I would guess that the vast majority of people do not even slightly care about the answer to any of those questions when they ask. In fact most people are usually upset/frustrated when the person being asked fully replies with an honest answer about how they are truly doing.
There are few phrases in our culture that are more hallow than these. It's SO frustrating to me, especially since I completely fit into that description.
I am issuing you all (and myself) a challenge: If you feel that you must use these questions as a greeting, be ready for a real reply. If you are asked these, please think for a moment and give the person asking a real response. There are two ways it could turn out: They will appreciate the personal experience, or they will stop asking questions that they do not want the answers to.
Our culture is getting less and less personal with the increase of technological forms of communication, it is. When we ask questions that can make relationships with others more personal, let's start expecting that is exactly what is going to happen.
