Miss Manners: I ask ‘How are you?’ and get a barrage of negativity

A reader is grappling with the fact that when they ask a casual acquaintance how they're doing, they often get bombarded with lengthy, disheartening tales about the person's life, including financial woes and health issues. This situation highlights the evolving nature of social interactions and the challenges of maintaining polite small talk in a world where people may not always respond with positivity. It's a reflection on how social norms are changing and the importance of setting boundaries to manage these interactions.