Alternatives to “nice to meet you” when you don’t mean it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just say, very slowly, "Well, well, well."

+1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“So…at last we meet for the first time for the last time.”

Absolutely this. And please report back.

[Anonymous]

Take care!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it about the individual person, or their profession (or other station in life that is not their fault). I've said 'wish we were meeting under different circumstances' if it's someone like a medical specialist or repair person - and they usually totally get it.

If it's personal, just 'hello' It's okay to be a little cold.

+1. I find the "I wish we were meeting under different circumstances" is the best way to address the elephant in the room without being rude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it about the individual person, or their profession (or other station in life that is not their fault). I've said 'wish we were meeting under different circumstances' if it's someone like a medical specialist or repair person - and they usually totally get it.

If it's personal, just 'hello' It's okay to be a little cold.

+1. I find the "I wish we were meeting under different circumstances" is the best way to address the elephant in the room without being rude.

What? I can't believe you are agreeing with her. It's a total a-hole comment.

[Anonymous]

Good morning, good afternoon, or good evening, as appropriate for the time of day.

[Anonymous]

"This will all be over soon".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it about the individual person, or their profession (or other station in life that is not their fault). I've said 'wish we were meeting under different circumstances' if it's someone like a medical specialist or repair person - and they usually totally get it.

If it's personal, just 'hello' It's okay to be a little cold.

+1. I find the "I wish we were meeting under different circumstances" is the best way to address the elephant in the room without being rude.

What? I can't believe you are agreeing with her. It's a total a-hole comment.

New poster here. This works fine for situations like meeting funeral home staff, hospice staff, etc.

[Anonymous]

I stick with "nice to meet you". Because the situations the I find myself in like that are when a parent brings a lawyer to a school meeting. Would I rather there not be a lawyer? Of course. Do I need to be pleasant and professional so they don't think I'm a jerk and attack me more than they're already going to? Also yes. Maybe they won't need to come next time if they realize I'm a decent human being who intimately is on the same team as they are. So I say "nice to meet you", even if I would have rathered not to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I stick with "nice to meet you". Because the situations the I find myself in like that are when a parent brings a lawyer to a school meeting. Would I rather there not be a lawyer? Of course. Do I need to be pleasant and professional so they don't think I'm a jerk and attack me more than they're already going to? Also yes. Maybe they won't need to come next time if they realize I'm a decent human being who intimately is on the same team as they are. So I say "nice to meet you", even if I would have rathered not to.

ULTIMATELY, not intimately! (THAT would be a legit reason to be worried...)

[Anonymous]

Oh for goodness sake just go with the polite fiction. It's fine. It's not a lie. No one cares whether you mean it. Guess what, when people say "Hi, how are you?" they don't actually want to know, they want you to say "Not bad" and keep going.

These are the little social courtesies that every one else learned, and when you refuse to use them it throws a wrench into the whole exchange.

[Anonymous]

Hi. How are you?

[Anonymous]

Why can't you just be cordial? What is so wrong with Nice to meet you?

Are you one of those people who would say to someone "yes those jeans do make you look fat". Probably not, right? because that would be rude. case in point.

[Anonymous]

OP you will definitely need to report back on this one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi Larla. I've heard a lot about you.

Yep. Aim to be politely insidious.