I used to keep a blog as part of my job at a digital production company. As the writer/director of a
popular web series, I garnered a pretty good following. Here's an example post about social etiquette.
As most of you know; I receive a lot of fan mail. Most of it is from a nice man named Dr. Clement Okon from Nigeria who REQUESTS AN URGENT BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP. Well, I sent him a money order and pretty soon I'll have 25,000,000 (DOLLARS U.S.)!
Occasionally, I get questions as well. Here is one of those:
Dear Matt:
I have a hard time communicating with my fellow man. I can’t handle greetings and salutations. Today some girl waved to me and I smiled and waved back. It turns out she was waving to her boyfriend, who saw me waving to her, and he gave me one of those “don't look at my girlfriend, douchebag” looks.
I immediately pretended to be waving to a guy on the street behind the girl, but then that guy gave me an even weirder “are you trying to pick me up, weirdo” look. The girl and her boyfriend started laughing. I ran home,, had a panic attack, then spent the next four hours drinking and contemplating my life decisions.
As most of you know; I receive a lot of fan mail. Most of it is from a nice man named Dr. Clement Okon from Nigeria who REQUESTS AN URGENT BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP. Well, I sent him a money order and pretty soon I'll have 25,000,000 (DOLLARS U.S.)!
Occasionally, I get questions as well. Here is one of those:
Dear Matt:
I have a hard time communicating with my fellow man. I can’t handle greetings and salutations. Today some girl waved to me and I smiled and waved back. It turns out she was waving to her boyfriend, who saw me waving to her, and he gave me one of those “don't look at my girlfriend, douchebag” looks.
I immediately pretended to be waving to a guy on the street behind the girl, but then that guy gave me an even weirder “are you trying to pick me up, weirdo” look. The girl and her boyfriend started laughing. I ran home,, had a panic attack, then spent the next four hours drinking and contemplating my life decisions.
How do I prevent this in the future?
Thanks,
Ezra
Great question Ezra. The best advice I can give you is avoid unnecessary social interaction of any kind.
Here’s a little multiple-choice quiz which illuminates my point:
You’ve seen this guy you vaguely know in the hall three times today. First time you smiled and said, “Hey, how’s it goin’?”, second time you gave him the old closed-lip grin and half wave, and the third time you gave him the acknowledging eyebrow raise and head jerk.
He’s coming down the hall again...what do you do?
So, you're thinking: “Easier said than done, Matt. What if someone's trying to – GASP – talk to you?” Well, a good way to avoid having to carry on a conversation is to completely ignore what other people are saying and respond in a distant, perplexed deer-in-the-headlights manner. My mom is great at this.
Read and learn:
Mom: (stuffing food down my throat) Why don’t you eat, put some meat on those bones, you're walking around looking like your thin cousin Herbert. Do you want to look like Herbert? You'll never get a girl looking like him.
Me: Herbert's gay, Mom.
Mom: Your uncle Albert would have a heart attack if he heard you talking like that!
Me: Albert had a heart attack last week. Remember? I was talking to him about his gay son Herbert.
Great question Ezra. The best advice I can give you is avoid unnecessary social interaction of any kind.
Here’s a little multiple-choice quiz which illuminates my point:
You’ve seen this guy you vaguely know in the hall three times today. First time you smiled and said, “Hey, how’s it goin’?”, second time you gave him the old closed-lip grin and half wave, and the third time you gave him the acknowledging eyebrow raise and head jerk.
He’s coming down the hall again...what do you do?
-
Turn around and avoid walking into him with the “I forgot something” snap of the
fingers.
-
Start violently coughing and pretend you don’t see him.
-
Pick up your cell phone and call your mother, start an argument with her about why
you don’t have a girlfriend. Cry.
So, you're thinking: “Easier said than done, Matt. What if someone's trying to – GASP – talk to you?” Well, a good way to avoid having to carry on a conversation is to completely ignore what other people are saying and respond in a distant, perplexed deer-in-the-headlights manner. My mom is great at this.
Read and learn:
Mom: (stuffing food down my throat) Why don’t you eat, put some meat on those bones, you're walking around looking like your thin cousin Herbert. Do you want to look like Herbert? You'll never get a girl looking like him.
Me: Herbert's gay, Mom.
Mom: Your uncle Albert would have a heart attack if he heard you talking like that!
Me: Albert had a heart attack last week. Remember? I was talking to him about his gay son Herbert.
What can we learn from my mother? Marriage is a huge mistake, according to my father. What else?
Don’t pay attention to what anyone says to you. Look confused or angry when someone tries to talk to you. If they don't give up, offer them some food. That way you can seek out the kitchen window while they're eating your kasha varnishkes.
Now this advice doesn't work for everyone. A lot of people love talking to strangers. For some mind bogglingly odd reason, they find it easy and enjoyable.
Well, some of us can handle the pressures of social interaction. I call these people “gentiles”. Here’s a little chart I’ll “chart” out for you so that can tell you what kind of person you really are:
Don’t pay attention to what anyone says to you. Look confused or angry when someone tries to talk to you. If they don't give up, offer them some food. That way you can seek out the kitchen window while they're eating your kasha varnishkes.
Now this advice doesn't work for everyone. A lot of people love talking to strangers. For some mind bogglingly odd reason, they find it easy and enjoyable.
Well, some of us can handle the pressures of social interaction. I call these people “gentiles”. Here’s a little chart I’ll “chart” out for you so that can tell you what kind of person you really are:
Potential Social
Situation:
|
Jew:
|
Gentile:
|
A Pretty Member of the
opposite sex walks up to
you and asks you for the
time.
|
As your asthma starts to
act up, you make an
awkward joke about the
metaphysical relativity
of time.
|
You say, “I’ve got the
time baby...in my
pants”. You are married
and driving an SUV in no
time.
|
Someone engages you in
an inane conversation
about a local sports team
in the elevator.
|
You smile and nod at
your elevator man and
pretend to know what
he’s talking about. Leave
him an extra large
Christmas bonus
because you are afraid
he thinks you don’t like
him.
|
Sign his autograph and
tell him the knee injury is
day-to-day and you’ll be
back on the court in no
time.
|
Your accountant asks
you out to dinner to
discuss financial
matters.
|
Give him that secret
“Brotherhood of the
Jews” handshake, eat
Matzo, make fun of
Christ.
|
Tell him you’re busy.
Slam down the phone,
complain to the wife
about how the Jews are
“ripping us off; damn
hebes”.
|
Try to convince him
Israel isn’t the cause of
all the world’s problems,
and that if the
Palestinians wanted,
they could have peace
and their own land. Feel
really, really guilty for
absolutely no reason at
all.
Agree to bomb Iraq,
Pakistan, and any
"Mooslum" countries.
Reaffix 9-11 Soaring
Eagle "Freedom Isn't
Free" bumper sticker.
Are you a Jew or Gentile? Note: there's no such thing as a Jewtile.
The bottom line is that if interacting with people makes you uncomfortable in the slightest – then don't. Avoid it like the conversational plague it is. Because, as we all know, the best way to deal with your problems is by avoiding them.
OK folks! Keep sending me your questions. If any of them makes me uncomfortable, I'll pretend they don't exist.