Itâs the same with âhow are youâ? and the expectant answer always being âGoodâ. Itâs rare that someone is genuinely interested, itâs just the social norm. (FWIW, Iâm always down to listen until you use me as a trauma dump and ignore me when I need an ear grumble grumble about askholes)
Comment on Discussion Thread đ©âđ» Tuesday 15 July 2025
just_kitten@aussie.zone âš3â© âšweeksâ© ago
Bleah, back to being cranky pants again today. Feeling bristly when people ask the prerequisite âwhat did you get up to on the weekendâ and I donât have anything exciting to say like a fishing trip or running a marathon or whatever so they tune out anyway. I know itâs a nicety but like I wish they round just skip the question, neither of us enjoy it at this point. And I donât actually want to hear about what most of my colleagues have gotten up to because itâs not in my wheelhouse anyway and i can only feign interest for so long.
Ordinarily Iâd just bury myself in work but weâve run out of stuff to do and the only stuff left is some very very tedious document updating which Iâve already spent a lot of time on and Iâm dying of boredom send help. Almost tempted to start chucking sickiesâŠ
SpinMeAround@aussie.zone âš3â© âšweeksâ© ago
CEOofmyhouse56@aussie.zone âš3â© âšweeksâ© ago
The crossing lady near my house as a teen.
Her: Good morning. How are you?
Me: Good thanks. Yourself?
Her: Not good. Last nightâŠ
Me: FUCK
Mum wanted to know why I was going to school so early. âTo avoid herâ.
MeanElevator@aussie.zone âš3â© âšweeksâ© ago
Worked in a grocery store during HS and uni. Always was friendly with customers, but at times (especially the elderly) would chew your ear off.
Now I understand they just wanted human contact and conversation but my stoned teenage brain did not.
One chap sticks out in my mindâŠI was loading up the grape display and bloke comes over and starts off âCanât enjoy grapes anymore since my wife died a few years agoâŠâ
How the fuck does one respond to that!!!
RustyRaven@aussie.zone âš3â© âšweeksâ© ago
Start by checking whether he is talking about actual grapes or the modern internet code-usage of grapes. Once he figures out what you are suggesting he could have been confessing to he will probably never want to speak to you again, and you can avoid getting into trouble by pretending to be traumatised by what you thought he was saying. #unethicallifeprotips
just_kitten@aussie.zone âš3â© âšweeksâ© ago
It totally is just a transactional thing, I can handle a âhow are youâ most of the time as itâs just an extension of âhiâ (although yes, harder to lie through your teeth when youâre really not feeling it) but the whole weekend thing is just way too long for my liking especially when I simply canât match the mood of the other person.
There are some people I will always have time for re: a genuine response to how are you etc, but because of experiences like the ones you have also had, I am very selective. I think Iâve gotten better at working out when someone might be a one-directional dumper - esp when interacting with the public during site visits.
anotherspringchicken@aussie.zone âš3â© âšweeksâ© ago
Oh god I hate those conversations. Have taken to saying âoh, just relaxingâ or something like that, just to get it over with. Am also mrs crankypants today⊠maybe itâs the weather
just_kitten@aussie.zone âš3â© âšweeksâ© ago
I am 10000% ready to blame the weather. I really wish Iâd timed everything so I could be on leave right now. I think that might legitimately be contributing to the crankiness⊠resentment⊠maybe a sickie is in full order for tomorrow to balance the scales since we have SFA to do anyway.
CEOofmyhouse56@aussie.zone âš3â© âšweeksâ© ago
You look them in the eyes and say âself loveâ then smile and get back to work.
MeanElevator@aussie.zone âš3â© âšweeksâ© ago
Worked with a dude who would always ask âDid you have a productive weekend?â
I had soooo many smart arse replies ready but never used them.
In hindsight I should have let it fly.
just_kitten@aussie.zone âš3â© âšweeksâ© ago
Urrrrgh. I think I can handle it when itâs on teams via text but in person itâs hard to give a non committal answer sometimes because that person is then around and you need to interact with them further and they might bring up their productive weekend yet again.
I just had a couple of colleagues very performatively go on a quick run before lunch because thatâs now their Thing and they want to get people into it after having announced their running activities this weekend. Like theyâre perfectly lovely folks and this place is generally great but I simply do not have the energy to pretend to be interested in any of these today. I had the shortest lunch ever and will be skedaddling as soon as I hit 7.5 hrs before I really do turn into the Grinch.
MeanElevator@aussie.zone âš3â© âšweeksâ© ago
We all have those days. Good on you for recognising when you feel like that.
Force_majeure123@aussie.zone âš3â© âšweeksâ© ago
Hate that too. Iâm always answering: nothing too exciting, or something along those lines đŽ
Gibsonhasafluffybutt@aussie.zone âš3â© âšweeksâ© ago
I say just starting making up more and more absurd activities.
I assume you never see these people outside of the office anyway.
just_kitten@aussie.zone âš3â© âšweeksâ© ago
Nah I donât. Maybe I might, sarcasm could be a great way to get them off my back without coming across as unengaged - thanks!
Gibsonhasafluffybutt@aussie.zone âš3â© âšweeksâ© ago
Maybe you suddenly have a step child? Great way to get to leave early!
tone212_@aussie.zone âš3â© âšweeksâ© ago
My last job, mandatory Monday morning in-office meetings when the first 10 minutes was wasted hearing about everyoneâs weekends and having to explain what I did for my weekend. It was a horrible way to start each week.
MeanElevator@aussie.zone âš3â© âšweeksâ© ago
Things like that make me understand why people shoot up workplaces.
Not condoning it, but you knowâŠ
just_kitten@aussie.zone âš3â© âšweeksâ© ago
Oh god. As if Monday mornings arenât hard enough