My kid asked, 'Why do we say "Happy New Year" to people we haven't spoken to in eight months?' I said, 'It's a tradition.' He said, 'It's not a tradition. It's a social loophole. You can say anything to a stranger if you put "Happy New Year" in front of it. "Happy New Year, I'd like a refund." "Happy New Year, I'm not doing that project." It's a verbal shield.'