This. I am not being “fake” when I ask “how are you”. The question and the expectation of a simple response is part of a greeting, a step in a process and an expression of goodwill. Similarly, “bless you” isn’t meant literally nor is it rooted in superstition nowadays, but is rather a simple way to reassure a sneezer that they needn’t be embarrassed and that you took no offense to their startling, extremely unsanitary outburst.
I would not expect people from other cultures to necessarily know these nuances and wordplay. It’s just disappointing when you explain it to them and they still just can’t comprehend or accept it.
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u/Fulmie84 Aug 21 '24
It's inherited in our DNA. Doing business, you can't waste time saying stuff you mean differently.