"How are you?"

hairyprincess · 22-05-2012 05:52PM #1

"I'm grand"

Why is this always the standard reply? I mean your leg could be falling off; hanging by a thread, your wife, children, mother in law and dog all could have just been massacred by a raving lunatic and guess what, you're grand!!

Have we problems admitting how we really feel or are we so tenacious that nothing can faze us?

ElleEm · 22-05-2012 05:53PM

hairyprincess wrote: »

"I'm grand"

Why is this always the standard reply? I mean your leg could be falling off; hanging by a thread, your wife, children, mother in law and dog all could have just been massacred by a raving lunatic and guess what, you're grand!!

Have we problems admitting how we really feel or are we so tenacious that nothing can faze us?

When people ask that question, they rarely care for an answer, that's why there is a standard reply!

22-05-2012 05:54PM

How's she cuttin'?

Fluorescence · 22-05-2012 05:54PM

We're Irish. In Ireland everything is grand. Even if you just attempted suicide you're grand.

When people ask "How are you?" you're not actually supposed to answer. It's more like a greeting.

hooradiation · 22-05-2012 05:57PM

hairyprincess wrote: »

"I'm grand"

Why is this always the standard reply? I mean your leg could be falling off; hanging by a thread, your wife, children, mother in law and dog all could have just been massacred by a raving lunatic and guess what, you're grand!!

Have we problems admitting how we really feel or are we so tenacious that nothing can faze us?

because when I ask "How are you?" I don't actually give a shit about you.
It's just a greeting.

judgefudge · 22-05-2012 05:57PM

I'm pretty sure if my leg was hanging off I wouldn't say 'I'm grand'.

DrumSteve · 22-05-2012 05:57PM

What if you are grand though?

af_thefragile · 22-05-2012 05:59PM

"Not too bad" is another staple reply...

Guess its rude to say "I'm currently filled with an unopposed rage to punch every human on the street in the face without any consideration"...

The King of Moo · 22-05-2012 05:59PM

What if your name is Grant?

opinion guy · 22-05-2012 06:00PM

Because when you answer honestly people back away slowly.

Can't be dealin with any of the reality stuff

Knex* · 22-05-2012 06:00PM

I used to say "Era, not bad" but recently I've changed it to "Pretty good". This is irrespective of how I actually feel. It's probably a result of those pesky Americans I'm currently inundated with.

True story.

hightower1 · 22-05-2012 06:01PM

I often give the correct response....monday morning, "how are ya?" - "little bit tired tbh, coulda done with a few more hours in bed". .... "youself?"

I mean if your looking to start a conversation I woudnt be very helpfull if I gave cookie cutter responses now would I ?

chin_grin · 22-05-2012 06:02PM

"Fine" is the new "grand".

later12 · 22-05-2012 06:02PM

hairyprincess wrote: »

"I'm grand"

Why is this always the standard reply?

Because we are not Americans. We do not wear our feelings on our sleeve thank-you-very-much. This isn't Oprah.

stupidusername · 22-05-2012 06:05PM

I used to answer with how I actually was. Then realised people don't actually want to know. It's funny how it's become a greeting. Why not just say 'hello'? It's weird.

The King of Moo · 22-05-2012 06:07PM

At least it's not as weird as "how do you do?" which is meant to be answered with "how do you do?"

stimpson · 22-05-2012 06:07PM

"Horny - thanks for askin'"

RichieC · 22-05-2012 06:08PM

Ticking along, boss!

splashthecash · 22-05-2012 06:08PM

I've taken to replying to insincere questions like this with "Awesome". Usually people are so off-put by my apparent American-ism they never talk to me again...works a treat

My name is URL · 22-05-2012 06:09PM

How am I what?

stovelid · 22-05-2012 06:09PM

You have an admirable set of mental priorities.

af_thefragile · 22-05-2012 06:11PM

stupidusername wrote: »

I used to answer with how I actually was. Then realised people don't actually want to know. It's funny how it's become a greeting. Why not just say 'hello'? It's weird.

I always just say "hello"...

Then slowly walk away after the prevailing silence....

Monsieur Folie · 22-05-2012 06:11PM

later12 wrote: »

Because we are not Americans. We do not wear our feelings on our sleeve thank-you-very-much. This isn't Oprah.

Now Joe, no need for the Oprah dig. Just because she's on television while you're stuck on the radio..

branbee · 22-05-2012 06:12PM

After too many times finding myself answering even though the person is long gone i just nod when asked! I prob look like a right idiot but not as stupid as when Im talking to myself about how my day is going!
I hate when you ask someone how they are and they reply with how are you? Eh i asked you first!

AskMyChocolate · 22-05-2012 06:42PM

Deleted User wrote: »

How's she cuttin'?

Up the middle and down the sides.

opinion guy · 22-05-2012 06:42PM

later12 wrote: »

Because we are not Americans. We do not wear our feelings on our sleeve thank-you-very-much. This isn't Oprah.

No we're Irish. We bury our feelings at the bottom of a bottle of guinness and whiskey :rolleyes:

stupidusername wrote: »

I used to answer with how I actually was. Then realised people don't actually want to know. It's funny how it's become a greeting. Why not just say 'hello'? It's weird.

Haha. Ditto.
I used to answer '**** actually' then wait for reaction. If people asked for more they got more

More often than not they just looked confused and backed away. Or else made some smart remark - which I followed up with sarcastic 'I'm sorry if my pain and suffering offends you' - jsut to watch em squirm

shrewdness · 22-05-2012 06:43PM

A regular one I use/hear is:

Well any craic?

Ah damn all.

It's just an informal greeting, noone wants to hear a long answer with everything that's going on with you.

smash · 22-05-2012 06:43PM

There's no point in complaining because nobody would listen, therefor most Irish people are grand...

brummytom · 22-05-2012 06:45PM

shrewdness wrote: »

A regular one I use/hear is:

Well any craic?

Ah damn all.

It's just an informal greeting, noone wants to hear a long answer with everything that's going on with you.

Was just going to post the same thing. I never know how to answer 'what's the craic?'
"Fuck all... you?" usually works.

A bloke I know was telling me the other day he spoke to a bloke at a bar once, saying 'how's the craic?'. Not 'getting' the phrase, he replied, mumblingly, 'yeah it was alright, how's yours?".

RachaelVO · 22-05-2012 06:46PM

My Dad used to always answer "middlin ta tepid" and now he just says "worser"
and it doesn't matter who asks him!

Knex* · 22-05-2012 06:48PM

opinion guy wrote: »

Haha. Ditto.
I used to answer '**** actually' then wait for reaction. If people asked for more they got more
More often than not they just looked confused and backed away. Or else made some smart remark - which I followed up with sarcastic 'I'm sorry if my pain and suffering offends you' - jsut to watch em squirm

Ireland is one of the few places where people can respond "Fcuking terrible" and ye both have a small laugh and move on, no questions asked.

Equally you can say something along the lines of "Tippin' away like a small dumper" and not get called upon it

The Yanks are no craic in that regard

"How are you?"

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