To hate it that people say "yes" when I ask how they are.

[sweetgrape]

It's become so common place now that it seems to be the norm.
If I say to someone "how are you" or "how're you doing" or something similar they invariably answer "yes I'm good thanks" or "yes I'm fine".
What is the "yes" for? I know it might make me sound trivial and pedantic but I hate it. People didn't used to speak that way. I think Eastenders started it off and now it seems the whole world does it. AIBU?

[ShatnersBassoon]

It's just small talk. They expected you to say "Are you all right?" and the answer is out of their mouth without really processing the question. I don't think you can blame Eastenders.

[Snozberry]

A lot of people say "alright?" as a greeting so perhaps the yes thing is a standard response to that and gets used all the time no matter what the first hello is?? I don't know. Sometimes "alright?" is answered with another "alright?" and I find that weird. Greetings seem to all be weird and mean nothing.

[sweetgrape]

Yes but Shatners I have received answers in this way on emails and texts so that can't really apply.

[WinterOfOurDiscountTents15]

If you want it to be how people used to speak, you should say How do you do? to which the response is the same in return!

[ShatnersBassoon]

It does apply. They quickly read that you're asking after them, and it doesn't really matter enough to go back and check if it was an "All right?" or a "how are you?"

[gamerchick]

Would you prefer the truth instead? Piles playing up/kids up all night vomiting/cant afford some bill etc.

If you go through a day of truth so you feel like slitting your throat at the end of it you probably wouldn't care about the yes.

[sweetgrape]

The answer I would expect if they are alright is..."I'm fine thanks", the word "yes" is surplus to requirements. It is a new thing. You only have to look at repeats of programmes from the 80s, 70s and beyond to know this.

[SirPercyPilkington]

I am beyond amused that Eastenders is getting the blame for this

Yes, I'm fine, thanks for asking.

[Ledare]

But "yes" isn't an answer to "HOW do you do?" either.

It's wrong. Wrong wrong wrong.

I haven't noticed this thankfully but it's a slippery slpoe

Can we expect, "how does the earth rotate on its axis? Yes, it..."

[Kumiho]

Maybe just stop asking people 'how are you', as it's a fake question - you don't really want to know.

I really dislike "Are you alright?" as a greeting. Growing up that phrase meant only that you were displaying some sign of injury, not 'hello'. The answer doesn't come naturally to me. Of course I'm alright.

[Ledare]

"Slippery slpoe"

Also wrong. I've just come in from the sunshine and my lenses haven't adjusted.

[RepeatAdNauseum]

Maybe it's just how they process the question? However you ask (how are you, are you alright, etc), you're really asking if they are okay.

So in their head, they think "Am I okay?" - yeah I'm fine, or no I'm not.

I don't think it's an Eastenders thing.

[sweetgrape]

I recently watched some old Coronation St episodes , and noted that nobody answered an "how are you" type question with a "yes". It's definitely a new thing and I'm certain that Eastenders started it off just as The only way is Essex seems to have started off awful phrases such as "mugging me off" and "I swear down",. I wish it didn't bother me so much but it does.

[Getthewonderwebout]

I swear down has been used loads in emmerdale. Watch some old eps of that.

[sillybillymilly]

My bugbear is the word 'man' at the end of a sentence ggrrrrrr .. thats in Eastenders too

[TheWernethWife]

Agree with Kumiho - fed up of going into shops and being greeted with "Yallright" or even worse "Yallrighthere" - so bloody rude imo. This usually takes place when I've literally just taken a few steps into the shop, give me a chance to look round first, went into Next last week and I was approached three times in five minutes wtf. Store/shop managers take note.

[SaucyJack]

Yeah, YABU.

Yeah, every sentence starts with yeah dahn Sahf.

Like, innit.

[Gruntfuttock]

One thing that really winds me up is people who say "Yes no" in response to a question, when they mean "Yes". I have heard it a lot in programmes such as Escape to the Country. The presenter will ask the househunter something like "Is this kitchen large enough for you?" or "Do you like the garden " and almost every time, the reply will be "Yes no, it's a fantastic size" or "Yes no, it's perfect". I have never heard a man do that, btw, it's always women. If there's anyone here who does it, will you please explain why?

[sweetgrape]

Thewernethwife that annoys me too. Do they not realise that it puts customers off browsing. If we want help we'll ask for it, otherwise leave us alone and let us browse in peace. I can't understand why they wouldn't realize how off putting it is, they must shop too.

[SunnyBaudelaire]

" fed up of going into shops and being greeted with "Yallright" or even worse "Yallrighthere" "

I do hate that, when you go into a café or bar or shop and the assistant says 'are you all right there?' - it is so fucking annoying! What don't I LOOK 'all right'? What are you saying? do I look a bit loony or something?

Worst of all was my Sister's boyf saying it to me as an introductory greeting. OK he did work in a phone shop but still.

Now I tend to say...um yes are you all right there too?

[CrohnicallyAspie]

We used 'swear down' in primary school so over 20 years ago now. Don't think you can blame TOWIE for that!

[Gruntfuttock]

Has anyone noticed how many young men e.g. shop assistants, delivery men, don't say "Bye", but "See you later"? I think that's weird, but so many do it.

[Theycallmemellowjello]

sweetgrape - why on earth are you opposed to language changing? of course no one speaks like it's 1970 now...

[MagpieCursedTea]

The correct exchange is

"Alreet?"

"Aye"

Maybe that's just up here though...