# why is it.... \[people telling others when they are not feeling well\]

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-people-telling-others-when-they-are-not-feeling-well/835474>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [June 13, 2019, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-people-telling-others-when-they-are-not-feeling-well/835474 "2019-06-13T15:31:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-people-telling-others-when-they-are-not-feeling-well/835474/21 "2019-06-19T16:05:25Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> “I have pancreatic cancer. I have 3 months to live.”

OK, good, so can you cover for me if I take vacation time next week?

> [@The wind of my soul](#):
>
> I mean, come on, what healthy person coughs up phlegm?

Smokers, for one.

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**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-people-telling-others-when-they-are-not-feeling-well/835474/22 "2019-06-19T16:42:29Z")

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> [@Musicat](#):
>
> A common greeting is, “How are you?” Although it’s typically treated as rhetorical, it shouldn’t be surprise if the response is an answer.

A bore is someone who, when you ask them how they are, tells you.

(Possibly Ambrose Bierce, I can’t find a source at the moment.)

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**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-people-telling-others-when-they-are-not-feeling-well/835474/23 "2019-06-19T16:42:39Z")

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> [@Jackmannii](#):
>
> OK, good, so can you cover for me if I take vacation time next week?Smokers, for one.

Ha! I didn’t think of it until you mentioned it, but I think I have actually coughed before and subsequently been asked if I was a smoker (which I’m not). Good point.

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**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-people-telling-others-when-they-are-not-feeling-well/835474/24 "2019-06-19T19:48:01Z")

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> [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](#):
>
> This is ironic, because I was complaining about people commenting on OTHER people being sick yesterday. Like if I blow my nose, some people have to be like, “Getting a cold? Allergies?” and I want to be like “Just let me blow my nose in peace!” Or if someone’s coughing up phlegm, and another person goes “You sick?” I mean, come on, what healthy person coughs up phlegm?

Your answer: Just idiopathic rhinitis.

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