... The questio that we all feel obliged to ask and yet it gets us nowhere in conversation. All anyone would reply is: "I'm fine."
Sure, I TRY and take this basic question places... but it never works. Now... and here's the thing... WHY does this not work?
Is this simple question just a habitual action of the fingers typed straight after some form of greeting? Or do we truly mean to ask how someone is feeling at that moment in time.
Do they do it in other countries??
(Foreigner 1: "Bonjour"
Foreigner 2: "Salut, ca va?"
Foreigner 1: "Oui... ca va."
Foreigner 1: "Et toi?"
Foreigner 2: "Oui, ca va."
...
-Forgeiner 2 has signed off-)
Do we do it even in senility??
(Old Man: "Hello there good friend. How are you?"
Old Woman: "I... ummm... what?")
Do they do it in other spiritual realms, where not only their existance is debatable, but how they are??
(Guardian to Pearly gates of Heaven: "Yes... yes... you have done a great number of good deeds... but... one more thing... How are you?")
--[The above does not insinuate that I am a believer in Heaven, God or Christianity, nor is it meant to be offensive, k?]--
OK, so maybe the last one was a bit over-the-top, but you see what I mean: There doesn't seem to be much of a point in asking a question that gets us nowhere in conversation. If I ask someone how they are... I'm not expecting a disseration on their current mood and how it is affected by such variables as events of the day and how other people have been treating them... but an ATTEMPT at conversation would be very much appreciated.
Another thing that annoys me on online messenger services in particular, is when someone says they will "be right back"(or more commonly "brb" which comes up as a colourful little picture that I think is supposed to look like a door sign of some sort), and never... really... come back. However, along with the whole "Why did you add me if you never talk to me" thing, that is a different rant altogether.
