Lauren+S’s+2018+OpEd+Article

= "How are you" sincere? =

====“How are you?”, I uniformly said as I sold a customer an acai bowl. With no hesitation, she began to tell me about her life story, starting with her past drug addiction, then to her depression, and closing the conversation with her mom's suicide. ====

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====Although I was taken aback by her response and completely uncomfortable, I sympathized with her and let her use me as an outlet to her problems. I mean, I asked the question, therefore, I should bear the consequences. ====

====Eventually, the long-awaited ending to her oversharing came about, and I got the chance to give her order to the person making the bowls in the back. Over time, I began to question my sincerity: did I ask because I actually cared, or did I ask because I wanted to be polite? ====

====It feels like the question “How are you?” has become more of a social normalcy rather than a genuine question; a question to relieve the silence rather than a question to get to know someone. ====



====In the last 2 years, I do not remember anyone asking me how I am and wanting to know the truth. Usually, they expect a “good” or “fine” to satiate their ego and feel satisfied with themselves. ====