>

You KNOW that it's definitely about them needing help with something, maybe with money, and they KNOW you don't want to or can't help them so they try to trick you into the conversation.
This but for IM at work. 
Them: “Hi”
Me: “Hey”
Them: “How ya doing?”
Me: “Good. What’s up?”
Them: “Do you have a minute?”
Me (in my head): mutherfucker you just took a minute with this bullshit. Just lead with that! >

I had the impression "hi/hello/whatever" was a common placeholder for "are you here right now to discuss something?" >

I would and I will! 
But more seriously, sometime you don't want to send whatever you wanna talk about for it to just sit waiting while you're dying of anxiety , because you don't know if the person purposefully don't respond or is just not available. >

Which is, as I said, the implied meanning of "hi/hello". >

Do they need to have a point or question? People just want to chat sometimes. >

but even "hi" isn't chatting. it's just a greeting. a better opening for a conversation would be "some weather we are having?" or "did you catch that hockey game last night?" >

This is relatable. If they only text “hi” I feel obligated to continue with a “what’s up” or “how’s it going.”
In reality I really don’t care, that’s why I didn’t text you first lol >

Exactly >

Hi >

Hello >

Hi >

Hello >

Hi >

Hello >

Hi >

Hello >

Hey