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-   -   How do you interpret the word "fine"? (https://www.pokecommunity.com/showthread.php?t=237607)

iRyu November 27th, 2010 8:33 AM

How do you interpret the word "fine"?
 
Person 1: How are you doing?
Person 2: Fine

Wait, What?

Does that mean : I'm not doing so hot, but I don't want you to ask about it
or: I'm doing alright

What do you think of the word fine when used in conversation such as this?

Bologna November 27th, 2010 8:58 AM

I suppose it would depend on the tone a person uses with it.
For the most part, I interpret "fine" to mean that the person is okay, nothing special, not especially great, but not bad either, just decent.

EmeraldSerenade November 27th, 2010 9:08 AM

It depends on the persons tone and facial features for me to determine how it was used by them.

Usually, I take it as an "I'm having a so and so day.", unless they seem really happy.

Kura November 27th, 2010 12:28 PM

When used in conversation context, I see it as the person is having a regular day- not good nor bad..

Spherical Ice November 27th, 2010 12:39 PM

Online, when people say "fine" in a conversation such as the one you've posted, I'll interpret it as, like others have said, "I'm alright, but nothing special or particularly exciting is happening," but if there's something like an exclamation or happy smiley then I'd probably take it as "a good day." In real life, if they just mumble "fine" or something I'll take it as "something minor has annoyed me" or "go away, I don't want to talk about it." Otherwise, I suppose it's the same as on the net; if they're wearing a happy face I'll assume they're having a good day and so on. :D

poopnoodle November 27th, 2010 12:40 PM

depends on the emotions they're physically expressing, i guess. usually i interpret it as if they're saying their day is fair, adequate, good enough, okay, the likes.

Kenshin5 November 27th, 2010 12:44 PM

When I see fine it seems as though they are indifferent. They are neither doing bad nor at they doing good. For me when somebody asks me how I am I say "I am fine" just because they are trying to engage in small talk.

Elite Overlord LeSabre™ November 27th, 2010 12:57 PM

I use it when I'm average. Not especially happy or excited, but not feeling miserable and stressed, either. And unless body language or tone suggest otherwise, I usually interpret "fine" that way when used by others.

Yuoaman November 27th, 2010 4:21 PM

Without a facial expression and/or tone of voice it's nearly impossible to interpret it correctly. Offline it could mean anything from: "Things are the same as always.", "I've had better days.", or even an extreme like "Today sucks and I can't wait for it to end.". Online I usually interpret it as either of the two former entries - but I probably get it wrong a lot.

Ninja Caterpie November 27th, 2010 5:00 PM

Some people think "I'm fine" is the most common lie in the world (personally, I think it's more like "I have [s-highlight]read[/highlight] and agreed to the terms and conditions", but I digress). I don't.

Anyway, when someone says they're fine, I take it that they're either doing okay, or they want everyone to think they are (ie. don't bother them about it anyway). I can usually tell by the way they talk/type whether they actually are, and, depending on who it is and my level of closeness with them, I may or may not press for details.

I use "fine" mostly when life is just being average, or when someone's bothering me about me when I don't want to elaborate.

Guy November 27th, 2010 5:20 PM

I think this is more of a poll question than a discussion, don't you?

When someone tells me that they're "fine," I interpret it by how they express that said emotion. Or, it tells me that they're doing okay, fair, or good with the feeling that their day could be better than it is.

donavannj November 27th, 2010 5:47 PM

I base my interpretation on context, but, as it is a conditioned response from me when I don't feel like elaborating on my day or boring someone with my day, I tend not to pry when I get such an answer.

Know-Nothing Bozo the Non-Wonder Dog November 27th, 2010 5:56 PM

I interpret it as them being too lazy to come up with a less generic response. A lot of times, I'll ask people how they're doing and they'll say they're fine, but when I continue talking to them, they're definitely in a great mood, or in a terrible mood.
Sure, I've told people I'm doing fine when they ask, but only when my day has really been mediocre and no better or worse than any other. Otherwise, I'll usually elaborate to the point of annoying people. xD One time I started telling this random girl all about my day, and she just walked away. :P

Khengi November 27th, 2010 6:00 PM

Would 'mas o menos' count as my interpretation?

moments. November 27th, 2010 6:41 PM

I interpret, and it really all depends on the tone, but like, not too good, not too bad, I don't want to discuss it without you probing really.

Idiot! November 28th, 2010 1:21 AM

They don't feel like talking about what they described as fine, so I stop asking.

PlatinumDude November 28th, 2010 5:47 AM

I interpret "fine" as a way to let the other person know that I'm doing well in a particular situation, when in fact, I don't like to answer the question.

Captain Fabio November 28th, 2010 9:35 AM

Words mean different things in different countries, end off.

I use 'fine' in both contexts, however, not so much with the fine = attractive.
If someone asks me how I am, I will say:

'I am fine thanks.'

Massacre. November 28th, 2010 10:16 AM

I consider it to mean just average, nothing good, nothing bad.

Eliminator Jr. November 28th, 2010 4:26 PM

For me, in most cases when a male says "fine" he actually means "I'm doing okay, not good, not bad", and when a woman says it she means the exact opposite ("I'm doing bad").

I judge which meaning someone means according to the context, as in I won't always assume that because a guy said it he always means "I'm doing okay" - as in usually it's pretty easy to tell by body language and tone of voice which meaning is intended.

Everyone Esplode Noaw November 28th, 2010 4:40 PM

It depends upon the tone for me. If they sound sad, my immediate response will be, "Are you feeling okay?"

mikey November 28th, 2010 4:54 PM

Depends on how they say it to me.

If it's online though, I take it as being in an alright mood.

-Scourge- November 28th, 2010 5:26 PM

It depends on how they say it, but I've always thought it meant "I'm alright" online and offline :\

twocows November 28th, 2010 6:22 PM

A: How are you?
B: I am consisting of especially minute particulate or made up of particularly small pieces.

... what? That's just my interpretation. :)

Zeffy November 28th, 2010 7:47 PM

I have a few interpretations for "fine", but in a text chat I interpret it as "I'm alright, I guess."

Brendino November 29th, 2010 3:45 AM

Depending on the tone, I can take fine to mane anything from pretty good to being upset. When it's in a text conversation, I usually take it to mean they're just feeling average, not really sad or happy.

Binary November 29th, 2010 9:48 AM

I interpret it as laziness. Yes, laziness. Laziness to an extent, be it caused either by joy or despondent feelings. But then again, that's only one of my interpretations I found myself amused by.


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