I wonder why people ask you how you are when they aren’t really interested in an honest answer. Perhaps it’s just a means of initiating casual conversation, but even I can think of a dozen other ways of achieving that without creating an opportunity to open up that can of worms. Whatever their rationale though, I wish people would ponder for an instant whether they’re ready for an actual answer before they fire that question my way—I’m sick and tired of having to argue my case.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise to regular readers, but I almost revel in my perennial state of misery. By design and circumstance, being miserable is what I perceive as normalcy—it’s a fundamental part of who I am. Judging from the way I only want what I can’t have, and drop things the instant they come within my grasp, it’s almost as if I were striving to maintain my misery.
This however is exactly the sort of thing that’s too complicated to explain when confronted by someone’s casual “How are you?” Just what am I supposed to say to that? I’m miserable as usual? I’m miserable and wretched as expected, but I am perfectly fine with that? I’m sure you don’t want to know?
What?
I’ve learned to just say “Fine.” If someone really wants to know how I am, they’ll pursue the conversation by asking “Just ‘fine’? Not fantastic?”
If you’re already aware someone’s not interested in the real answer, then give them the one that’s going to end that line of questioning if your misery is not something you wish to discuss with them.
How are you? :-)
I moved to a new house, and there is no unsecured wifi to steal anymore, so I’ve been quiet. Hopefully, I will get my own connection in some weeks.
Michelle: I did that for a couple of years, but then it got to me. I couldn’t tell them I was fine when I clearly wasn’t fine. What’s worse, I couldn’t answer that question any other way knowing superficiality of it all—which returns us to this rant.
Fellow Retard: Paying for internet access? Unpossible!
Like with so many other things in life, when you don’t get it for free, you end up paying to get it. :-|