How do you respond to questions like, "hey, what's up?" "how are you?" "how was your weekend?" when the truthful answer is "terrible" or even "mediocre." How much of an act do you put on while talking to people?

In my experience, it's commonly expected, while talking to someone you don't know very well, or don't know on a personal level, to act as though everything is great, to act positively about everything. If you say something negative, it's met with a sort of awkwardness.

I used to answer "good" or "fine" or "okay" to these questions, even when that answer is far from the truth. But lately I've been wondering whether I should or not, and have occasionally been telling the truth. It feels a little wrong, but freeing in a way.