For example when you’re catching up with friends after a while
Not much how’bout yoy?
“Ah you know, same old.”
Not much, you?
Living the dream
“Nothing worth mentioning, you?”
It gets awkward
I can’t remember the last time nothing has been going on in my life. It sounds wonderful.
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 take a short breath and pull out my phone.
I notate when I last saw them.
I then pull out my document of every major event that occurred to me from point A to point B.
They look confused.
I comfort them.
I gently remind them that I’m on this ride with them. And if they didn’t want to be informed, they shouldnt have asked.
I clear my throat, and start at the top of the list.
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.
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.
something like 95% of calicos are female
color in felines is expressed on the X chromosome. humans with XX have the same kinds of patterns on their skin from combinations each parent’s DNA, but skin color isn’t expressed there so it isn’t visible
That’s quite ingenious actually
That’s me too. And personally, I think you’re my type of person to talk to.
That’s a great idea honestly. I’d love it if more people gave replies like that.
You’re right, that does sound particularly like something an autistic person would say. It’s also something I’d be perfectly happy to hear and engage with.
It’s not an absolute rule, but it’s true in the vast majority of cases. The coloring is on the X chromosome, and males usually have only one, but some males with have an extra X chromosome (XXY) and those can be calico. It’s rare.
Same with tortoiseshell coloring, and orange tabbies are usually male!
“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.
“New toilet paper, same shit” is how an old boss of mine used to say it. Good for if you want to go clever yet crude.
Blood cells for sure.
I hate that kind of question, as if you are expected to live in the fast lane, and all sorts of things should have happened.
It’s probably not meant that way, but it can feel that way. I’d probably answer something along the lines of: “Nothing dramatic. how about you?”It’s not a real question that requires an answer. You say ‘not much’ or ‘same old same old’ and move on.
“But I haven’t seen you in over a decade!”
I said, SAME. OLD!
Lots of times it is a real question, especially if the other person cares about you at all.
Yeahhh we’re all weird at some level. But if it’s someone you were at least somewhat close with, give them a least a couple deets! I moved around for a handful of years and it’s easy to get caught up enough to forget JUST how long it’s been. It’s part of being human. No shame in it.
