Quote Originally Posted by Propp
I don't mean it is unusual to ask "как дела", quite opposite, it is usual, but only if you expect to receive some form of a logical answer, however formal it would be.

Like when people have a question on some forum and they say "привет как дела i have a question blah blah blah..." yes then i agree it looks really stupid, because it's not supposed to be used like "what's up".