February 11, 2011
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People?
My wife and I went to the grocery store yesterday. (We usually do that on my day off.) It was unusual because I ran across several people I hadn’t seen in awhile. Since my wife is better at remembering people, when the person left I asked her who it was. It seems like more people know who I am than I know who they are. A lot of these people told me their medical conditions. One young girl had twisted her foot and had to have surgery. She was in a electronic chair. She did pretty good at driving it and pushing a shopping cart. Another lady was in a lot of pain with some condition I couldn’t even pronounce – but she could. Another guy told me his wife was being tested for cancer. There were others that simply just said hi and walked on. It made me think. I personnally don’t like to talk about any of my “medical” conditions. I just don’t do it. I don’t mind people telling me how they are doing. After all I ask them: “How you doing?” And they tell me.
Question: What do you usually talk about with people you haven’t seen in awhile?
Unctuous people humor me, but don’t influence me.
Comments (21)
Well over here, the common thing is first and foremost, the weather! Only cause when we talk to each other it will usually be in the torrential rain, snow or sleet or gale force winds. After that it is usually, what have you been doing, how’s the family, then it will usually end with a promise to meet up for a coffee or something. Or if it’s with a person you are not keen on it ends with well see you around! lol
Do you feel that when you ask, ”How are you?” you have to listen to an “organ recital”? I try to avoid that but must admit that since I just had bilateral knee replacement that has been my topic of conversation.
Its always awkward to hear someone medical condition when you have not seen them in a while. I rather just talk about weather and such, more oratorical than anything else.
I usually ask how they are or how their family is…pretty broad eh?
Glad you enjoyed the slipped banana!
That is tough, but in our culture it is polite to greet someone with “how are you?” but it is equally polite not to give that “organ recital”. We really are not asking a question but simply greeting someone aren’t we? Possibly we could say,”Good to see you,you don’t have to tell me how you are, I can see you are doing great.” LOL How would that fly LOL.
@Margo73 - Weather seems to be a good opener – especially now that it’s warming up.
@Dominie - Organ recital – I like the pun. At times I just say Hi to people if I’m not able to hear how they are doing.
@looking_inside_me - People are funny and what they talk about the same.
Whatever they want to talk about. I have discovered that most of us just want someone to understand, to emphathize, to pray for us–just to know we matter to others.
@ThexGodfather - I know one lady that everytime she sees me she asks how the family is and never listens
@Lucy_or_Ethel - People are funny – they ask the question but rarely expect anyone to answer it.
@Randy7777 -
ugh, if you are going to ask one must listen, its only polite!
@stephensmustang - That’s so true
@ThexGodfather - I think if we are good listeners we’re great communicators.
As little as possible!!
@andreasiscrazy - lol – I’m not a person that talks much either.
usually i’d be the quiet one, with the hope the the other person are the talkative one..
@maniacsicko - I’m like that also.
I never know what to say when people ask me how I’ve been. Usually, it’s just “good. How about you?” Very typical response no matter when asked!
@karen0z - I’m thinking most people aren’t really wanting an answer. -some friends really do. There are times when I ask a person how their doing and get an ok – & I say no really how are you doing?
@Randy7777 -
Yeah. I think that’s why I never liked the question. I never tried the “no really how are you doing?” question though. I like that.