How do you answer the question how are you.

devonann
devonann Member Posts: 24
edited 7. Jul 2011, 06:45 in Living with Arthritis archive
How do you answer how are you.Someone asked me this and when I told her I wasnt well she said well we all have something wrong.Why ask if she didnt want to know.And how should I answer when the question comes up again.

Comments

  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi and welcome if you are new to our lovely forum
    This is an age old question on here, some people ask because they care, some because they think its the right thing to do.
    I haven't found the answer yet.....plodding on is what I come back with.
    Love
    Barbara
  • Poppyg1rl
    Poppyg1rl Member Posts: 1,245
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Devonann,
    Some people ask just to be polite and don't want an in depth question, some ask because they really care and want to know. I guess the thing to do is, if it's a good friend asking me then I tell the truth and if i feel like a moan, I go for it! If it's someone I don't know that well, then I just say I'm not great, I don't go into details unless they ask.
    Hope that helps, love and hugs xxx
    'grá agus solas'
    'Love and Light' translated from Irish. X
  • parrotman
    parrotman Member Posts: 36
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I usually reply ' Blooming ' ! Which could mean blooming good or blooming awful !

    Regards John
    P1010005-1.jpg
  • valval
    valval Member Posts: 14,911
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    my boss asks most days and as a rule i so ok thanks . i know 9 times out of 10 i feel crap but no one realy want to know that and do i want them to know the truth val
    val
  • cat75
    cat75 Member Posts: 29
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi,
    i'm not the most sympathetic person so i don't expect any back so i usually just say i'm fine.

    catherine
  • traluvie
    traluvie Member Posts: 2,579
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Devongirl,

    If people close to me ask how i am i normally say"the usual" which to them means i not great but ok.. if i having a bad day i normally say so they can understand if i am not myself..If it someone i happen to just know.. i just say"i ok thanks".. It would depress me if i said i felt rubbish everytime someone asked how i was lol.. so rather not keep sounding like a stuck record lol..
    th_tn_TisFORTIGGER.jpgxxTracyxx
  • constable
    constable Member Posts: 2,115
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi there,

    People always ask this question but not expecting a negative reply. I always reply with a" bad thanks and yourself". To say not bad, i think I am leaving it open if they are genuinely enquiring they will ask further.


    Karen xx
    Karen xx
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,836
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Ann

    this one comes up from time to time.

    I find it best to avoid competition!!! (some only ask to tell you about themselves :lol: )

    I say fine thanks how are you?

    To me it is a good mannered form of greeting to ask, but no-one really cares!!!

    Having said that there are those who REALLY REALLY do :smile: those who then say...No REALLY how are you!!!

    I treasure those people because they mean it and always make sure their interest is reciprocated.

    Love

    Toni xx
  • julie47
    julie47 Member Posts: 6,041
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Morning devonann

    I think it is just used as a greeting most of the time, "hello how are you"
    and people expect you to say fine thank you.

    Sooo thats what I say.... I am fine thankyou and you?

    Juliepf x
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    It's a routine social greeting, it doesn't mean that they want chapter and verse on your latest meds/appointments/side effects etc etc etc -that's what we are here for. I always say 'I'm fine, are you?' My short answer is usually met by a brief one from them and the conversation moves onto more interesting areas. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • dachshund
    dachshund Member Posts: 9,117
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Devonann.
    people ask me i say not too bad then they talk nonstop about how they are feeling i think they live on their own and needed somone to talk to.
    joan xx
    take care
    joan xx
  • Starburst
    Starburst Member Posts: 2,546
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I s'pose it depends on who's asking. If it's a friend, a family member or a casual acquaintance, the answer is always "fine thank you, how are you?". If someone asks "how are you feeling today?", I would probably still say that I was ok and move the conversation on but I might mention that I'm tired or not feeling quite 100 percent. In person, I'm not great at talking about how it affects me. Even in my appts, I'm a bit rubbish. They ask how I am and I automatically say that I'm fine. Then, I feel my mum prod me (gently, of course!) and I get 'the look'. :lol:
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I usually reply with OK, still putting one foot in front of the other, still breathing, good, could be better, people do not really want to know at great length how I am and I have no wish to go into detail either. :smile: I do not mind listening to them though if I have the time. I have always been more of a listener than a talker although my hubby would disagree :grin: I only tell my close friends and family how I really feel and sometimes do not even wish to talk to them about it, other topics are so much more interesting to listen and talk about. :grin:

    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Guys! I usually say 'not to bad' or 'alright'. So that way they know I'm still suffering but managing to plod along! Sometimes I want to say 'pretty crap!' but I bite my lip and be polite! Which is hard for me when stupid people who know me ask how I am when they know I'm not a 100% fit!