My biggest pet peeve

[AquaGirl]

When a customer says, Hi, Aquagirl, how are you, I need...

There is no pause between the "how are you" and the "I want". So you don't care how I am, so you might as well never have said it. It doesn't particularly insult me, just irks me that you are attempting to gather etiquette points by pretending to care how I am when you don't which to me is worse than if you hadn't said it at all. So I am now dealing with this by saying, very quickly:

"I'm doing great, thanks for asking! How are you?"

Always followed by stunned silence, then a slow response like "...I'm...doing okay." Because either they didn't know that I had feelings and therefore could be doing "great" or because that question is so automatic to them that they don't even remember asking it.

[ThanosIsKing]

If anybody does this to me I just cut in and tell the most heart-wrenching story that I can think up that the moment. Throws 'em for a loop every time!

[emax4]

So what is the happy medium for you?

[Kogarashi]

"How are you" is one of those phrases that has, unfortunately, shifted into being predominantly a greeting rather than an honest question. Far too many people see it as equivalent to "hello," and thus don't expect or wait for an answer in return.

Which is just plain silly, and doesn't excuse these people at all.

[MoonCat]

"How are you" is one of those phrases that has, unfortunately, shifted into being predominantly a greeting rather than an honest question. Far too many people see it as equivalent to "hello," and thus don't expect or wait for an answer in return.

Well, actually, that's true. It's not really a legitimate question, it's just a traditional greeing, similar to "how do you do" when you shake someone's hand. You aren't really expecting them to answer that.

Wouldn't hurt for people to at least smile a little when they say hello, how are you, though, would it?

[Kristev]

I know. It's always fun to answer with the truth of what's going on. No one expects it.

[Seshat]

"how are you" is one of those questions I never know how to answer. Having the problems I do, an honest answer usually leads into a conversation I don't usually want to have.

So I just say 'fine, thanks'.

[Primer]

"I was doing better, but then I got over it."

[Mytical]

"I was doing better, but then I got over it."

Almost violated rule number 1 there lol. Where is the like button?

[Food Lady]

I WANT them to ignore my answer because when I say "fine" or "ok", I get "Just fine??" Really? You're gonna argue with my answer?

[Racket_Man]

I get that "How are you doing today? .... HOW much is my order?" question/statement sequence doing pizza delivery. the customer opens the door and before I can give my speil (the order detail to verify the actual items ordered + the order $ total).

I can not even give them an answer to the first "question". yeah just a form of greeting.

and even if I were to really tell them how I am doing (for example just after my Mom passed away or just spent mega-$$$ on a car repair OR having a really good happy night) they would dismiss my "answer" with a bland Meh

[Tama]

Maybe this is why so many people say "Where you at?"

It negates the need for conjecture of any sort, can be used over the phone or face-to-face... It can be taken about 500 million different ways.

[Syriilord]

I WANT them to ignore my answer because when I say "fine" or "ok", I get "Just fine??" Really? You're gonna argue with my answer?

Just reply with "Yes, just fine. I have poltergeists haunting me that drag my condition down a little from Super-Mega Awesome"

[AquaGirl]

So what is the happy medium for you?

Either allowing me to answer, or not asking at all. I am not an etiquette Nazi but if you don't care about the answer don't ask me the question. I really prefer the customers who just launch into their request instead of throwing out meaningless niceties. I know I sound a little manic and perhaps I am-i suppose I'm just tired of the lack of regard I get from my customers every day that is pushing me ever closer to scratching through my wrists with my fingernails.

[Jay 2K Winger]

"I was doing better, but then I got over it."

I've used this one before, when I was still in retail. Always got a double-take out of people, then laughter.