re some of what's been said above, when people meet you they often say [ask?] 'how are you?'

i think they usually don't want to know how you are, what does this question mean anyway?

usu. q. + response is 'how are you?' - 'ok', 'alright'etc

its a personal quirk, i'll sometimes reply 'as well as can be expected under prevailing circumstances' or 'can't complain, it depresses people' and get either a laugh/smile or odd look.

is it just me?