Just "Good"?

You're walking down the hall, into the dining hall, or out of class. While you're on the move, someone passing by you asks, "Hey! How are you?"

In this case, there's only one right answer: Good.

While it might seem like a perfectly harmless phrase, asking "How are you?" is actually a very well disguised argument. By asking this question, you're trying to show that you are polite, because you are asking about how someone is feeling and if they are having a good day. Yet people rarely stop to ask you this question; they are almost always walking past you while they ask, so you only have enough time to say one word before they are gone.

It's a very clever way to seem polite and compassionate without actually putting the effort in. Just look at how simple it is: three words, three syllables. But don't be fooled by the brevity of it; the words have a very personal, considerate diction. Unlike other phrases like "What's up?" or "How's a going?" this phrase uses the word "you", which leaves no doubt that the question is being direct and personal.

It's also important to note what the phrase doesn't say. It doesn't actually ask, "Did anything bad happen?" or "Did anything awesome happen?" By saying "How are you?" you are asking for more of a summary, without losing the feeling of connection and care.

Let's take a step back for a minute. If this question is set up to evoke such a personal response, then why can we get away with asking it on the go and then getting a one word answer?

Unlike some other cultures, the US is known for people always rushing around, so it's become part of the culture to be in a hurry. Because of this background, asking someone "How are you?" while they're on the move actually adds to the strength of it. By asking it while they are moving and making it short and personal, they are arguing that they are compassionate and care about you so much that they will ask after your health even though they are apparently too busy to actually stop and talk; they are making time for you because they care. In fact, it argues that the interrogator is selfless because of this sacrifice of time and emotion.

All this isn't to say that you shouldn't use it; it's very effective and can be heartfelt. This simple, supposedly innocent phrase is an undebatable argument in favor of the narrator's generosity and compassion.

By the way, how are you?