I absolutely abhor when strangers ask me "How are you?" or some other variation of that question. This is problem is certainly exacerbated by the fact that I work at a gas station and am therefore asked that question by 99% of customers. I hate this question for two reasons.
1. I can't respond honestly because the company wouldn't like that.
2. It's completely disingenuous.
They only ask it to be polite. They don't actually care. I could tell them I'm having a horrible day and they may feel sorry for me for a fleeting moment, but then they will simply carry on with their day as they were before. It's just so fake. Just a mentally programmed greeting that they automatically, and perhaps even unconsciously, spout to anyone they meet. I can't fucking stand it.