘fair to miserable’ in an allusion to ‘fair to middling’!
😉
Oh, I know one chirping nightingale who expects everyone to be giggling and happy no matter what. Hashtag be happy my a$$.
LOL I think we all know at least one of those.