You're not good; you're well.

Since there is a big lull in work right now, I've been binge-watching some DIY series on the BBC archive. Right now, it is the turn of Money for Nothing, in which someone goes to a recycling centre and asks people chucking away their old stuff if they can take three things away with them (all carefully chosen, of course). The presenter works on one project and delegates the other two items to various people, such as a blacksmith, a signwriter, and other upcyclers.

The designs and amount of creativity evinced by everyone involved are impressive and on the whole, the programme provides plenty of inspiration.

However, there is one thing that really irks me, that really gets my goat and that is that most people, when asked how they are, reply "I'm really good." And why does that annoy me? Because they are not being asked about their morals but about their health.

If someone asks you how you are, there are various reply options. They range from "Very well, thank you" to "Mustn't grumble". The word "good", on the other hand, describes a person's moral status. "He is such a good, kind-hearted person he is almost a saint."

Other responses to "How are you?" are as follows....

"I'm fine, thanks."

"Fine, thanks."

"Fine."

"Great, thanks."

"Not bad."

"Okay."

"I've been better."

"Busy."

"A bit poorly."

"A bit under the weather." (Like the previous phrase, this one means 'not so well'.)

"Stressed out."

Or as I sometimes say, "I'm still breathing."

And, of course, to be polite, your response should incorporate an enquiry about the other person's health by adding "And you?" to the end of your response. Like this: 

"How are you?"

"Fine, thanks. And you?"

"Oh, I'm fine, too."

But "good" as an answer to how you are just pains me. I wince every time I hear it. It's just as bad as hearing someone ask for a drink (or whatever) by saying "Can I get...?" Aaargh.

Here is a "good" person:

And here is a well person: