# How do you respond to the greeting: "How ya doin'"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 12, 1999, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-the-greeting-how-ya-doin/12060 "1999-12-12T03:22:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shadowfox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Shadowfox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shadowfox)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 1999, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-the-greeting-how-ya-doin/12060/21 "1999-12-13T06:00:00Z")
My hubby’s favorite response, used only with good friends and family members “How ya doing?” “Fair to partly shitty” ## Okay, I guess you have to be there…but it usually makes them laugh. Shadowfox “We are what we pretend to be.” - Kurt Vonnegut ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 1999, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-the-greeting-how-ya-doin/12060/22 "1999-12-13T06:14:00Z")
I like to say that I’m fairly okay, or to borrow from Carlin, I’m “moderately neato.” I have a government job, though, so if one of my co-workers asks me how I’m doing, a reply is usually not necessary. A simple eye roll will usually suffice. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 1999, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-the-greeting-how-ya-doin/12060/23 "1999-12-12T19:40:00Z")
" Haven’t missed a meal." “Day late, dollar short.” “SSDD” ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 1999, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-the-greeting-how-ya-doin/12060/24 "1999-12-12T19:42:00Z")
I say “I dunno, what did you hear?” ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 1999, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-the-greeting-how-ya-doin/12060/25 "1999-12-12T20:18:00Z")
Blue Twylight! Have you seen my animals? ---
**Author:** ![Sealemon88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Sealemon88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sealemon88)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 1999, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-the-greeting-how-ya-doin/12060/26 "1999-12-12T20:20:00Z")
A great reply I had heard a few years back: \< In a slow Southern drawl \>: Well, I feel like a million bucks, but I look like a refund. * * * You say “cheesy” like that’s a **BAD** thing. ---
**Author:** ![Kakkerlak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bb73d2/32.png) [@Kakkerlak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kakkerlak)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 1999, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-the-greeting-how-ya-doin/12060/27 "1999-12-13T02:00:00Z")
“Wide awake, alert, and enthusiastic!” That usually annoys. My buddy the vet student always replies with “BARH”, which among anyone but vets compels him to explain: “bright, alert, reactive, and hydrated”, the shorthand for any normal animal when you’re doing rounds. * * * “It ain’t no sin to be glad you’re alive” Bruce Springsteen ---
**Author:** ![Crystalguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dbc845/32.png) [@Crystalguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crystalguy)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 1999, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-the-greeting-how-ya-doin/12060/28 "1999-12-13T02:07:00Z")
“So far, so good.” * * * Crystalguy ---
**Author:** ![Sycorax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@Sycorax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sycorax)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 1999, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-the-greeting-how-ya-doin/12060/29 "1999-12-13T02:24:00Z")
I like “so far, so good.” Brief, and doesn’t require being perky. I just wish these people would stop saying it altogether. It happened again today in the grocery store, and even though I’d read these responses, I still replied lamely, okay. Call me a grump, but I don’t care how THEY are doing so it just doesn’t occur to me to say “and you?” I don’t want to start up a conversation with the cashier; I just want her/him to scan the damn groceries and bag 'em so I can get the hell outta there. “So far, so good” doesn’t invite a reply, so I’m going with that. Thanks everyone. ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 1999, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-the-greeting-how-ya-doin/12060/30 "1999-12-13T02:50:00Z")
Mindless polite mode-“Alright, how’re you?” More myself-“Not done yet…” ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 1999, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-the-greeting-how-ya-doin/12060/31 "1999-12-13T03:31:00Z")
"_`Swell._ * * * Like the ‘groovy’ and ‘neato’ response, it elicits smiles. As a contraction of ‘all is well,’ it does answer the question without getting personal. Peace. ---
**Author:** ![OldBroad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@OldBroad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldBroad)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 1999, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-the-greeting-how-ya-doin/12060/32 "1999-12-13T04:30:00Z")
Either: Ok. How 'bout you? OR: Finer than frog fur ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Propski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5e9695/32.png) [@Guy\_Propski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Propski)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 1999, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-the-greeting-how-ya-doin/12060/33 "1999-12-13T15:16:00Z")
I answer honestly, which means my response can vary from “Great!” to “Shitty!” If I’m in a recursive mood, I respond “OK, how are you doing?” Then I see how many times we can go 'round. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 1999, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-the-greeting-how-ya-doin/12060/34 "1999-12-13T15:48:00Z")
I don’t treat this greeting any differently than others. I usually answer with a question: "how am I doing _what_? 2nd choice, especially if it’s an obvious prelude to a favor: “I guess that depends on what you’re about to say”. I’m more concerned about people who come up to me and bark “HEY!” as a greeting. This totally threw me until somebody told me that it’s a favorite midwestern greeting. Until then my reply was “WHAT?” ---
**Author:** ![missdavis102](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7feea3/32.png) [@missdavis102](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missdavis102)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 1999, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-the-greeting-how-ya-doin/12060/35 "1999-12-13T15:51:00Z")
I always like these: “Mm, you?” (Mm in this case is just a little sympathetic noise, not like ‘Mmmmmmm, delicious’) “I hear I’m fabulous.” and “I’m okay as long as you don’t ask for details.” ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-the-greeting-how-ya-doin/12060/36 "1999-12-14T06:00:00Z")
If you’re in a biker bar, the correct response is “Up yours, mate!” At the office: “Do you want the long version or the short version?” Then watch your colleague run for cover. * * * Quand les talons claquent, l’esprit se vide. Maréchal Lyautey ---
**Author:** ![Derf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Derf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derf)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-the-greeting-how-ya-doin/12060/37 "1999-12-14T06:07:00Z")
Yup. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_North](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Peter\_North](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_North)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-the-greeting-how-ya-doin/12060/38 "1999-12-14T06:13:00Z")
“I’m still a million bucks shy of being a millionaire.” ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-the-greeting-how-ya-doin/12060/39 "1999-12-14T06:56:00Z")
## “Fair to midlin’, and you?” “Fair to partly cloudy.” “Better’n some, worse’n others.” ::muttering:: “I coulda been a contender!” The overwhelming majority of people have more than the average (mean) number of legs. – E. Grebenik ---
**Author:** ![PurpleCrackwhore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc348/32.png) [@PurpleCrackwhore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleCrackwhore)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 1999, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-the-greeting-how-ya-doin/12060/40 "1999-12-13T22:01:00Z")
I respond to it just fine thank you. * * * I really try to be good but it just isn’t in my nature! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-the-greeting-how-ya-doin/12060.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-the-greeting-how-ya-doin/12060.md?page=3)