You alright?

jonislost · 17 Jul 2008 at 16:50

Mark A said:
If you stopped and chatted to every person you walk past you would get no work done and its rude to just ignore people.

I thought alright was just a northern thing?

'alright' seems to be everywhere. Saying 'hello' or 'hi' or something is more appropriate I reckon, but then people can turn it back on you:

Me: Hello
Them: Alright?
Me:

Greenlizard0 · 17 Jul 2008 at 16:50

What's wrong with eye contact and a half smile?

Conscript · 17 Jul 2008 at 16:51

I use alright as a greeting. It doesn't particularly mean I want to hear how thigns are going.

Zogger · 17 Jul 2008 at 16:54

Mark A said:
I thought alright was just a northern thing?

Nope, alright in a northern accent is a northern thing..

Poodlepump · 17 Jul 2008 at 16:57

this is similar to "sup" ...alright and sup have 2 automatic answers - hi or yea im good

MookJong · 17 Jul 2008 at 16:57

I see "Alright" as just an acknowledgement of the other person rather than a question of their current state of being. I often just give people a smile or a nod instead. It's like when you say "morning" to a stranger you pass when your taking the dog out early on a Sunday.

However there are a couple of people here who just do not acknowledge you in passing unless they actually want something.....I find that far more irritating.

willhub · 17 Jul 2008 at 16:58

People say alright all the time its pretty annoying, I either say ye nt bad, or hi. I always say alright to people though or hiya thats about it.

drizzy · 17 Jul 2008 at 16:59

"Y'orright?" confused me for quite a while when I first got here. I'd take it as though it appeared that there was alarmingly wrong with me when I knew there wasn't. Even after I figured out it was just a greeting like "hi how are you?" or "howsitgaarnmate?" it used to take me a couple of seconds to respond in a somewhat normal manner.

iamdjdz · 17 Jul 2008 at 16:59

I often say 'bout ye' to people, it's also good because most people don't really know what it means, and just use it as a greeting.

Jebblehmoo · 17 Jul 2008 at 16:59

Im not that formal at work at all, its a small company so its friendly and everyone knows everyone.

We swear something cronic at eachother

except when the big bosses are in.

But "Aaaaaalriiiiiiiiiiiiieeght?" is a common saying with us all

Weebull · 17 Jul 2008 at 17:00

What's so wrong with small talk? I ask people if they're alright because I honestly would like to know. Can't say I'm seeing the big deal here.

Abraham · 17 Jul 2008 at 20:16

Weebull said:
What's so wrong with small talk? I ask people if they're alright because I honestly would like to know. Can't say I'm seeing the big deal here.

i dont have a problem with it in general only with people asking as they're walking towards me because i then dont have time to reply and ask back

semi-pro waster · 17 Jul 2008 at 20:27

Weebull said:
What's so wrong with small talk? I ask people if they're alright because I honestly would like to know. Can't say I'm seeing the big deal here.

It depends how it's said I suppose. I say "alright, how's it going?" to mates because I'm a) interested in how they are doing and b) it's pretty informal but if I'm greeting someone I don't know well it is usually a "..right" or "hi" with a nod as it is simply to acknowledge their presence - not because I'm actually asking for anything in response.

Like Vixen I don't see the point in people asking "hey, how're you doing" while they're walking away, if you're asking then be prepared for an answer instead of being rude and walking off. If you aren't really asking then why bother? A simple acknowledgement would suit me fine.

Fubsy · 17 Jul 2008 at 21:16

I'm one of the people that if asked how I am I tell them exactly how I am.

If they are stupid enough to ask I'm happy to share, it makes me feel better getting it all out into the world.

LoadsaMoney · 17 Jul 2008 at 21:19

peterattheboro said:
Actually with my accent and locale, I actually say 'now then'.

God knows where that came from!!

Watching to much Jim'll fix it is my guess.

xen_ · 17 Jul 2008 at 21:21

It's just an informal greeting, nothing to be over analysed really.

Tom|Nbk · 17 Jul 2008 at 21:27

peterattheboro said:
There is 'Alright' and then 'How are you doing?' or 'How's life?'.

If it's an 'Alright' then keep walking.

I say alright more than hi.

Actually with my accent and locale, I actually say 'now then'.

God knows where that came from!!

I also say 'now then' to most people.

More formally at work etc I say 'alright' or 'hi'

Puzzled · 17 Jul 2008 at 21:32

I've got in to an annoying habit of greeting people with "Ok" all the time now, I don't know why I do it as I honestly don't want to know if they're ok or not I just want to walk from one part of the office to the other.

Why is walking through an office so damn uncomfortable, you always walk past someone you barely know and feel like you have to say something otherwise your being rude. I'll just stick to "Hi" from now on.

Johnnytoxic · 17 Jul 2008 at 21:37

MonkeyMan said:
I'
Why is walking through an office so damn uncomfortable, you always walk past someone you barely know and feel like you have to say something otherwise your being rude. I'll just stick to "Hi" from now on.

ARRGH where I used to work there was a mile long corridor. I always used to venture down it when there was somebody I didn't really get on with walks down the other end. AWKWARD is the word. It was like a scene from an old western film but with eye contact. Were all just antisocial nowadays.

Alex*TLR · 17 Jul 2008 at 21:56

I prefer just to drop the old "Ite mate" Expected reply being "yeah, ite mate". That will suffice.