I assume to these pretentious blokes It was too common to say ' no thank you'

If someone asks me how I am and I'm in a good mood the I'll say "I'm absolutely b****y magnificent, thank you!" Anything else, they'll be lucky to get a grumble...

Probably.

On a flight from Ireland an obviously peed off air steward got the "I'm good" response from the woman next to me (whose rank perfume had destroyed the olfactory senses of everyone on board)
His response... that's heartwarming news, now would you like anything from the trolley?

I know right?

I think they are the same type of person who says 'my bad' when they've made a mistake. Pretentious.

Just thinkng about this a little more, if you're going to be pedantic about it, then what sort of a question is "how are you?"

How is what about me?

This place is turning into the Alliance française every passing day.

Um. Actually the song "Feeling/Feelin' Good most famously performed by Nina Simone, Muse and Michael Buble and which found it's way into popular culture was written by two English men in the 1960's.

when asked "how are you?" I normally launch into a James Brown dance routine

Peut-être que c'est une bonne chose

I was sadly disappointed with the number of candidates being interviewed for SPOTY (and in the past few weeks, The Apprentice) who started off every reply with 'I mean'. You mean what exactly? Supposedly well educated people don't seem to be able to speak without muttering 'I mean'.

It does make sense to you, you just don't like it.

That's different.

>>> Quite.

I would guess its an appropriate reply made to those who say it out of habit and are not that much seriously interested in your health.

A very negative thread about a positive response (on DS of all places

I find replying "I'm terminally ill" breaks the ice