Take it with a Grain of Salt

When you tell someone you're a writer, a screenwriter or nearly any other profession that involves creating something, almost invariably, you will hear the phrase "Have you seen/read/heard (insert media here.)" In order to maintain your sanity in the face of this constant bombardment, it is imperative that you learn to take these comments with a grain of salt.

I initially went to college thinking I was going to study film and become a professional screenwriter. While that goal hasn't changed, it did take a significant sidetrack (long story.) Whenever I told someone I was a film student, I almost always heard the dreaded "Have you seen (movie that speaker believes to be the best movie ever)?" At first I let it go, but it started to grate on me after a while. Something akin to "who the f*beep* do you think you are, telling me what movies to see? Like you know everything there is to know about film criticism!" It drove me nuts.

But as with most things, you do wise up as you get older. The questions stopped coming when I got defensive, but after a while, I came to realize that when people ask you something like that, they're usually not trying to tell you your business. Rather, they're simply trying to connect with you in some kind of meaningful way, as is human nature to do. Let's face it, not everyone is content with small talk ALL of the time. It gets us by, but eventually we want to get to know someone better, and I like to think I'm the kind of person who merits more than a few words with.

That being the case, just try and remember that people who ask you if you've encountered something are not trying to be mean; they're simply trying to learn more about you and your experiences. And while you will probably be bombarded with these questions at family reunions and other gatherings which involve more than three people, just remember to take them all with a grain of salt.

Of course, if someone comes up to you and proceeds to rant and rave that "you've just got to see In the Army Now, it's the best movie EVAR," you can tell them what they can do with that.