Most of the time when somebody asks how you are doing they are not actually asking how you are doing.
It is a greeting. A social reflex. The expected exchange is simple and fast. Hey how is it going. Good how are you. Good. And everybody moves on with their day. Nobody is waiting for details. Nobody wants the full story. They are just being polite and they expect you to be polite back. I get it and most of the time I play along.
But sometimes I do not.
If somebody keeps it casual I keep it casual right back. That is the unspoken agreement and I respect it. But if somebody steps out of the standard script and starts asking specific questions, something like how is the new job going or how are things at the city, well now we are in different territory. You went specific. You opened a door that the basic greeting keeps closed. And sometimes just for my own amusement I will walk right through it.
I will give you the full answer. Every detail. I will hold you there longer than you planned to be held and watch you nod along to information you did not actually want. Not to be cruel about it. Just because you asked. You specifically asked. And there is something quietly funny about watching someone realize mid conversation that their casual question has turned into a full briefing.
It is a little social experiment I run on people who ask detailed questions out of habit without actually wanting detailed answers. The lesson is simple. If you want the short version, keep it short on your end. How is it going works just fine. But if you come at me with something specific, just know you might get something specific back.
You asked. I answered. That is on you.
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