Sounds odd to me as well. One that I just thought of that I’ll try if I remember it is (after the “hello” pleasantries) “So tell me, how are you doing?” Still the same question, but with enough of a variation that it might break the pattern.
For what it’s worth, it sounds odd to me. Part of that is, presumably, because “I want” instead of “I’d like to” in connection with something directly involving the interlocutor is rather forceful, likely inappropriately so. But even “I’d like to know how you are doing” comes across as weirdly and artificially sincere, which I suspect gets interpreted as evidence of low social skills, hence reflecting negatively on the speaker. I wonder if this is a trap that all attempts at solving this linguistic problem are bound to fall into.
My newest idea, which I will try out: “I want to know how you are doing.”
Sounds odd to me as well. One that I just thought of that I’ll try if I remember it is (after the “hello” pleasantries) “So tell me, how are you doing?” Still the same question, but with enough of a variation that it might break the pattern.
For what it’s worth, it sounds odd to me. Part of that is, presumably, because “I want” instead of “I’d like to” in connection with something directly involving the interlocutor is rather forceful, likely inappropriately so. But even “I’d like to know how you are doing” comes across as weirdly and artificially sincere, which I suspect gets interpreted as evidence of low social skills, hence reflecting negatively on the speaker. I wonder if this is a trap that all attempts at solving this linguistic problem are bound to fall into.
Imagine it said by someone who is very relaxed, in a soft tone of voice, after the “hello” pleasantries, looking you straight in the eye.