The other day,I bumped into a fellow PhD student (who shared the same room as me) along the corridor. He asked "How are you?", and I starting spilling that I am feeling tired and I am stressed about my research etc. etc...which lasted a whole few minutes! He smiled and said that was a new response...he usually get a generic response "I am good,how are you?".... I replied.."Oh! I though you really want to know how's my day!"
This morning I talked to Hannah about this incident, and realized not everyone wants to know how you are when they asked you that question! This is especially true with kiwis! The other day, I ran into my boss at the entrance of the HSB building, and out of politeness, she asked how's my day going?....and again, I started a whole spill of how disappointing are the students in the lab etc. etc.... And suddenly, I caught her micro-expression in between that polite,accommodating smile..she must be thinking "OMG! Why is he telling me how his days is?"
Why do people ask how's your day when they don't really mean it!?... I usually just say "Hi" and pass them by. And when I ask them how's their day, I really want to know HOW'S THEIR DAY!... I make sure they tell me the good, the bad and everything...I make sure I have time to listen to how's their day going!....Sign... people...
When I don't really know the person well I just say "I'm well" but if I know them and then I unleash my complaints on them for a good few minutes to let out a good vent :) They probably know it's coming.
ReplyDeleteThey keep to themselves until they're at the bar by the end of the day... that is where the actual "spilling session" begins.
ReplyDeleteSo next time... "Hey how's your day?" actually mean "wanna hit a bar for some drink later?" and when people answer "I'm good and you?", they actually mean "yeah, life sucks; let's grab a beer."
1. yes, i'm creeping on your archived posts.
ReplyDelete2. they sincerely ask that question here
3. and people sincerely answer. myself included.