Decency. Where has it gone? I feel too many people these days hardly mean what they say for the majority of the time they say anything at all. Although in "serious" conversations, the indecency of lying to someone face to face is more than rude, the lack of care in small talk can seem pretentious. I call this "coasting." Automated responses ingrained into people's brains when they hear a certain arrangement of words. The order usually follows this outline:

"Hey (insert name here), how are you?"
1. This first statement is usually made out of obligation by the initiator after seeing the other person from afar or while walking down the same hallway in opposite directions.

"Good, how are you?"
2. Some people will actually use "well" instead of "good," though it hardly matters. Again, this is the automated response the brain is triggered to command the mouth to say. This response is usually not a honest answer, but one of ease. This person understands that the initiator does not really want to know the honest, complex answer of a "how are you?" question.

"Great"
3. This answer is hardly necessary, as both parties have probably already left each other's eyesight. If it is said, it is usually said with hardly any honesty, and to the back of the second person's head.

Now, I'm sure there are times when both parties honestly care about each other's condition, but this is what usually occurs. I'm sure these accusations can be defended by saying that both parties are in a hurry, but my response to that is just to simply say "hello." Simple, with no attachments. Neither party is lying to each other, and they both fulfill the obligation of acknoledging each other's existence in their immeadiate area.

The bottom line, no one likes to be lied to. "Coasting" is a growing problem in society, and it's truly sad when people cannot give each other the time of day.