# Snappy Answers to the Question "How Are You"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snappy-answers-to-the-question-how-are-you/526011>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [January 22, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snappy-answers-to-the-question-how-are-you/526011 "2010-01-22T17:42:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 6

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**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2017, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snappy-answers-to-the-question-how-are-you/526011/101 "2017-10-15T17:35:51Z")

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A bit of a sidetrack: a Chinese colleague of mine told me that the standard greeting in his part of China was “Did you eat?”  
I think a better translation would be “Have you eaten?” But really, that’s not what the question was about. It was intended as a simple introductory comment, exactly like “How are you?”  
People are weird.

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**Author:** ![Grumbacher\_Red](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@Grumbacher\_Red](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumbacher_Red)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2017, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snappy-answers-to-the-question-how-are-you/526011/102 "2017-10-15T17:48:33Z")

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> [@kopek](#):
>
> If you lived near me I would have some terrific swag for you from  
> [http://www.froghairfishing.com/](http://www.froghairfishing.com/)
> 
> Best leader material out there right now and since I’m been balding a lot I love their hats. Quite appropriate. 😉

😛 Clever marketing off of a little known phrase! thanks!😃

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**Author:** ![unitacx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/839c29/32.png) [@unitacx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unitacx)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snappy-answers-to-the-question-how-are-you/526011/103 "2017-12-01T18:01:01Z")

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> [@velomont](#):
>
> I guess we could simply walk around silently, for fear that our use of socially accepted conventions will be scrutinized and analyzed by those more clever than us.
> 
> But seriously, “Hey Phil, how are you?” “I’m good, thanks” isn’t rocket science. Can someone explain:
> 
> Why this is confusing; and  
> Why the need for sarcastic responses.

It seems people are objecting to commercial phatic communication; not personal greetings.

At its best, it’s an unnecessary irritant, but sometimes used for deliberate distraction. I’ve actually found it convenient when inserted in the middle of a transaction because it’s a “red flag” that there’s probably a good reason for the timing of the diversion.

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