Last month, my Greek friend Nick asked me, “How are you, Srini?”
For some reason, I said, “Grateful to be alive, bud.”
“I like it. I’m going to start using your line to people who ask me how am I,” he said.
“Now that you’ve mentioned it, I like it, too. I’m going to start using my line to people perpetually and annoy the crap out of them,” I thought to myself.
If you were wondering, I didn’t ask Nick back “How are you?” I didn’t want to be the first person he used my line on. Besides, it’s impolite to ask Greek people how they’re doing. They’re Greek. Trust me. They’re doing fine — or they’re drunk. Often both.
Have you ever noticed how some people insincerely ask you “How are you?” so you’ll ask them the same back as they’re dying to sincerely swamp you with their every little problem?
Complaining is contagious. More contagious than yawning. I just yawned. You offhandedly start complaining to a friend about breakfast and he starts complaining to you innocuously about his brunch. Before you know it, your entire city starts complaining about dinner— before lunch. It’s as though everyone competes for who complains the most.
