Do you really want to know "How am I?"

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...