When we ask "how are you", do we really care?

Sometimes it doesn't matter if you care or not. I took a phone call today from a guy asking me to give money to a charity. I asked how he was, and he said "Oh, you're the first person all day to ask me that. How nice! I'm doing fine!" It cheered him up. But yeah, most of the time I do care how people are doing. People are interesting.

Actually, I do care to know how a person is doing when I ask that question. It seems as thought i have fallen into the catergory of one of those persons who actually wait a bit to hear the answer. I just usually hope that thier answer will be "i am fine thanks" Usually the person answering, answers a a reflex or just to be polite to me. They are the ones who dont care to retort & ask if I am ok myself..Just one of those things.

Alot of people dont care but its proper etiquette and concideration that you give to another. I always ask that or "Whats up?" or "How are things?" Its also manners. I AM INTERESTED in how your day is going and well being. Its a conversation starter as well. It's also shows compassion. I am there for your cries too.

I do to a point, I say it to be polite and not rude but just me, I do care but not obsessively.

It is a polite formality, whether you/they actually care or not. Etiquette is all about politeness and consideration.

if you have suicidal friends or with bad past, everybody would say ´how are you´, so you can see their mood.

and then you can find more appropriate subjects to talk.

if someone is suicidal and depressed, you wont talk about how did you broke screw driver.

I used to.

Not any more. Now I am hesitant to ask.

Have you noticed that most people just answe with another formalism? i.e. "fine thanks"

And some other people go and tell you EXACTLY in full gory detail how they are!!!

not really.. people kind of say that to be able to talk about themselves after the person finished saying "I'm fine and you?"

of course, except when I call in to the Tom Leykis show.

nooo.... for me it's kind of a reflex, and when someone actually answers i'm probably not listening anyway