I find it weird that we all keep saying "hi" "hello" "salam" and all words meant for greetings

In this time and place we say: Hello, how are you? Any number of permutations. A salutation attached to an inquiry.

But the social contract is-- under no circumstances every day how you're really doing. That's TMI. That's not respecting boundaries. If you slip up you apologize for the transgression. It's like farting. Too much of one's insides coming out. It's gross.

I think we just train each other that our interiority has no value by engaging in this ritual. We pretend to care, but tacitly demand no answer. And so people lie to their psychiatrists. No. They aren't depressed. They lie to their doctors. Top shape, great in the sack too. And we lie to ourselves. No. It's fine. My husband is pounding random women he meets online in motels. It's fine. My daughter cuts herself. She's fine. She says she stopped. It's all fine.

This goes sooo deep because people speak the same way here. They ignore and delete their interiority. I mean anyone can really PM anything. It's anonymous. Any candid horrid wonderful disturbing amazing shit. But it's still: Hi. How are you? I'm fine too thanks. But you look at their profiles and posts and it's clear they are a little tornado in the ass of an orca in a volcano with herpes scabs sprinkled on top.

I used to be very candid on here. I stopped largely because it expected it to be tête à tête. I peel off a layer, a catalyst for somebody else doing the same. That happened with my darling and I have a love of my life. But no others. I wonder if that's part of why we go into refrigeration. We fear real connection might come of being raw, bare, honest...

Hi. How are you?

I spent the night staring into the abyss. Walking the cold shore of yearning. Then I sat in my underwear writing vignettes on my lap top in the flickering light of the television.

I understand greetings and goodbyes as a way to announce your arrival and leaving so that others wouldn't be surprised how and when did you appear and disappear. Or as a way to get attention when you need something from someone. If it doesn't matter then I see no point in them and they are just a waste of words. Just like sayings like bon appetite, which I by the way hate because I see zero purpose in it and it just annoys me when I'm expected to repeat that like a monkey if others in the community started it first. Unnecessary talking.

I’ve often found that just a simple friendly smile will suffice and says so much “with out any words spoken” 😊

My friend from Russia told me they don't greet or smile or say anything to each other when they go to a store to get something for example and because she studies in Hungary and has to say good morning and hello to everybody she now finds it weird. Meanwhile somebody from Laos told me if you say hello without smiling and extending the word as much as you can, people will think you're mad at them. Existing is complicated 😅

My son is 8 and his dad’s parents once told him he couldn’t stay with his dad as punishment for not saying goodbye one time I picked him up. They’re weirdly adamant about saying hi/bye 😆 It’s like a power thing to be acknowledged I guess.

It gets stranger in many cultures.

In Indonesian the expression for “hello” literally means

Have you taken your bath?

People respond with

Good good…

No one comments on wether they have had a bath or not.

Personally I do and feel it is the polite and proper thing to do. Many family and friends usually get a hug hello and goodbye.
Rarely do I do the "Irish goodbye" 😅

We just say Hæ.

Live long and prosper 🖖