one of my least favorite conversation starters/greetings is the question "how's it going?" (or any other variations of "how are you?")

the expected answer is "good" or "alright", so that's what i say, even when it's a lie.

usually it's going like shit. but no one wants to hear that. it would be a bummer way to start every conversation.

if we must begin with a pointless question, can we at least be creative with it?