I feel like crap all the time, and I’m running out of curt answers.
I don’t want to lie and say I’m good just because that’s what’s expected of me, but I don’t want to invite discussion into why I feel poorly.
My go-to response is “Living the dream,” because if this life is a dream I hope to wake up soon. Plus not only is it considered an acceptable answer, it can be played off as a joke.
If anyone needs extra context, being asked “how are you” is an extended part of the greeting here. The asker is really just saying hello still, and although some kind of answer is expected, they aren’t actually curious about your welfare. A genuine response throws people off balance, and is probably unwarranted. Think of coworkers, service workers, or even total strangers being asked this dozens of times a day.
“I’m not sure”
It’s rarely all bad. Then that would be simply the answer. The problem is that it’s often complicated (not the emotional capacity of a teaspoon, for those who get that reference) and idk how to summarise that into a single feeling so I literally don’t know what the answer is and so that’s when you get an idk from me
If it’s just a pleasantry by some english person (in my language this isn’t a standard question a stranger or customer support will ask you) then I’ll probably pick a random euphemism
From Germans I’ve learned that they say “muss”, meaning must. Like, you must get on with life but not because you seek out what you’re going through but because life doesn’t stop. At least that’s my working understanding of this deceptively simple word
The horrors persist, but so do i.
I’m a big fan of this one, I started using it as a mantra when I got sick of “this too shall pass”
Monty Python also has a good response:
“up and not crying”
…that is, if I’m not crying.
“Good, you?”
I’m awake, but I’d rather not be.
“Well enough” if you want to be genuine, but brief and convey that things are not aces.
But usually just mirroring “How are you!” in the same tone as the first part of the greeting establishes that it is a ritual, not a question.
Treat it non-literally. Say ‘How’s it going?’ which turns it into a greeting rather than a question.
“I am vertical.”
just say “Life, ya know” If they are only being polite they’ll answer “for sure” and thats it.
If they really care and want to know theyll ask more and then you can go into more detail.Brought to you by “protocols autistic people have to memorize” lol that being me
Sometimes I ignore the question and just move on in conversation. Most people don’t even notice because they’re asking out of habit, not to actually ask you how you’re doing.
I do this sometimes. I’ve had people ask again where i tell them that I’ll get there after i fonish my story, but then obviously never go there. lol
This is what I do. Either ignore it or just say “yes” and move on to the main topic of the day.
I used to answer somewhat truthfully, but I dunno, answering “horrible, I want to kill myself” every time tends to bring people down and sort of ruins the mood. So its just easier to skip the question. And like you said, nobody notices, they don’t really care. So why should I bother answering when its of no use. People who really want to know usually ask again and almost demand an answer, if you do ignore them.
“Still kicking but not screaming!”
“Not too bad.”
My goto is “Every day is better than the next.”
Clever.
“I’ve been worse”
I’m here is an answer. If you deflect you also get your point across.
Something similar. I Normally go with “I’m breathing” if I really don’t want to answer honestly and saying “good thanks” feels like too much of a stretch lol.
I find most people kind of laugh the answer off and continue with conversation from there
As a retail worker, yup…
Am retail worker. I’m taking notes here
