sharlag
Drama Llama
I like my artsy with a little bit of fartsy.
Posts: 6,580
Location: Kansas
Jun 26, 2014 12:57:48 GMT
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Post by sharlag on Jul 20, 2019 20:54:08 GMT
“How’s your day?” Or “how are you?” When casually asked by a sales clerk or coworker?
... if things are shitty? Do you tell the truth or at least not answer “fine” ??
I think it’s a little pet peeve of mine when people use the question as an offhand greeting, without being really curious about the condition of the other person.
ETA one of my stock answers is “up and down”. It’s honest , but not too specific.
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Post by dewryce on Jul 20, 2019 20:57:35 GMT
If they are not someone who I know to actually want a true answer, they get a generic “I’m well (or I’m doing good), how are you?”
It’s annoying when it isn’t sincere, but these days I’m just happy they are being polite and acknowledging my existence. I’m speaking of sales clerks, I don’t have a job.
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Post by gar on Jul 20, 2019 20:57:52 GMT
Can I just say that seeing you post a question made me smile  My Dh is watching the golf and I was bored. And yes, it irks me slightly...I'm tempted to say something flippant but I usually just say something banal. |
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marimoose
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,282 
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Post by marimoose on Jul 20, 2019 21:01:25 GMT
I always said fine, how are you, just to be polite. If you ask me these days and if I am having a meh day then I will respond with "I have had better days" watching their expression  They shouldn't ask unless they are prepared for ther :)esponse |
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NoWomanNoCry
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,856
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Jul 20, 2019 21:03:15 GMT
I just say “it’s going ok” reguardless if it’s a crap day or a wonderful day.
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sharlag
Drama Llama
I like my artsy with a little bit of fartsy.
Posts: 6,580
Location: Kansas
Jun 26, 2014 12:57:48 GMT
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Post by sharlag on Jul 20, 2019 21:04:01 GMT
Can I just say that seeing you post a question made me smile :smile. That’s so nice!! |
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Jul 20, 2019 21:09:03 GMT
With store clerks, who do not care in the slightest, i usually just say "fine" as cheerfully as I can muster because we're just doing the obligatory social protocol.
Sometimes, especially for clerks I kind of know because I am a regular customer somewhere, I may say something like, "Eh, it's been a little rough today, but I'm getting through. How're you?" Like, enough for me to vent a bit, but not so much that they feel like they have to respond.
With coworkers, it depends who's asking. Some get just the obligatory social protocol bit, but some are people who legitimately care about the answer to that question. I will respond accordingly.
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Post by krcrafts on Jul 20, 2019 21:13:25 GMT
Well, a cashier at Target asked me that not long after my mom died and I answered that she had died before I realized what I was saying. She gave me a huge hug (and made me cry..lol) right there at the checkout. Usually I just say I’m good and ask how their day has been.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 9:24:23 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2019 21:17:46 GMT
Nah doesn’t bother me, but I am a yapper. I also am a complimentor and a hugger.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Jul 20, 2019 21:56:54 GMT
“How’s your day?” Or “how are you?” When casually asked by a sales clerk or coworker? ... if things are shitty? Do you tell the truth or at least not answer “fine” ?? I think it’s a little pet peeve of mine when people use the question as an offhand greeting, without being really curious about the condition of the other person. ETA one of my stock answers is “up and down”. It’s honest , but not too specific. I usually answer with good or busy or something generic followed by how about you? Cashiers are in one of those no win jobs. They can’t please everyone and seem annoy people no matter what they do. |
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Post by mustlovecats on Jul 20, 2019 21:58:34 GMT
Usually just “Good thanks, and you”
Sometimes if I’m having a shit day I’ll say “Not at my best, but it’ll be okay”
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 9:24:23 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2019 22:04:47 GMT
I usually say fine thank you, whether it is or not.  It doesn't really bother me, they're only trying to be polite. |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jul 20, 2019 22:06:26 GMT
It depends on who’s asking. I realized that when I go to my chiropractor he always asks and I usually would have a kind of “meh” answer, because when I’m going there I’m usually in some level of pain. I’m sure I sounded like a big Debbie Downer, so I started just giving a fake reply to not seem so grumpy all the time.
One of my favorite responses to that question is “Fair to middling,” LOL.
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moodyblue
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,254
Location: Western Illinois
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 21:07:23 GMT
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Post by moodyblue on Jul 20, 2019 22:07:16 GMT
As someone grieving a major loss (my husband six months ago) this is a question I usually hate nowadays. To a cashier I might just say "fine" or "okay" if the day or the moment is a decent one. I don’t need, want, or have the energy, to say more.
To co-workers or someone who knows me, I often respond more with something like "busy" or "I'm hanging in" because I refuse to use energy I don’t have to pretend that everything is fine or even okay. If asked in a phone call how my day has been I’ll often respond with what I’ve accomplished or what I’m working on.
What I often WANT to say when they ask if I’m having a good day or had a good weekend is something like "I'm living my worst nightmare. What part of that seems good to you?" But I generally don’t.
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inkedup
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,837
Jun 26, 2014 5:00:26 GMT
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Post by inkedup on Jul 20, 2019 22:11:37 GMT
I file this gripe under "some people will complain about anything".
I appreciate the attempt to be cordial and respond politely. I am in no way bothered that Karen at the grocery store asked how I am when I know she isn't asking for a 25 minute explanation of everything that's wrong with my life. She isn't my therapist, she's a nice lady who is trying to do her job.
A few days after my mom died, I was at the grocery store and the clerk asked how I was. I said, "I've been better, but I appreciate you asking."
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Post by teacherlisa on Jul 20, 2019 22:12:16 GMT
I say "Good, and you" and move on. I honestly don't usually even tell people who are close to me if I am not doing well. It's funny because as private as I am... people usually take that.."and you?" as a chance to run with it and tell me their whole life story lol.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 9:24:23 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2019 22:26:45 GMT
To strangers or people I interact with on a "stranger" basis I just say "Fine thank you, how are you" and let it go. I see it as a social nicety and nothing more.
Coworkers, it depends more. There are a few who I will tell them how I am doing but that is because our relationship is as friends. I know they do want to know how I am doing. And they will be honest about how they are doing.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jul 20, 2019 22:27:12 GMT
I just answer, "Good! And you?" with a smile, but leave it at that.
I've been that cashier. We were required to ask, along with the whole asking if they want to sign up for a credit card, asking if they want to donate, etc.
Trust me, we don't even want to ask and put you in an awkward position. And even if you are having a rough day and start to tell us so, we can't stop working to commiserate with you.
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Post by doxiesx3 on Jul 20, 2019 22:28:29 GMT
I always answer “could be better”
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Post by nlwilkins on Jul 20, 2019 22:37:01 GMT
If I am NOT having a crappy day, I try to bring a little sunshine into their lives that day. I give a big smile and say something along the lines that it is an awesome day and I hope their day is good. Sometimes I even give other people a big smile and nod in my outing. It doesn't cost me anything and it seems to put me in a better mood as well as brighten the day of those around me. BUT, if I am having a crappy day my answer is along the lines we are surviving and leave it at that. And no, I am not little miss sunshine. I can bring a bad mood to the situation as well as anyone else.
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Post by groovy on Jul 20, 2019 22:40:48 GMT
“good enough!”
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Post by lisacharlotte on Jul 20, 2019 22:51:03 GMT
Even if I'm having a shitty day or shitty life, I politely reply fine. Nobody is asking that question to piss you off. It's a social nicety that is part of the service industry. That job sucks enough without me taking my shitty attitude out on a clerk that is just trying to keep a smile on their face as they deal with the public.
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ComplicatedLady
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,083
Location: Valley of the Sun
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Post by ComplicatedLady on Jul 20, 2019 23:02:54 GMT
I’m surviving
I’m hanging in
I’m doing ok
Something like that.
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RedSquirrelUK
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,899
Location: The UK's beautiful West Country
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Post by RedSquirrelUK on Jul 20, 2019 23:05:15 GMT
We have a stock answer in Britain: 'mustn't grumble'. Well OK, maybe that's the older generation, but I still hear it a lot. It does the job!
Yes, it is impossible for cashiers. The same polite enquiry has given me every response from gratitude and a life history, to being yelled at. Please, have compassion for the cashier who has to ask.
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StephDRebel
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,692
Location: Ohio
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Post by StephDRebel on Jul 20, 2019 23:09:23 GMT
My poppy used to say "I've been better and I've been worse so I'm choosing to be grateful. How about you?"
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River
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,575
Location: Alabama
Jun 26, 2014 15:26:04 GMT
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Post by River on Jul 20, 2019 23:40:26 GMT
I'm the typical "fine, thanks, hope you are well also". No matter how I actually am, it's just the polite thing I was raised to say.
My DH (soon to be ex) always responds with "better than I deserve". It seems to put most people off and they don't really know how to respond back. He also doesn't do the normal question back of how they are. He's not rude and always smiling at them though.
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Post by littlemama on Jul 21, 2019 0:02:55 GMT
"Good, and you?" It's just automatic.
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Post by mikklynn on Jul 21, 2019 0:25:59 GMT
Even if I'm having a shitty day or shitty life, I politely reply fine. Nobody is asking that question to piss you off. It's a social nicety that is part of the service industry. That job sucks enough without me taking my shitty attitude out on a clerk that is just trying to keep a smile on their face as they deal with the public.  Some days it is more difficult than others. |
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Post by scrapmaven on Jul 21, 2019 0:30:52 GMT
When someone I know asks how I am? I say, "ok". No one who knows me would believe me if I said that I was feeling fine. For strangers I'll just answer, "fine thanks". How is your day is the same. For people I know I tell the truth, at a store, "it's fine. Thank you".
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Post by lisae on Jul 21, 2019 0:34:36 GMT
If I don't know the person, I usually say "fine or good." Sometimes I add the "and you?" but most of the time I don't. I just want to check out and move along. I know they don't care how I am and I don't care how they are and no one is expecting a real answer to this question.
I love self-checkout.
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My Dh is watching the golf and I was bored.
It doesn't really bother me, they're only trying to be polite. 
