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I'm a cashier and literally greet every single customer with "Hello, how are you?". So when I read the thread title, I was worried that other people shared the same annoyance with the phrase.
I find it engaging and polite. I think the OP is in the definite minority.
I'm a cashier and literally greet every single customer with "Hello, how are you?". So when I read the thread title, I was worried that other people shared the same annoyance with the phrase.
I get annoyed with this. A simple "Hi" is ok with me. When I get the "hello, how are you?", I ignore the cashier. I know that's kind of a douche move, but then again, it's an understandable reaction to a phony query IMO.
And what if I'm not fine? What if my father has just past away? What if I just lost my job? What if my wife has had a miscarriage should I respond with I'm fine then? It's funny how everyone is jumping on the OP about this. Let's be honest folks, when most of you ask this question to someone you hardly know, you could give a crap about how they actually feel. There are better pleasantries out there "Hi", "hello", "good morning Tim", "Good afternoon Jason".
We can slice and dice the semantics of it, but the fact remains it's a social pleasantry. But if you want to change society, be my guest. You've got your work cut out for you. But for my time and effort, I'd choose a better subject. This is inane.
I'm a cashier and literally greet every single customer with "Hello, how are you?". So when I read the thread title, I was worried that other people shared the same annoyance with the phrase.
It is a robotic comment that is not sincere because if you answer the question honestly the cashier will not respond with any interest at all. He or she has absolutely no interest at all how I am. It is a joke greeting.
It is a robotic comment that is not sincere because if you answer the question honestly the cashier will not respond with any interest at all. He or she has absolutely no interest at all how I am. It is a joke greeting.
What are you getting out of all this loathing and irritation? Does it make your life better?
We can slice and dice the semantics of it, but the fact remains it's a social pleasantry. But if you want to change society, be my guest. You've got your work cut out for you. But for my time and effort, I'd choose a better subject. This is inane.
It really is. I mean anyone who really chafes at such a greeting or parses its meaning really has big problems.
I answer honestly, even if was a crap-tabulous day.
But I always turn it into a joke so they don't feel obligated to ask what's wrong.
"How are you?" "WORST day ever! But you got to have them once in awhile to appreciate the rest!" Then they laugh, then I laugh.... and the day is a bit brighter, for both of us.
I mean how can this bother you though? Out of all the things wrong in the world THIS is what bothers you? Common courtesy?
It is a robotic comment that is not sincere because if you answer the question honestly the cashier will not respond with any interest at all. He or she has absolutely no interest at all how I am. It is a joke greeting.
Yeah and I acknowledge that it's a robotic comment. Being a cashier is a mundane job filled with unnecessary stress so caring about the customer's inner psyche is not on the top of my worry list. The greeting is a simple pleasantry and I get ignored by customers half the time anyway. Also, for the record, if someone engaged directly with me in response to the question, I would not ignore them (and they usually say "how are you" back).
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