Phrase

[Dukes01]

Why is it that whenever anyone first meets a stranger or a colleague they do'nt really know you always ask how they are? I mean its not that you really want to know or are really interesyed in knowing their response

[Quizmonster]

It's just a social convention and has been, in one form or another, for centuries. Until recently, the commoner phrase was "How do you do?" which meant exactly the same...ie politely showing an interest in the 'new' person. Of course - now as then - the absolutely last thing we wanted to hear was an account of how his sciatica was progressing!

[Topaxci]

...and for the same reason that some people address strangers as "mate".