it completely depends on how i am that day.

sometimes i smile and say "ask me an easy one."

g

I like, "I am functioning within design parameters, thank you."

Most people get a "Hangin' in there", in response to that question.
I don't like engaging in small talk with strangers.

When I was managing a wholesale beauty supply store, I hated asking that
particular question. In truth, because most of the time, I really did not care.
Not to be unpleasant, but simply because I feel like it's just one of those
"filler" questions. It's relatively meaningless.
Instead, I would ask, "What can I do for you today?"
That was more to the point of why everyone was there, and definitely the
point of my job.

I'm fine how are you? I sometimes add "But the day is not over".

Hahaha, trying to get over "sprayed against your will with God cologne"!!

However, I usually don't care for being asked that, and it often seems a bit invasive and entitled. Perhaps that tags me as private and reclusive? True.

In answer to the question, my most common response is "doing well, thanks". Action statement, open to change.

I love your sarcastic sense of humor— my replies to all those questions are full of sarcasm.

1. What are you up to today? I have a contract killing to fulfill
   2.cashiers— I tell them I have cancer which is true— they are speechless
   3.southern airports or Christians in general — it’s actually god urine
2. I sort of don’t mind the “ how was your flight” thing — it lets you vent if you had a rude or inconsiderate person you had to deal with or if you joined the mile high club you had something to brag about

I’ve been working retail at the local dollar general a mile from my house the past few months. Having taken great pains to avoid front of house customer related jobs my whole life, it’s been nerve racking at times and more exhausting work than most people give it credit for. but it’s done a lot for my social anxiety and ability to power through superficial interactions. After hundreds of repitions of “hi how are ya?” to my neighbors, if I have one or two awkward interactions in a day it’s small potatoes. Whereas before when I was isolating myself, I’d replay my cringiest moments on a repeat of regret.

Some people I’ve learned I actually enjoy talking to, others are on meth and will overshare/take advantage of any empathy or time you offer, some grumpy people won’t repond whatsoever, and another portion of those that snubbed my greeting will seem friendly suddenly as they leave, and I think they may have just not heard me. If people ask me first or in reply how I’m doing I say either I’m fine thanks, or doin alright. How’s it goin? It’s goin. I’ve learned the people who seem manic/worried/frazzled you don’t ask how they’re doing. You’re gonna get drawn into some crazy story. In those cases or if I’ve already greeted them at the door, I ask them if they found everything ok.

How am I today? I usually say. ... So far so good, I made it this far and that's a good sign.

"As well as reality allows..."
or "I feel more like I do now than I ever did before" ... lyric from a partially written song....

I guess it depends on your community...I see the same people each week: the cook at the Chinese take out, the servers at my favorite lunch spot, the cashiers at the grocery, the kid that carries my groceries to my car...we have to live with each other so we small talk a lot...sometimes it turns into something more interesting, sometimes it is too much information...the intent is genuine in most cases...we are all glad to see each other still around.

I am very social and it seems that many people are just trying to make my day and their day go better, so we tend to answer with a simple "fine" whether we mean it or not.

I sometimes answer with a "don't ask cos you really don't want to know"...that usual stops the ensuing questions until the next time..

I have had daily messages from men on this site and Facebook that amount to "How are you today?" or "Hello beautiful!" (always sans punctuation.) The temptation is overwhelming to reply to that first message with "A bit queasy due to your nauseatingly uninteresting message, but I'll soon recover." But I haven't been able to be quite that mean out loud, so I respond politely in a way that doesn't encourage further banalities. I may get there yet. The second one: "Hello beautiful." usually gets no response. If the man knew me at all, then he'd know that such hollow flattery just pisses me off and makes me wonder "What do you want?"

I quite often change the subject as you never know what the person who is asking is going thru or how their day has been so far.. I usually say great or fantastic in a cheery voice and quickly add a perssonal note ,like I love your tattoo/. and if i want to engage in further conversation I ask what meaning it has for them ,Which can usually help make there day as you have taken an interest in them or love your new hair do ot a piece of clothing they are wearing,,just letting them know they are appreciated

"I am good and I hope you are the same."

I frequently come up with a smartalec answer and explain to the clerk that I thought they needed something to break the monotony of their day.

Today at the gym, a grumpy-looking man arrived. He looked miserable. Sat on a machine fiddling with his phone. Luckily, I didn't have to ask him to move.

"Are you having fun?" I asked as I walked by. Startled, he looked up. "Guess I'm having fun. How are you?"

"I'm always happy!" I said with a grin. He smiled back.

I used to say stuff that was meaningless. Now I look at the person and say something like, "I hope you are having a good day, you have a hard job and probably a lot of jerks." They usually slow down a little and respond to this with at least a smile, and a thank you.

I usually start the interaction with some variation of
'Greetings citizens!'
'Hello human!'
'Shine on good sir'
Or whatever else strikes my fancy.

I usually answer with something akin to
'Delightful'
'Ducky'
'Peachy'
'Fantastic'
'Fabulous'
'Stuffed with glitter, poopin rainbows'
'Who's making you say this?'
'meh'

And yet if I open with questions such as “How many guitars do you have?” or “Have you ever kissed a Jamaican in a Target store?” - I’m frequently met with abject silence

I woke up this morning and told myself ( and I knew it was me because I recognized my voice ) it's going to be a good day.

I usually answer that question with "could be better, could be worse".

I truly hate it when I get those as introductory questions on dating sites. Usually, when I do answer, I get another single question query. I do not play twenty questions. If you want to talk, then talk. If not, leave me alone.

Years ago when I traveled in the Mid-South... in Kentucky they would say "y'all come back now" in Southern Missouri they added "y'all come back now, ya hear"

I'm never bothered by these innocuous questions. It's a matter of proximity for me: the better I know someone, the more interest they have in the answer. When I ask a stranger how they're doing, it's not that I'm uninterested in their answer so much as I don't know enough about them to have more than a shallow interest, and I think that's generally understood. So, while I might not be interested in hearing about how someone's grandkids are doing, if she tells me she's okay but having some arthritic pain in her hands I might offer to carry her bag for her. If it's a co-worker I ask, they might tell me about the project they're working on, and that would fit the depth of our relationship. If it's a family member or a close friend, I probably want a lot of detail about what they've been up to, and we'd have a shared body of topics to draw from (e.g., my friend and her health problems, issues with her ex-husband and their kids, recent and/or upcoming travel, etc.). The closer I am to someone, the deeper the intent. Of course some people use it as nothing more than a placeholder or a platitude, but when asked I stick to the proximity guide to measure my response.

This is a uniquely "Murican" greeting. Other country's populations will tell you in painful detail how they "are".
My standard response is "Fine! GREAT!!!! Couldn't be better!" as I rapidly depart the scene....

I take it as a friendly greeting not a question. I am not offended.
Speaking of Southern woman. I am offended when, at my age or any age really, I am called Sweetie or Honey by a stranger like a waitress.. It is insulting. I always object and they are amazed that I am offended by their southern hospitality and because I object I am the rude one.

Good question. I just returned from a "Christmas in Australia: and I made a point of smiling, engaging and being courteous to everyone I came in contact with. Did my "Christmas Dance" for gate agents, sat while a few bush aussie mates taught me the rules of cricket and tried not to be the "American Asshole". People are good if you just listen and accept differences