"Youse alright? Hows you doing? Youse alright?"

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I've only just realised this is meant as a greeting or even a genuine attempt at starting a conversation, and should never EVER be interpretted as an enquiry on my wellbeing. How can people go though life communicating like this?

― Graham (graham), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 13:43 (twenty-three years ago)

Have you moved to Newcastle?

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 13:50 (twenty-three years ago)

you're english, right?

― michael wells (michael w.), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 13:51 (twenty-three years ago)

I feel like it.

― Graham (graham), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 13:54 (twenty-three years ago)

this isn't a new phenomenon.

― michael wells (michael w.), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 13:56 (twenty-three years ago)

i love "alright, mate?" ... i think it's a good phrase. when i first went to england it baffled the shit out of me, i couldn't figure out why everyone was so concerned about me. normally here in canada you only ask if someone's "alright" if they look like they're about to throw up.

that said, canadians say "how's-it-goin'?" with astonishing frequency. this too is in no way intended to be an inquiry into someone's health or happiness.

i'm interested: there has to be one of these phrases | or more in the case of the u.s. (ie. "what's up, dude?") | in each country on earth. why did these things develop instead of normal greetings?

― fields of salmon (fieldsofsalmon), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 13:59 (twenty-three years ago)

On a few occasions, I have actually attempted to answer people when they say, if only to mock the system. I mean, people ask How are you? all the time but don't actually care for an answer. Except, maybe FINE, and you?

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 13:59 (twenty-three years ago)

when i was in australia i'd say "alright?" in passing and the person would reply "yeah, good thanks. how are you?" and i'd go "er, ok, yeah".

― michael wells (michael w.), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 14:04 (twenty-three years ago)

I've always said "fine", and awaited the next question. Am I doing something wrong?

― Graham (graham), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 14:05 (twenty-three years ago)

living in the north?

― michael wells (michael w.), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 14:10 (twenty-three years ago)

Ha ha. No, not really, not if you can't think of anything else to say. But it's a good chance to say something completely random to them and start a proper conversation if you can think of anything or want to. A halfway house might be just saying 'yeah, good, just [insert whatever you're up to here]'.

I love these conversation lessons.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 14:13 (twenty-three years ago)

My brother-in-law always greets me with What's happening, Peter? and I always answer Nothing. It could be worse, it could be What's wrong?

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 14:19 (twenty-three years ago)

I always say "not the worst" and this week a friend said "alright?" as a greeting and I said it and she was like "not the worst? is that all? aw..". I better start saying "not too bad" but I guess it's no different. I like the whole "not so bad how are you", "not so bad" verbal tennis game that goes on.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 14:27 (twenty-three years ago)

"how's she cutting?" is great greeting that you hear sometimes in ireland though now mostly in an ironic way. i have no idea what it refers to.

― angela (angela), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 14:32 (twenty-three years ago)

ever watch the sopranos?

― Chris V. (Chris V), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 14:35 (twenty-three years ago)

is that addressed at me? if so, no, i don't have a telly. also the person i most associate with "how's she cutting?" is my dad and he's been saying it for more than 20 years.

― angela (angela), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 14:39 (twenty-three years ago)

i always say 'alright', yo.

― g-kit (g-kit), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 14:40 (twenty-three years ago)

Is "how's the form" an Irish thing solely? I'm quite a big fan of that actually tho' "how's she cuttin" is not without charm.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 14:42 (twenty-three years ago)

no not addressed at anyone, just basically how they talk on the show. How you's doing?

― Chris V. (Chris V), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 14:43 (twenty-three years ago)

NORTHERN REPLY: "Not bad, yawreet yissen? What yer up ter?"

― Sarah (starry), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 14:45 (twenty-three years ago)

Starry surely 'not so bad...'

― Tim (Tim), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 14:46 (twenty-three years ago)

I've always thought that a good reply to the "Alright?" question is "Absolutely average, thanks." Or if you want people to stop asking you, then "Fucking shit. My grandad died last week, my mum's back on the game and we've just found out that the dog has rabies" is a surefire winner.

― lol p xx, Tuesday, 22 October 2002 14:50 (twenty-three years ago)

Another Spanish thing I've never got used to is bumping into an acquaintance in the street and them cheerily shouting GOODBYE! I've never quite got over the sense of rejection.

:-(

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 14:55 (twenty-three years ago)

Tim: 'not so bad cock...'

or maybe, 'not so bad, cock'?

― Sarah (starry), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 14:57 (twenty-three years ago)

If I was greeting, say, a person called Tim, I like to say: "How's Tim?". Makes the greeting sound cheerful and light-hearted.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 19:56 (twenty-three years ago)

i had a friend whos dad would greet me with 'good thanks how are you'.
it is rare, isnt it? to meet anyone who REALLY means to ask after your wellbeing when they greet.
here it just seems to be a standard way of saying 'oh hi lets get talking then'.
if i really want to ask someone how they are, i do it differently and after the initial stuff is out of the way.
one peculiarly english thing that got me was the habit a ( briefly passing ) bf had of saying 'ok i look forward to it'.
i thought he meant it. but realised later he was just talking shit and it was yet another meaningless phrase.

― donna (donna), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 20:04 (twenty-three years ago)

I always reply honestly! I know it's awful but my ego won't allow otherwise.

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 22:26 (twenty-three years ago)

I reply honestly usually, or at least attempt to avoid claiming to be fine or good when I am not, and then people hassle me for perpetually not experiencing life the right way or something

― Josh (Josh), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 03:28 (twenty-three years ago)

i say "oh you know" & make a sort of dismissive half-wave gesture.

― unknown or illegal user (doorag), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 08:32 (twenty-three years ago)

"alright" "safe" "innit" "later" "geezer"

― jel -- (jel), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 08:34 (twenty-three years ago)

now you're talking my language, yo. innit.

― g-kit (g-kit), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 10:34 (twenty-three years ago)

Nah, you're just being a mug mate. Trust.

― Anna (Anna), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 11:42 (twenty-three years ago)

Tim: 'not so bad cock...'
or maybe, 'not so bad, cock'?
-- Sarah ([email protected]),

Sarah, I was going to say something the other day when you said "Go on Alan" yesterday. I didn't like the sound of that at all.

― Alan (Alan), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 11:47 (twenty-three years ago)

Er? Wot?

― Sarah (starry), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 11:56 (twenty-three years ago)

arrey there fella
Um, hello?

― Matt (Matt), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 12:27 (twenty-three years ago)

Surely, "how's she cutting" refers to your ship and whether it's sank yet?

― Stuart, Wednesday, 23 October 2002 15:09 (twenty-three years ago)

Exchanges with my friends have achieved a certain formalism:

"How're you doing?"
"Grand. And yourself?"
"Grand. So, how're you doing?"
---INSERT CONVERSATION BELOW THIS LINE

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 29 October 2002 12:09 (twenty-three years ago)

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