[Edited to add: I feel like I should explain that Chris was very nice and polite, if clearly confused, when I yelled cryptic greetings at him. All strangeness in our interaction is due to my decision not to introduce myself.]
So I’m working in the lobby of the Ace Hotel today. Chris Gethard came in and sat down across from me a few minutes ago. Chris and I have crossed paths once or twice in the UCB teacher’s lounge and such, but we’ve never really been introduced. I, for some reason, thought I should yell “Hi!” like we were best friends. He, understandably, did not recognize me, and perhaps wondered if I was some sort of Ace Hotel equivalent of a Wal Mart greeter. “We’ve never really been introduced,” I went on, “I’m Melinda,” doing nothing to dispel that Wal-Mart-greeter impression.
Why didn’t I just go “Hey, good to see you again, I’m a UCB sketch writer, we were both at that meeting yesterday,” instead of sitting here creeping him out for the past 45 minutes? I don’t know. It feels too late for that. I guess my solution is just to put this whole interaction on the internet. That should heal all wounds.
I asked my sister Manda, who is sitting next to me, what to do. This is the IM conversation we’ve been having.
2:15 PM me: no one at ucb ever recognizes me outside of ucb facilities.
2:16 PM it is awkward because i never know to what extent to reintroduce myself.
Amanda: ha
who is this dude?
me: chris gethard
Amanda: ah
2:17 PM well, i didn’t remember him either
so there.
me: well, you have never met him.
i think i have.
2:18 PM Amanda: ah
2:19 PM is he here because of you?
me: no
random
Amanda: ah
me: and i have not explained that i am a ucb person
Amanda: we all have the same computer.
ha!
me: which he clearly does not know
Amanda: you maybe should do that?
me: so it seemed like i just introduced myself for no reason.
i feel like it is too late now!
2:20 PM Amanda: yeah, might want to clear that up…
does he need the internet password?
me: how do i casually work this into the conversation we are not having?
Amanda: offer him some internet and go from there?
2:21 PM me: maybe i will put this chat on my website and tweet it at him.
this seems like what Emily Post would recommend.
2:22 PM Amanda: um, if he doesn’t have internet, he won’t be able to see it.
me: everything about this is terrible.
2:23 PM Amanda: i could tell him
which would be in every way more awkward
me: yes
Amanda: (that was a threat, in case it wasn’t clear)
2:24 PM me: don’t.
i think i’m going to just let it ride.
maybe i should introduce myself to some other people
Hi Chris! Sorry I acted like a Walmart greeter just now.
[Edited to add: I feel like I should explain that Chris was very nice and polite, if clearly confused, when I yelled cryptic greetings at him. All strangeness in our interaction is due to my decision not to introduce myself.]
So I’m working in the lobby of the Ace Hotel today. Chris Gethard came in and sat down across from me a few minutes ago. Chris and I have crossed paths once or twice in the UCB teacher’s lounge and such, but we’ve never really been introduced. I, for some reason, thought I should yell “Hi!” like we were best friends. He, understandably, did not recognize me, and perhaps wondered if I was some sort of Ace Hotel equivalent of a Wal Mart greeter. “We’ve never really been introduced,” I went on, “I’m Melinda,” doing nothing to dispel that Wal-Mart-greeter impression.
Why didn’t I just go “Hey, good to see you again, I’m a UCB sketch writer, we were both at that meeting yesterday,” instead of sitting here creeping him out for the past 45 minutes? I don’t know. It feels too late for that. I guess my solution is just to put this whole interaction on the internet. That should heal all wounds.
I asked my sister Manda, who is sitting next to me, what to do. This is the IM conversation we’ve been having.