"How" Now? How About "How" Never!

In cranky-critic mode, Buster must comment on the over-use of the "how" question in today's media.  It's all over the place, from the nightly news to talk shows to sporting events:

"How important was it . . .?"  
"How exciting is it . . . ?"  
"How frustrated are you with . . . ?"  
"How magical was it . . . ?"  
"How heart-breaking is it . . . ?"

These are not real questions, like How many?  How often?  How long?  No, they're faux questions, crutches for lame journalists which add nothing to understanding or edification.  The question itself tells us that something is obviously exciting or frustrating or whatever.  All that's left is to inquire as to the degree:  "How thrilled are you right now?"  And the expected answer, the required answer, the only acceptable answer answer is the extreme:  "I've never been more thrilled in my life.  I'm so friggin' thrilled I just wet myself!"

What a bore!

One of these days, it'll come to something like this:
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Local Reporter's Head Explodes When Interviewee Gives Non-Standard Answer To Standard Crutch Question

Following a boiler explosion at a downtown office complex, building maintenance manager Gilbert Schneider was trapped in the basement for three days as damaged plumbing lines filled the underground level with four feet of raw sewage.  Schneider survived his ordeal on half a bottle of water and some damp Cheez-Its.

After he was freed by a rescue team, reporter Chip Froth of WQTE-TV was first to Schneider on the scene and he asked him, "How totally gross and disgusting was it to be stuck in there for three long days?"

When Schneider replied, "Oh, it wasn't too bad at all.  It was wet but warm, and obviously I had no restroom worries,"  Froth's cranium simply blew up.