How Ya Doin'? And What Your Answer Really Means

How people answer this question and what it REALLY MEANS:
1. Oh....okay... .MEANS: not really okay

2. Could be better; could be worse MEANS: really not doing so good but does not
feel like going into more detail than that
3. Fine.... MEANS: a short polite answer, probably IS doing "fine" but no way to
detect otherwise. respects the question of "how are you" by being
precise and prefers not to elaborate. "fine" is as sincere as he/she
feels like being at the moment
4. Eh! MEANS: doing so-so, would love to talk about it but only if prodded

5. Don't Ask....MEANS: ASK!!!
6. Oh, I've been better.... MEANS: Trouble
7. Pretty good/ Doing good.... MEANS: A-OK (and even if not a-ok, he/she does
not really want to talk to you about it)
8. Gee, I'm glad you asked.... MEANS: an entire portfolio of this person's life during
the past six months

9. SIGH......MEANS: person too screwed up to even begin to speak
10. Fair to middlin'...... MEANS: NO ONE has ever known what this means---NOR CARES!