One really annoying thing from coming back from a holiday or even a weekend is that everyone asks how your holiday/weekend was. It's another of those pleasantries that I find really ridiculous. Nobody cares how my weekend or holiday was. And now I have to figure out a way to answer that question without being boring.
And god forbid I don't ask someone how their weekend or holiday was. That would be really rude of me.
I propose we all stop asking questions that we don't care to know the answer to. Starting...... now.
Maybe people do care?
ReplyDeleteNo, not possible.
DeleteI agree -- most people don't care unless you have a REALLY good story. And only then if the story makes them feel good about their own vacation.
DeleteIt's kind of like when my husband asks me how I slept because he wants me to ask him how HE slept so that he can tell me, "HORRIBLY." Every. Single. Day.
ReplyDeleteI'm beginning to think you're reading my thoughts. Just yesterday I was ranting to my friend about people not asking questions that they don't want an answer to. By the way, the proof that no one cares about your vacation: if you say it was ok the conversation continues without skipping a beat. Clearly they didn't want to know anything, just to let you know they cared enough to remember you were away so nowadays I acknowledge their effort by saying it was fine and changing the topic. Social norms are increasingly laughable to me.
ReplyDeleteHow is that proof? If I ask someone how something was and they just say, "it was OK," I figure that they don't want to talk about it (which I respect) or that there was really nothing noteworthy about it.
DeletePersonally, I ask things like that because I am interested. It's sort of like visiting a news website: I'm not going there just to give charity hits for advertising revenue. If the person says that it was OK, then fine - nothing interesting or worth discussing, we move on. If there's an amusing story or something interesting, I like to hear it. If they had a bad time, then as a friend/coworker, I'm there for them if they want to have someone to talk to.
You forgot the little part about "without skipping a beat". You kinda have to experience it but it's like the way "How're you doing?" is the new Good Morning. It's not so much a question as a greeting, they don't actually care how you're doing, it's a conversation opener. You haven't had this happen before?
DeleteMy Christmas morning started with me spilling the half-baked contents of a pecan pie all over my oven, so I just said that my Christmas was warm and sweet and I hoped theirs was, too. Tricia
ReplyDeleteI agree!! Same with "How are you?", how many times have you heard some version of "fine. Yours?".
ReplyDeleteDon't ask if you don't care! But I do tend to ask in return if someone asks me.
I assume it's just a pleasantry, not a real question. My answer is, "Fine, how was yours?"
ReplyDeleteIt's just like when someone greets you by saying "How ya doing?" That's not a question; it's an alternate pronunciation of hello. The proper response to that is, "Hey, how ya doing."
I cannot stand saying "Good Morning" to people. Because it is NOT good, especially if I have to say it to some one that I do not like. So I always say "Hello". That way it is a greeting and I do not add any superfluous well wishes in there.
ReplyDeleteJust say "Morning." People will assume you mean "good morning" and they won't think you're weird.
DeleteHhahaa too late for that - I AM weird! I do like your advice, though. Fixes it perfectly. :)
DeleteHi Doc Fizzy how was your weekend? got big plans to ring in the new year tonight?
ReplyDelete