No Stupid Questions

"Ah you know, same old."

Not much how’bout yoy?

Living the dream

Not much, you?

"Nothing worth mentioning, you?"

It gets awkward

gettin' better at turnin' food to poop, you?

I can’t remember the last time nothing has been going on in my life. It sounds wonderful.

Not too much. Just doing the daily.

This is an honest and correct answer if that is your situation. Nothing wrong with that.

I am autistic, which you probably could have just derived from the rest of this comment. Questions like these are so terrifying to me. So I always have a fun fact on hand.

"What's new?"

"I just learned that only female cats have a calico pattern!"

Then you can talk about cats instead of your life.

Usually a brief "I just read/played/watched such-and-such"

If they know it, we can chat about it. If they don't, and they're interested, we can chat about it. Otherwise, the conversation moves on and the social rite is concluded successfully.

I'm functioning within normal parameters.

The court order was very clear that I am not allowed to discuss that. How about you? Anything new?

The cosmic horrors persist, but so do I

Something is always happening in your life.

What you really mean is "When you don't think that anyone would be interested in what's happening in your life."

If you've been absorbing media, tell us what you've been watching/reading/playing. If you have this encounter out in public, say where you're going now, or what you're looking forward to doing when that's done.

Hell, even if you've been laying in bed for a week and someone asks, say you've been catching up on some sleep.

There's always something, and as mundane as you think your answer might be, it'll be easier for them to continue the conversation on that one piece of information than saying "you know, same old".

I tell the truth. Nothing. I don't care to expend the energy to make up an excuse.

I usually go with "oh, same old same old" or "nothing fun" and try to divert back to something someone else talked about. But to be fair, I am a terrible conversationalist.

This reminds me of the time that I learned that the correct answer to "what's up?" is "what's up?" At least in the context of that one coworker who would say that to me as we were walking past each other.

I've since learned to recognize these things as a "bid for connection". It generally has little to do with the content of the question or the answer and everything to do with relating.

So basically there is no wrong answer. And there are lots of good examples in this thread!

Personally I tend to answer "not much" as a knee-jerk reaction, but sometimes I'll remember to say something else after that.

"I'm a normal user of sidewalks."

It's not a real question that requires an answer. You say 'not much' or 'same old same old' and move on.

"Nothing's new - same old"

"you know, new day, same old, how about you?" think of it as a game of catch, throw the ball back, if you don't want to / or have a quick answer.

If it’s someone I haven’t seen in years, talking about the big picture should be interesting enough. You know, like where I live, what do I do for a living etc.

If it’s someone who definitely knows all that, I can mention something small but recent. Like, I just bought some weird carrot salsa, and it was surprisingly good.

Same shit, bigger pile

"I am unfortunately still here" is my go-to. People seem to leave you alone if you joke about killing yourself.

Nothing much, you?

You know how at times no news are good news, I've only got good news.

"Livin' the dream."