[stevekemp]

This is culture-specific. As somebody who moved from Scotland where "How are you doing" has only one socially-acceptable answer "Good/Great/Fine" I'm now in Finland.

If you ask a Finnish person how they are, they will tell you.

I regard this as refreshing, honest, and interesting.

[Jemmeh]

I want to move to Finland just for this, haha.

People here (southeast USA) like to ask this question as they are walking by. There is absolutely no way to answer in an honest way, you just have to say "Good, good." or something like that. Furthermore, since you're walking by it's still awkward even to say "Good, you?" I've always found it really weird. If you just want to say hey, say hey! Hello. Greetings. Salutations. Don't ask me a question as you're walking away. :v

[Jtsummers]

Also in the southeast. I've started answering honestly (to a point). And when I ask it I stop first and face the person. It's actually a very difficult habit to get out of once you've started. Similar to removing verbal tics such as "like". The hardest part is the mindfulness required to acknowledge it's even happening.

[Jemmeh]

Personally I only ask it if I'm already stopped and facing someone. At work, so many people are walking by me at a very fast pace and just quickly shoot this question at me. I answer, "Good, you?" and hear a "good" in the distance as they are already 10 feet away, and it's always felt super awkward.

Totally fine in the breakroom as we are in line to get coffee/water though.

But yeah, people probably just don't think about it much. I understand it's just a greeting to them.

[stevekemp]

The language is a nightmare, the winters will kill you, but those two minor flaws aside it's a nice place to live and I am enjoy the process of settling in.