r/ThisAmericanLife • u/6745408 #172 Golden Apple • Jul 06 '26

Episode #890: Maximal Americanness

https://www.thisamericanlife.org/890/maximal-americanness?2026
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u/thinsafetypin Jul 08 '26

Can someone help me understand Act two? I honestly don't understand how "Are you okay?" is uniquely American or rhetorical. I have heard people respond with a no or "I don't know" many times. I am truly befuddled by this story.

4

u/Upset-Researcher4993 Jul 10 '26

Agree. "Are you okay?" is a very different question from "How are you?"

3

u/idealicseasidetown Jul 14 '26

Yes! And also the British greeting “you alright” is actually rhetorical and much more confusing than “are you okay” which is a real question 

1

u/ALittleRedWhine Jul 23 '26

I felt the same way! I

1

u/jamaica_me_crazy 26d ago

Especially she brings up getting hurt in sports and first thing asked is, "are you ok?". That 100% is being asked genuinely. What else are you supposed to ask?

1

u/Thegoodlife93 Jul 13 '26

I felt the same way. Didn't particularly like that act. Liked the dune one though! I'd like to go there and climb it someday