Dear Queenie,
If someone asks you how you are and you tell them you’re not feeling so well and they ask you what’s wrong with you, or if they come up to you and say you don’t look so good and ask what’s wrong, what’s a good answer to give them?
If you were the one who said you didn’t feel well, are you obliged to give them details if they ask?—Sick of questions
Dear Sick of questions,
Your state of health is your personal business. You are never obliged to tell anyone anything about it you don’t want to discuss. Except your doctor, of course; you should always answer his questions fully and honestly. Otherwise he can’t diagnose and treat your illness properly.
As for anyone else who asks you a personal question, it depends on how polite or rude you want to be to them.
“I’d rather not discuss it” is the politest answer. Or you could answer the question with another question: “Why would you ask me such a personal question?” Or, to be equally rude, “What business is that of yours?” or even “That’s none of your (expletive included, if you want to be really rude!) business.”
