DaveR Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Q: "How are you?" > > SAMPLE HONEST ANSWER "I'm really down, and not > sure about the direction my life is taking. I'm > not sure about my relationship... > > APPROPRIATE/EXPECTED ANSWER: "Oh, fine really, > mustn't grumble, you know...." I know this happens a great deal, but why feign interest in someone's well being when in truth you couldn't give a toss? Seems a waste of breath to me. Why not instead ask them something that actually interests you? In countries like Holland, Spain, and Portugal - for example - my experience of someone enquiring "how are you" is that they genuinely wish to know how you are.