6 APRIL 2002, Page 59

Q. More and more people are eschewing the traditional English

greeting 'Hello, How do you do?' — which requires no answer — for 'All right?' How is one supposed to respond to this greeting, which suddenly heaps on one the mental effort of realising that no, everything isn't all right, and puts one into rather a bad mood?

AC., London W8 A. Why not counter this passive aggression by replying, 'Yes, why shouldn't it be?'