Your Friends Are Not Watching the Same Show You Are (And That’s Okay)

You and your friends may be tuned into the same thing, but there’s a
good chance you’re not seeing the same things. Think of this as the evil
clone of the potato salad theory: as it turns out, we’re bringing different things to the picnic after all.

To summarize the potato salad theory, fanfiction works for readers
because the readers are already coming to the story with enough history
and background to enjoy the story without piles of world-building and
setup, much like stories that feature historical or mythological
characters. We are bringing our own utensils and plates to the picnic,
not expecting restaurant service. That’s fanfic. When it comes to our
source material, we’re all bringing very different things to the table,
and that’s going to affect what we consume.

Your Friends Are Not Watching the Same Show You Are (And That’s Okay)