Comment by Cthulhu_
2 years ago
Questions like that really... confuse me, because is it just a generic 'hello' or a serious question?
In my own experience, I once had an obnoxious colleague who asked "How was your weekend?". I didn't like the question because one, I don't like to talk about what I do / did in my spare time, and two, it was leading because the guy was really really eager to talk about HIS weekend, but... I didn't care, or else I would've asked.
If it's coming from someone who could even remotely be considered a "host" to you, it's definitely a serious question, and they actively want to fulfill any needs you might have. Southern hospitality is a super real thing, it's pretty awesome.
If it's said as a greeting, "how y'all doing?" usually means "how are your family?," which also tends to be meant very genuinely.
Even outside of a host-guest dynamic, I do think Southerners tend to care more about pleasantries; when they ask about your weekend, they're a little more likely to really want to know.
Of course, this is all very broad strokes based on anecdotal experience. Plenty of cold/self-aggrandizing jerks in the South, too!
It sounds more like you just don’t enjoy small talk.