18 Things We All Should Do (But Don't Because 'It's Weird')
15. Answer The Question How Are You? With The Truth
An especially brutal social norm demands that the simple question how are you? be answered with anything but the truth, the most popular response being a forced smile and a non-committal not too bad, thanks when actually we feel like death and want to shout it from the rooftops. This reluctance to be honest about our feelings likely comes from not wanting to dump seven shades of defecation on the doorstep of the enquirer, forcing them into an awkward situation where they have to comfort us and offer whatever sage advice they can muster, though repressing our emotions and lying through our teeth can't be healthy. In a society that encourages us to distance ourselves from the support of others lest we look weird for having problems, a few frankly shared feelings might make everyone feel a little bit better.
