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stephaniecatherine
Sea Gull
Joined: Aug 04, 2008
Age: 22
Posts: 241
Location: Ministry of Silly Walks
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 Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 12:26 pm Post subject: when someone says something to you in passing |
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soo..when someone asks "how are you" when passing in the halls at work (or elsewhere) ...you're supposed to answer..and then ask the same of them, right?
I was walking back to my office and a man asked me..."how are you" ...I said..."fine and how about you?" ...albeit awkwardly so.
he just kept walking..said nothing.
now I'd rather have said nothing....I'd rather he not have even asked me b/c then I wouldn't have to wonder why..??
maybe it's just instinct to ask, but not to answer? maybe he was wondering how I got a job in the same building as him? maybe........?
  
opinions? others' experiences like this? ...this happens all the time to me...and it takes a lot for me to say anything back to people in this sort of situation...I don't like to. I'd rather ignore them....but most of the time I don't...maybe I should?
^s^
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Sir_Beefy
Snowy Owl
Joined: Jun 10, 2008
Age: 20
Posts: 126
Location: Middle of Nowhere, Maryland
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 12:28 pm Post subject: |
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This may sound strange, but that's exactly how it's supposed to go. It took me a couple tries to figure that out, I know what you are thinking cause I've been there the first few times. So don't worry about it.
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sinsboldly
Free Range Aspie
Joined: Nov 22, 2006
Age: 57
Posts: 8059
Location: Oregon, USA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 12:37 pm Post subject: |
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I have an English friend, and he says in England the whole greeting is "how do you do?" which is answered "how do you do?" and that's IT!
I usually clench my face in my grimace that passes for a smile while I look them right on the bridge of their nose and say "fine, and you?" expecting nothing more. It works for them and I am off the hook. Good luck
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I freed thousands of slaves; I could have freed more if they knew they were slaves.
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stephaniecatherine
Sea Gull
Joined: Aug 04, 2008
Age: 22
Posts: 241
Location: Ministry of Silly Walks
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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| sinsboldly wrote: | I have an English friend, and he says in England the whole greeting is "how do you do?" which is answered "how do you do?" and that's IT!
I usually clench my face in my grimace that passes for a smile while I look them right on the bridge of their nose and say "fine, and you?" expecting nothing more. It works for them and I am off the hook. Good luck |
 ..ok..I kinda suspected as much (what both of you said) to be true.
it's just kinda weird I guess 
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Brunny
Raven
Joined: Jul 12, 2008
Age: 43
Posts: 108
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:02 pm Post subject: |
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Heh, your English friend is probably in a posh school or something. No-one says "how do you do" any more 
But yeah, we sometimes say "how are you?" or just "alright?" or "alright mate?" and it's normally just a way of saying hello, you don't always have to tell them how you are, you can just reply with the same "question". |
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Kauf039
Toucan
Joined: May 17, 2008
Age: 23
Posts: 255
Location: ON, Canada
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, this kind of thing has always bothered me. I always feel like I have to answer... like when someone says "what's up?" just as a walkby greeting I always say either "the lights" or "the sky" or something like that. People who don't know me give me a wierd look, chuckle and go on their way. Those who know me just roll their eyes and smile. Then there is the wonderful "how ya doin?" which I just answer "k, you?".
I know the real answer to all of these questions is supposed to be just a "hey" or "sup?" or the like... but I can never answer in that way. *Sigh* ah well.
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Humm, guess I should put something witty here, huh? |
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aaronrey
Toucan
Joined: Jul 31, 2007
Age: 28
Posts: 250
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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| "how do you do?" sounds so much cooler than "how are you?" |
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Tim_Tex
WP's Resident Simpsons and South Park Aficionado
Joined: Jul 03, 2004
Age: 28
Posts: 22319
Location: San Marcos, Texas
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 10:55 pm Post subject: |
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I do the usual "Hello, how are you" thing, and if I have anything interesting to say, I let that person know.
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Keith
Guarding my post here
Joined: Aug 13, 2008
Age: 25
Posts: 1012
Location: East Sussex, UK
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| Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 12:27 am Post subject: |
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Missed one there "You alright?"
My response are the same across the board "Yeah, good, you?" "Hello. And how are you?"
I do have a habit of a polite way of responding to someone I haven't a clue what they have said - A simple "Hello?" I usually have to tell them I say this as it's polite and a good way of acknowledging the person - NOT what they have said or asked. It does work. Only works when you are talking to people around you and not on conversations on the phone or elsewhere |
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sinsboldly
Free Range Aspie
Joined: Nov 22, 2006
Age: 57
Posts: 8059
Location: Oregon, USA
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| Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 1:43 am Post subject: |
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| Brunny wrote: | Heh, your English friend is probably in a posh school or something. No-one says "how do you do" any more
". |
my English friend has been out of school for 40 years. He just knows posh people is all.
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I freed thousands of slaves; I could have freed more if they knew they were slaves.
-Harriet Tubman |
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sinsboldly
Free Range Aspie
Joined: Nov 22, 2006
Age: 57
Posts: 8059
Location: Oregon, USA
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| Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 1:52 am Post subject: |
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| sinsboldly wrote: | | sinsboldly wrote: | | Brunny wrote: | Heh, your English friend is probably in a posh school or something. No-one says "how do you do" any more
". |
my English friend has been out of school for 40 years. He just hangs with posh people is all. |
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I freed thousands of slaves; I could have freed more if they knew they were slaves.
-Harriet Tubman |
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TutuFairy
Phoenix
Joined: Jan 13, 2008
Age: 16
Posts: 826
Location: Fairyland
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| Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 1:32 pm Post subject: |
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Usually, if they are walking by at a fast pace and ask you could just say "Good, thank you", but if they aren't walking very fast and you have time or they hesitate, then you say "Good, how are you". I think...
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carturo222
Polymath wannabe
Joined: Aug 04, 2008
Age: 25
Posts: 1137
Location: Colombia
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| Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:43 am Post subject: |
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| If it's someone I don't feel like talking to at that moment, I just raise my eyebrow for a fraction of a second in acknowledgement. If he/she doesn't seem to walk by as fast as I need, I raise my hand and wave a little. This gesture is quite useful, as it serves both as a recognition of greeeting (hi, yes, I did see you) and as a non-verbal way of waiving his/her presence (yes, I saw you, now go away). |
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Tahitiii
Phoenix
Joined: Jul 02, 2008
Age: 52
Posts: 741
Location: NJ, USA
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| Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 11:01 am Post subject: |
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It depends on what you want from that particular relationship. With some people, it's just an acknowledgment of your existence and neither of you really wants anything more.
With some people, it's an opportunity for a little something that will contribute to a future opportunity for a little more.
Some people develop their own signature replies to the usual "how are you," like
"Not bad for an old fart." or
"I can't complain -- mainly because no one would listen." or
"Oh, the usual..." (fill-in-the-blank for your situation, something along the lines that the boss is a jerk or that this place is terrible or whatever doom-and-gloom complaint everyone makes.)
Then you both smile at the little joke and walk away. |
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ShawnWilliam
Phoenix
Joined: Aug 27, 2008
Posts: 1462
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| Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 1:34 pm Post subject: |
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Ahaha!
same thing has happened to me.. they go HEy shawn hows it goin!.. and keep on walking..  |
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