Standard greetings and other social norms.

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milefile

milefile

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What is up with people asking you specific questions about your life as part of a passing greeting? This morning this guy I work with who is mostly okay but tends to talk too much walks by me as he arrived to work and says "How was your night?" So my mind scans the events of the previous night... eating dinner, doing dishes, rocking baby, standing in line at Target, taking a shower, racing R390 GT1 around Cote d'Azure, watching the Simpsons, and falling asleep. So I answered: "Dark." What the hell else are you supposed to say? "Fine?" Fine is just as meaningless as "Dark," which at least describes a real condition of night. Another woman I work with has to ask every single person she makes eye contact with "how they are doing today." Why can't people just say "Hi" and save the questions for a conversation that may or may not take place at a more appropriate time? They also have to yell "god bless you" accross the office every time someone sneezes. It's hillarious the way three or four of them do it all at once. It's like some primitive reflex.

So what's the deal? Why do people look for any reason possible to run their mouths? Those of us who read the Hitchhikers Guide know the devastating consequences of this.
 
I hate the sneezing thing. I never say anything anymore when someone sneezes.
I hate it when you are passing in the hall and someone gives you that fake smile that is suppose to mean hi or something.

I'm with you Milefile on the stupid small talk. I give people a hi one time and then ask them about their life only if I am really interested. If I'm not interested then they get a hi once a day and not every time I go by them.
 
Umm... I always ask people how they're doing, I smile too. And if that weren't enough, I'm a blesser! (Most of the time anyway.)
 
I've always used the term "What's new and exciting?"

Knowing that most people will answer "nothing."

It's a bit different.

As for blessing someone when they sneeze, I'll do it only if I'm within sight of that person.

AO
 
When i'm at work, we always greet the customers with something along the lines of "how are you?/how ya doing?"

When I ask those question i'm not looking for a life story, all i want is acknowledgement. a grunt, the word "fine", something as long the see me. (that way i can get my boss of my back for not greeting the customers:))
 
I usually ask people "How's it hanging?" This is particularly effective for alienating females so that they don't bless me when I sneeze.

Speaking of which, I usually say "Fahrevegnugen" when people sneeze, since it's pointless for an atheist to ask God's blessing on someone, and I don't particularly want it called upon me whn I sneeze.
 
I hate: "How are we today?" "I'm fine, but I couldn't comment upon you, except to say 'annoying'".

And: "How's Giles today?" "Err... ... ... Fine, the last time I asked"

"How are you feeling today?" "Oh, you know, same as always... Nerve endings sending electrical signals to my brain. Usual stuff".
 
To a sneeze, I like to respond with an "I bless you", just to see if anyone's listnening.

If you want to get rid of someone, honestly, just tell them you were driving a Nissan R390 around Monaco. About 0.01% of the populace might know what you're talking about, and the rest will just be confused and move on.
 
Originally posted by DGB454
Stupid friendly people.....Who do they think they are?
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Excuse me? I think I'm great! :p I'm a blesser as well, only I don't say god bless you, I just say bless you.
I usually ask people, "What's shakin' Bacon?":lol:
 
I never invite conversation IRL. "Hey", "Hi", or "'ello" does it for me. And I don't bless people.

I find out enough about people through normal conversation... I don't need a fishing line to reel them in. ;)
 
The owner of my company most certainly shares my opinion on these matters. And the woman I complained about in my first post tries, every day, to drag him into some vacuous banter. A simple question requiring a one word answer turns into a drawn out explanation of a telephone conversation and "oh I just wasn't sure because you know..." bla bla bla. He just tries to walk away, smiling and nodding, put off by her obsequiousness. You'd think she'd get the picture by now.

I hate: "How are we today?" "I'm fine, but I couldn't comment upon you, except to say 'annoying'".

And: "How's Giles today?" "Err... ... ... Fine, the last time I asked"

"How are you feeling today?" "Oh, you know, same as always... Nerve endings sending electrical signals to my brain. Usual stuff".
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Great stuff.

Analyze a lot, don't you?

That blows.
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Perfect for people like him.
 
Originally posted by milefile
Perfect for people like him.
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I'm just saying, because apparently, you must waste so much of a good life by analyzing so much.

I've always seen you as a pretty cold person. How about instead of telling us, letting these people you complain about know how you feel? Because if you don't realize, complaining to others about a problem does not solve said problem. :)

Try looking at the positive side of things, not analyzing so much.

And i say all this, because you yourself said you weren't having a crappy day.

Y'know.
 
Originally posted by Giancarlo
I'm just saying, because apparently, you must waste so much of a good life by analyzing so much.

I've always seen you as a pretty cold person. How about instead of telling us, letting these people you complain about know how you feel? Because if you don't realize, complaining to others about a problem does not solve said problem. :)

Try looking at the positive side of things, not analyzing so much.

And i say all this, because you yourself said you weren't having a crappy day.

Y'know.
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You assume analyzing is bad. For me, analyzing is good. I enjoy it.

You can be friendly without being annoying and/or following a script.

Not everything has a positive aspect to it, therefore looking at the "positive side of things" can often be a wate of time, especially when it's so much more fun to just look at the thing. Not to mention the "positive side to things" has been over done. I prefer something interesting.

Ever wonder why they have to pay you to go to work? Some sell a skill, some sell their time, I sell my patience.

Complaining always makes me feel better. And I enjoy listening to others complain, too.
 
Well to each his own, i suppose. I won't hassle you for following a certain lifestyle.
 
Originally posted by milefile

So what's the deal? Why do people look for any reason possible to run their mouths? Those of us who read the Hitchhikers Guide know the devastating consequences of this.
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I don't know and I absolutely hate it.

When I worked in Chicago, I used to get flowers periodically sent up to my office, then I'd take them to Danielle who was in school across town. So on the elevator ride down from my office, people would always say something about the flowers.

So one time a guy says, "I know what those are for! It's a birthday, isn't it?!?!" So I quietly mumble, "No - actually it's a funeral." He moped off the elevator. I probably ruined his day but I can't say I didn't get loads of satisfaction from it.
 
Everytime someone sneezes when theyre talking to me, i tell them to go to hell. :lol:

Just kidding.
 
Originally posted by Acid X
Everytime someone sneezes when theyre talking to me, i tell them to go to hell. :lol:

Just kidding.
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You could also say "that's gross, man." Or, "you should wash your hands now."
 

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