Is it normal that i think that asking how are you doing is inane?

I normally play along but when I'm feeling particularly niggardly, I feel the need to deconstruct things.

What does the question "How are you doing?" actually mean? First off, it doesn't make grammatical sense. It should be "Comment on significant achievements or observations around the field of interest that you are currently engaging yourself with" And then, the answer would be more specific than "Well."

"Well." doesn't fit. For instance, "How are you getting to London on Sunday?" You'd talk about the conveyance, the arrangements. You wouldn't say "Well."

Person A: "So, how did you get to France?"
Person B: "Effing brilliantly, thank you".

"How are you?" is a different kettle of fish. It appears to make logical sense, and it does, but the answer still isn't "Well." The answer is "I am the product of sexual reproduction between my birth parents". Tip: to confuse someone like me, ask "Why are you?"

Sometimes people even pre-empt the adjective. If they say, "How are you?" then at least you have tens of thousands of adjectives to choose an answer from (including discombobulated, vertiginous, and dank). Dank is a favourite. It confuses people.

But, yes, sometimes they pre-empt the adjective. They say "Are you well?" What can I do with that? You've reduced my entire existence to a toin-coss. At this point, sarcasm is the only escape. "No, I am not well. I am being abused by Mexican revolutionaries in another dimension. When they finish with me they're going to throw my inert body down a well. So I am displeased at you mentioning a well in this dimension".

For people who don't have the patience for a three-sentence answer, "I am being haunted by the anus of Mark Twain" usually covers it.

But, anyway, how are you doing? ;)

Normal. Small talk irritates the fuck out of me. At my job asking "what time does your shift end?" and "what are you doing?" is a form of irritating small talk.

I kind of understand where you are coming from. I don't like it when people use it as a greeting.
What slightly irritates me is when someone says it and doesn't even wait for a reply.

Asking a question is not the same as saying hello.

Ya, when people ask how I'm doing I just say, well, I could be better. I just ran over a dog on the way here and I was trying to get its guts out of my radiator when a couple kids rode by on their bikes and they looked at me funny so I threw a handful of dog snout at them and made them fall over and they hit their heads on the curb so now I have these bodies to deal with and its taking too long to clean this dog mess up so I have a heap of gore in my van right now so could you please dispense with the formalities, and the napkins, and quietly escort me to my van since you now know how I'm doing. Thanks.

I often answer this question even though I know people don't want an answer. If I'm short in a reply, I am likely drained and exhausted. But still, I might tell you about it so my lack of a smile doesn't offend you.

And I always talk about the weather with random strangers. I'd probably annoy you.

Well, it's not pointless to be polite.

I'm always honest in these questions, so it's not inane with me.

You are wrong. If someone says they are not doing well I would ask them why. However I know when I say I am having a bad day it bums people out so I just say good all the time. When I do it I am trying to start conversation and generally I will take whatever you say to ask more questions.

I understand, more so the weather thing. I have to ask customers at work how they are doing for the purpose of letting them know that I work there (We wear casual clothing) and to make them feel welcomed.

When I walk into a store and an employee doesn't say "Hi" or "How are you?" and ignores me it doesn't exactly make for a pleasant experience.

What would be a better solution for these mundane and often pointless social formalities then?