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meaningless greetings
6

meaningless greetings

meaningless greetings

(OP)
It's not an obstacle to getting my work done, but since most of my human interaction happens at work I guess it's work-related.

First there was the empty "How are you?" to which the only appropriate answer is "Fine". And its cousin, "What's up?" to which the only appropriate answer is "Nothin' much."

Okay, I got those.

Then there was "What's going on?" which seemed, in contrast to "What's up?", to be a real question rather than a formulaic greeting, but no, it wasn't. It was just a variant on "What's up?".

Okay, fine, I learned that.

The latest, though, is where someone in passing asks a specific question about some social aspect of my life--and then seems dismayed when I waste their time answering it with a full sentence or two.

Dammit, if you mean hello, just say hello. I don't want to have to go through life assuming that every non-technical question aimed in my direction is insincere. I'm cranky enough as it is.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies:  FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

RE: meaningless greetings

Geez.  Remind me to never say "Hi" to you in a hallway.  Or ask you how your day is going.

--Scott
http://wertel.eng.pro

RE: meaningless greetings

I know a guy that would actually tell you what he is doing, or how he is feeling.  Really funny when you are on the observing end and not the asking for it end.

RE: meaningless greetings

I know the feeling, I've heard them all. It's stress and you don't want to hear it. Just say "Hi" and if they want more info, just politely respond you don't want to talk about it and continue on your way. Eventually they will stop.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated Jul 13, 2008)

RE: meaningless greetings

(OP)
You can say hi. Just don't ask how my day's going unless you actually want to know.

I must be socially retarded. It never occurs to me to ask questions if I don't plan to listen to the answer.

So I feel like an idiot when I actually answer someone's social question and by the fourth word (not the fourth paragraph) the person's trying to get away from me because the expected answer, depending on the sentence structure of the question, was either "yup" or "fine".

But I hate the thought of assuming that all social questions are that insincere.

I'm not talking about a "whassup" in the hallway. I'm talking about specific questions along the lines of "How's your [injury or other medical condition]?" or "Do any [hobby] this weekend?"

The answer to those is to be nothing more than "fine/better" and "yup/nope". What the hell is the point? Asking the question is not a polite show of interest; asking the question and getting a brief answer is a polite show of interest. Asking the question and not waiting for an answer is some kind of weird scoring system where you get points for revealing that you know details about someone else.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies:  FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

RE: meaningless greetings

We need to borrow from the Chinese their very useful interrogative "Ma".
"Ni Hao." is the rhetorical version while "Ni Hao Ma." is where they really want to know how you are.
 

JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
 

RE: meaningless greetings

I've learned that, "How was your weekend?" oftentimes means, "Let me tell you about MY weekend."

Depending on my mood, I'll give a brief answer about my weekend and refuse to ask in return.  Mind you, I don't have many friends.  winky smile

Cheers,
CanuckMiner

RE: meaningless greetings

Someone once asked me passing in the hallway "Hi, how are you?" (which I hate). I said "good" (pause). He said "Aren't you going to ask how am I doing?!" I said "Why?? You came to work and you are mentally capable of asking me a question, I assume you are fine, why take it to another level?!"
He doesn't ask me anything anymore. ;)

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated Jul 13, 2008)

RE: meaningless greetings

I always answer with an over-the-top superlative.  "How are you?" I answer "WONDERFUL, and you?"  It breaks the script and you can really get some great stuttered responses.

David

RE: meaningless greetings

Or FANTASTIC.

My other option is, "can't/musn't grumble, and no one would listen if I did anyway"

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

RE: meaningless greetings

Sometimes I think I'm not a stereotypical engineer at all.

But, this thread reminds me that I am, in fact, an engineer.

Why do people ask questions they don't want the answer to?  Why should I be forced to essentially lie that every day of my life is the best one yet?

Person:  Hey, what's up?
Me:      Well I've been out all week with food poisoning.
Person:  Uh, OK, bye.
Me:      Oops.

RE: meaningless greetings

Or you can answer "as well as can be expected" which then means whatever you and the listener wish it to mean, and you don't have to lie and say "Fine thanks, and you?".  That always gets a pause.  I'm also anti generic greeting.  Keep 'em guessing and on their toes.

RE: meaningless greetings

What I hate most is the meaningless small-talk some people insist on making while standing next to you in the loo.  What if you've finished before the conversation has.  Is it rude to just walk out?

- Steve

RE: meaningless greetings

I like to go with one of two answers to the trivial question from a workmate ('How are ya?)

1. 'Average', usually stops a conversation dead

or

2. 'Best ever, my life is a continual sequence of happy events', usually gets a bemused look, but no more conversation

Kevin

"It is a mathematical fact that fifty percent of all doctors graduate in the bottom half of their class." ~Author Unknown

"If two wrongs don't make a right, try three." ~Author Unknown
 

RE: meaningless greetings

"same sh*t, different day"

RE: meaningless greetings

book excerpt from amazon

check out page 15 of "moon is a harsh mistress" by Heinlein... it describes a conversation between a technician and a computer.  Computer initiates with "hello man." tech responds with "what do you know?" after which the computer begins to recite Genesis.  

An excerpt:
"You asked what I knew." His binary read-out lights rippled back and forth--a chuckle.  Mike could laugh with voder, a horrible sound, but reserved that for something really funny, say a cosmic calamity.
"Should have said," I went on," 'What do you know that's new?' But don't read out today's papers; that was a friendly greeting, plus invitation to tell me anything you think would interest me.  Otherwise null program."

 

RE: meaningless greetings

I think you're all socially inept.  The person is asking the question in a misguided and futile attempt to be friendly and you're answering in a mistaken belief that they really care.  I tend to just go with hello, (the Swedish) hej, or a nod of the head to acknowledge someone and nothing else.  If the person is not your doctor/lawyer/clergyman than they cannot help you discuss it with them.  Mention the weather, recent events in the news, etc. if small talk is necesaary.

RE: meaningless greetings

My favorite....

When someone, usually a cashier, replies with "Have a nice Day".  I sometimes respond with "I have other plans".  It's usually true and it gets some surprising looks.

RE: meaningless greetings

What's wrong with "Thank you".

 

RE: meaningless greetings

I usually get strange looks when asked:
him- "What's up?"
me- "Airplanes and clouds"

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated Jul 13, 2008)

RE: meaningless greetings

"What's new?"
"C over lambda."
 

RE: meaningless greetings

2

My greetings are generally limited to saying good morning to my office partner.  Or something like, 'hey, Hg, nice pistol.  Is that a Glock?"

 

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"

RE: meaningless greetings

HgTX, you've been on a role the last few days with posting.  How are you?  upsidedown

There are a few around here that ask a specific question, "How are you doing this morning?"  I give specific answers, especially if I know they are only asking it rhetorically and are in a hurry to get someplace.  If I know the question was meant to be "Hello", I either reply with:
'morning.
Hey...
Good.  You?

Sometimes when I am in the mood, I'll say, "Smellin' roses on the sunny-side of Easy Street!"  This always garners a second look.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies to make the be

RE: meaningless greetings

(OP)
I seem to be much better today. Yesterday afternoon I had some catnip tea--you see, catnip is supposed to have the opposite effect on humans as it does on cats, and...Hey! Where are you going?

Hg

Eng-Tips policies:  FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

RE: meaningless greetings

Sompting, it may be a sign of some of the dubious establishments/facilities I've used the toilet in but if someone talks to me while I'm in the loo my first reaction is to stop ASAP and get out of there.

Was a time back it the UK where gents toilets were a no conversation zone unless you were an adult supevising a small child.  I miss those days.

eliebl, that's cruel.  Having worked as a cashier I'm now more sympathetic to them.  Don't get me wrong a lot of them do suck and ask for it but at the rate most of them are paid and the way they get treated, have a heart.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

RE: meaningless greetings

(OP)
We have some loo conversation-starters around here. I'm willing to continue a conversation I was having on the way in, but I generally don't see the loo as an opportunity to just strike up a chat. And it's the loo-conversers who actually *do* want to have the full conversation. (When they're not on their cell phones during the proceedings!)

Hg

Eng-Tips policies:  FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

RE: meaningless greetings

Cashiers:

Little girl grocery cashier: (after totaling my groceries) "Sir, do you wish to contribute a dollar to the Children's Miracle Network?"

Me:  "Yeah, I guess that after a day of squandering the earth's resources and polluting the ecosystem, it'll be good for my karma."

LGGC:  "Did you REALLY do that?"

Me:  "Sure.  On my shoulders is the wight of your way of life.  I'm up for it."

LGGC:  (smile, with question marks all over it)

Me:  "Thank you, sweetie!"

I love being me...

old field guy

RE: meaningless greetings

I have learned over time that there a lot of answers that nobody wants/likes to hear to the 'How are ya?' question

1. S**t and thanks coz you've made it a f**k load worse

2. Good, that flakey stuff around my k**b has finally cured itself. I told you I wouldn't have to go to the doctor. If you wouldn't mind telling others that they can safely use the toilets again I'd really appreciate the help.

3. (At the top of you're voice) AAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH, behind you. Whatever you do don't move.

4. Awful, my wife has PMT and is taking it out on me again.

5. Excellent, would you like to talk about conversion to my religion.

Kevin

"It is a mathematical fact that fifty percent of all doctors graduate in the bottom half of their class." ~Author Unknown

"If two wrongs don't make a right, try three." ~Author Unknown
 

RE: meaningless greetings

This string made me laugh.....................Thanks!!!

That is one of my pet peeves also.  Shallow self absorbed people do this all the time.  My response is normally "Im' here".  That ends most of it.  Even worse are those boneheads that do this in meetings.  "Hey Helicopter what is your opinion of why the dussle actuator arm is breaking?"
"Well, I think it may be related to..........interuption.."  "Thanks".  "Hey,let's move on to the powerpoint presentation that Ted prepared."

I put up with this crap for awhile and then I would just start in talking again like the guy with the stapler in Office Spaces.  "I am going to burn this place down if no one wants to listen".  "I will burn it down."    

RE: meaningless greetings


hey helicopter...do you have those TPS reports yet?

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"

RE: meaningless greetings

And...I think we need to see you here on Sunnnday.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated Jul 13, 2008)

RE: meaningless greetings

From this week at work:

"How ya doing?" - "Great, I've just resigned. How 'bout you?"

"Are you winning?" - "Two-nil down with five minutes to go."

And for those who talk while in the loo, if I'm already installed in one of the traps, I sit in silence for a few moments while they chat then I put on a show of straining, groaning, choking, gagging sounds. Conversation dies real quick.
  

----------------------------------
  
If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!
 

RE: meaningless greetings

or as the bud commercial used to say... "yo, dookie, pick up the phone!"
 

RE: meaningless greetings

"Uh oh, it's a gray area social situation. Do I know this guy well enough to say hi, or just look away?"
"So I went with the ambiguous tight-lipped smile that could be confused with a stomach ache."
"Your stories suck".
        - Dilbert, recounting his day to Dogbert  

RE: meaningless greetings

Continuing the loo theme...

So I'm squeezed into the crowd of fellow sprinklers in a pub somewhere in England.  A biker friend of mine squeezes in next to me, looks at me, looks down and says in a loud voice: "I see the scabs have healed up then!".  Talk about ice-breakers.

- Steve

RE: meaningless greetings

My friend and his wife are walking along the street.
He was obviously totally unaware that he'd done anything wrong (who among us ever is and heh, there's no way to anticipate significant others punishments anyway... so I guess it doesn't matter).

Anyway, walking ahead of them is a lady in a large and flamboyant hat.
Suddenly, and in a loud voice my friends wife says: "Well, I think it is a very nice hat."
The lady in question turns sharply and glares at my friend like she is going to cut him into small pieces. He has nowhere to hide.
He notes the satisfied look on significant others face.

(This is far more subtle than my significant other ever is. I envy him.)

And yes, I too prefer the monastic silence days of the gents loos.

I wonder if this isn't a hangover from the old pub days when the toilets were often just a wall under a shed roof outside the bar (and frequently unlit which made for interesting experiences) and to talk was to breath and to breath could sometimes make you bring up all the more recent beers through the mouth and nose.

Of course, today they've gone all soft with indoor loos and hygiene and all, not forgetting the auto-flush and scented blocks to pee on in the hopes they'll dissolve more quickly.

Why is it that in the UK supermarkets they've all started asking stupid questions at the checkout:

My shopping is on the conveyor, I have a carrier bag open and ready and I'm not obviously a paraplegic. "Would you like some help with your packing?"
Given a choice, I'd rather the customer services team taught them to say "please" and "thank you".

JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
 

RE: meaningless greetings

ivymike,

what is the frequency that you say c over lambda?

RE: meaningless greetings

Back in my bicycle courier days in Chicago, I was exiting a high rise behind two suits, and they asked the doorman/security guard how he was. He replied, "Just another day in paradise.  Couldn't ask for anything better than this."  
I laughed out loud.

RE: meaningless greetings

;)
pretty frequently.  whenever someone asks "what's 'nu?'"
 

RE: meaningless greetings

In the hospital last week, the man next to me was obviously in lots of pain (gangrene in the leg).
One nurse came in cheerful and asked "So, how are you this morning?"
He responded "I'm above ground! What the h*ll do ya think!".
I couldn't help to laugh.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated Jul 13, 2008)

RE: meaningless greetings

ivymike,

I wonder if it hertz anyone's feelings.

RE: meaningless greetings

A once popular greeting I haven't heard for a long time is "How's it hangin'"

Another I haven't heard since emigrating is "How's your belly off for spots?"

cheers

RE: meaningless greetings

(OP)
For a while I'd picked up from my high school biology teacher a response to "what's up" of "Sup is a syllable. Quite interesting, because depending on whether you link it to the modern Hebrew "sof" for "end" or "suf" for "reed", you get either the Red Sea (in Hebrew called the Reed Sea) or the Dead Sea for where the parting of the waters is to have happened...". Throw in references to Babylonian and Sumerian, and it's sure to make anyone glaze over.

And I used to answer "frequency" for "What's new".

I don't do anything like that at my current job because the rednecks would shun me.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies:  FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

RE: meaningless greetings

jmw, while the aroma was a good reason for minimizing breathing I always though it had more to with phobia of a certain orientation, if you catch my drift.

Belly off for spots, I haven't heard that for ever, in fact I think my Dad was about the only person I know who ever used it.

I may try it in the office here, who thinks it'll go down well in Santa Barbara?

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

RE: meaningless greetings

Whoa KENAT,

Santa Barbara?  You may not like the response you get (especially if your winking when you do it).

SB County may even fine you for ruining the environment.

RE: meaningless greetings

I don't know monkeydog, their standards must have slipped, they let me across the border every weekwinky smile.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

RE: meaningless greetings

ok, on the belly topic, I gather that it means "how are you," but what would be a more literal (or at least verbose) translation?  Would it be along the lines of "have you had enough to eat recently?"

 

RE: meaningless greetings

ivy, I have no idea of it's origens or literal meaning.  I did a google and nothing that looked definitive came up.

Could be dating back to wanting to verify someone didn't have the 'plague' and looking for tell tale skin discoloration etc but that's just one idea.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

RE: meaningless greetings

I was thinking "how's your belly off" if asked by itself could be answered with "well off," and "for spots" could be in reference to a small portion of food or tea... so being well-off for spots would mean that you've had enough to eat and drink.

 

RE: meaningless greetings

I've noticed a mildly annoying trend in my office of greeting people in the third person.  For instance one day, instead of "How are you?" a co-worker asked me "So how is Mark today?"  Unable to come up with a smart a$$ answer in time, I responded brilliantly with "Uh, good."  I should call Bob Dole for some pointers.

RE: meaningless greetings

He'd probably just come back from a therapy session or something - beware.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

RE: meaningless greetings

there's a boss a couple levels above me who comes through every morning and greets everyone that way...  can hear him coming from several cubicles off... "so, how's george today?  good, that's good, so how's frank today?  good, that's good, so how's nick today?  good,..."
 

RE: meaningless greetings

I've had people greet me like that.  Standard reply is, "MadMango is having a crappy day already.  I wouldn't talk to him if I were you."

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies to make the best use of these Forums?

RE: meaningless greetings

The fact is that people are animals.  Even animals have greeting rituals.  Some seem meaningless, some seem offensive to animals of other stripes (ask any dog owner).

I believe human animals still have a subconscious need to identify friend or foe when passing in the halls.  Any friendly gesture is preferable to sidewise eye contact and skulking past like a coyote that hopes you didn't see him.

RE: meaningless greetings

(OP)
Ivymike--see, that's part of the point system I'm talking about, where one asks questions in order to reveal that one has bothered to know something about the person rather than to get any kind of answer or even just to indicate friend not foe. I hate games.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies:  FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

RE: meaningless greetings

Could be wrong about this, but I think there is a cultural factor here. In other words, my impression is that in North America the answer, "I am doing terrible, how are you?" is not an acceptable response. At least not in a "feel good" corporate team environment. Even if you are not doing well, one is encouraged to hide it.

However, in Europe (particularly France and Eastern Europe), my impression is that it is fine to say, "Not well, I am having a horrible day".

This is just based on a couple experiences, would be good to know what everyone else thinks.

RE: meaningless greetings


ctopher, you get a star for the iMockery link.  Great stuff!

I especially like their take on the new Virginia billboard campaign which cannot, even in the most obtuse form, be referenced here.

I'm going to go wipe my eyes and stuff a towel in my mouth now...

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"

RE: meaningless greetings

Thanks. Yes, the Virginia billboard campaign is different alright. (If it's the same one about the children?) sick!

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated Jul 13, 2008)

RE: meaningless greetings

ctopher,

excellent read!  

RE: meaningless greetings

To put all this into perspective, it could be worse.  We could greet like the bonobo.

- Steve

RE: meaningless greetings

Depending on your co workers that wouldn't necessarily be worse in the strictest sense.

However for most Engineers I can see your point.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

RE: meaningless greetings

so today i kept tab's on how I great peaple.

I normaly just say "Mornin'"

Or "Go0od Mornin"

And some times...

"Hey Rick,how are you?"

maybe i am old fashioned or over formal....

RE: meaningless greetings

ivymike,
I think that bosses walking down rows of cubicles and greeting everyone by name are either -
a) practicing name memorisation by repetition.
b) showing off for actually knowing names of the drones - "aren't I a hand-on manager mixing with and loved by the troops"?

I have worked with Shell on occasions and a lot of the Dutch guys would greet you with "How's life?"  My standard answer was - "Sure beats the alternative".  Only one of them ever stopped, thought about it and laughed.

RE: meaningless greetings

When I last sat in a cube farm (probably familiar to Isaac) our names were stuck on the cubes.  Made it easy for the bosses.

- Steve

RE: meaningless greetings

I've got a little collection of cube farm name tags (all variations on my name) from the different desks I've had over the years.  Seems every admin wants to order nametags as soon as she hears there's someone new coming.  A change of pace, I guess.  In any case, since we're all labeled, it's hard to tell whether someone actually knows your name or not.  

Wear your id badge near your crotch... then ask people "did you forget my name, or are you wondering if it's really as big as they say?"  Should be worth a laugh.



 

RE: meaningless greetings

How about a switch badges with a friend day? just dont tell the boss ahead of time. or maybe pick one name and have everyone going into the office wear it and see how long till the boss gets confused :)

RE: meaningless greetings

Tell me about it. I got even bigger confusion especially when I just came to US.

RE: meaningless greetings

Quote:

For a while I'd picked up from my high school biology teacher a response to "what's up" of "Sup is a syllable. Quite interesting, because depending on whether you link it to the modern Hebrew "sof" for "end" or "suf" for "reed", you get either the Red Sea (in Hebrew called the Reed Sea) or the Dead Sea for where the parting of the waters is to have happened...". Throw in references to Babylonian and Sumerian, and it's sure to make anyone glaze over.

I had to train myself not to ask a friend of mine "what's up".  His standard response was "a chicken's butt when he eats".  He still gets me with it every once in a while.

RE: meaningless greetings

oh my, we've finally made it to "what's up?  Chicken butt!"
 

RE: meaningless greetings

My favourite response,

"Wonderful! A good dose of self delusion gets me through to lunch time!"

Mark Hutton


 

RE: meaningless greetings

My favourite Norm reply (from cheers of course):

What's up, Norm?
"My nipples. It's freezing out there."

Some nice chap has collated a load of Norm-isms here:

http://www.davidstuff.com/humor/norm.htm

- Steve

RE: meaningless greetings

(OP)
AutoXer & ivymike:

Even that is not devoid of useful content.  I never realized that "What's up?  Chicken butt!" was anything more than a bad rhyme.  I can go home now, having learned my New Thing For The Day.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies:  FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

RE: meaningless greetings

I once worked with a useless "Johnny Sunshine" that would always tell people, "Smile".  My response was, "This is my f***ing smile!"evil

RE: meaningless greetings

"What's up? Chicken butt!" is one of the most annoying, immature remarks that I have ever heard. When my kids were younger, they heard it at school and started saying it almost every day. In addition to "Guess what?"... "What?"... "Chicken butt?". UGH!!
After a week or so, they were on restriction if I ever heard it again. They stopped.
A coworker tried it once....once. I told him "Don't go there!".

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated Jul 13, 2008)

RE: meaningless greetings

I really hate it when told to "smile".  WTF do you know about what's going on in my life!

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. - Thomas Jefferson
 

RE: meaningless greetings

ewh,
Make a sign...

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated Jul 13, 2008)

RE: meaningless greetings

Already got a bumper sticker to that effect.  I guess the sign will be next.thumbsup2

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. - Thomas Jefferson
 

RE: meaningless greetings

Thanks Hg, but these are more to my liking:
http://shop.cafepress.com/wtf

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. - Thomas Jefferson
 

RE: meaningless greetings

good find chris!

RE: meaningless greetings

Thanks. I remembered it in the news not long ago.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated Jul 13, 2008)

RE: meaningless greetings

Engineers sure are a rare breed.  Do any of you deal with HR people during the day?  If another person tells me that I have a case of the "Mondays" I'm going to blow my brains out.

RE: meaningless greetings


Tophinater, we're gonna need to go ahead and move you downstairs into storage B. So if you could just go ahead and pack up your stuff and move it down there, that would be terrific, 'kay?

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"

RE: meaningless greetings

The IT guy at my work is exactly like Dwight from the Office, and he will even say, stupid things about "Mondays." Even though he will sneek in 15min late and leave 15min early!
Yet everyone else works 5-10 extra hrs a week...

He is so like Dwight that i cant even get annoyed with him... it makes me laugh...

 

RE: meaningless greetings

When a teenager I worked at for a grocery store chain that insisted - no, demanded that you greet every customer you met.  Since I worked odd hours as a part timer, I got tired of trying to remember if it was 'morning', 'afternoon' or 'evening' to go with the "good 'whatever' Ma'am-sir" greeting that we were required to do so I just resorted to saying "good morning Ma'am" and noticed that rarely did someone notice and try to correct me.  So much for people really paying attention to the greetings that they receive from store employees.

Then there was the kid (I wonder if he is still in prison-but I digress) who always said to the departing customers as they left the store (we were also required to do that parting greeting-"thank you ma'am, hurry back and see us") "F**k you ma'am, hurry back and e@t us"  without fail.  No one ever caught on although all of us bagboys knew exactly what he had said (and didn't have the brass ourselves to say.)

I've never put much stock in perfunctory greetings since.

rmw

RE: meaningless greetings

I'd have a hard time wasting brain power on such a subject.

Formalities, manners and general greetings are hardly worth so much thought, lighten up and move on.

 

Charlie
www.facsco.com

RE: meaningless greetings

spoken like a true engineer, FACS, lol!

RE: meaningless greetings

I had a colleague who used to respond for a question "How are you" ?

"Till now, I was fine" !!!

HVAC68

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