Isn't it rude to say like this to the elder?
It's one of the scenes of the movie, The Intern.
A secretary, in her twenties, is very frustrated because the boss doesn't know how hard she works, and the boss only relies on the senior intern. So she says to the senior intern like this.

"I've been here nine months, Ben. And she's never asked me to take a look at anything for her ever, okay?"
- "I hear you. That's frustrating."
"I mean, totally. I graduated from Penn. I have a business degree. But I never seem to do anything right around here. And you're, like, 50 years older than me and you're deaf."
- "I happen to think you do a lot of things right."

I think it's rude to say directly, "you're, like, 50 years older than me and you're deaf."
Is it okay only in the movie because she's frustrated?
And also in the last line, "I happen to think you do a lot of things right," what does "happen to" mean here? I don't get it. I've learned "happen to" means 'to do something by chance.' How can I understand it?

Thank you very much! :)

Question

Isn't it rude to say like this to the elder?
It's one of the scenes of the movie, The Intern.
A secretary, in her twenties, is very frustrated because the boss doesn't know how hard she works, and the boss only relies on the senior intern. So she says to the senior intern like this.

"I've been here nine months, Ben. And she's never asked me to take a look at anything for her ever, okay?"
- "I hear you. That's frustrating."
"I mean, totally. I graduated from Penn. I have a business degree. But I never seem to do anything right around here. And you're, like, 50 years older than me and you're deaf."
- "I happen to think you do a lot of things right."

I think it's rude to say directly, "you're, like, 50 years older than me and you're deaf."
Is it okay only in the movie because she's frustrated?
And also in the last line, "I happen to think you do a lot of things right," what does "happen to" mean here? I don't get it. I've learned "happen to" means 'to do something by chance.' How can I understand it?

Thank you very much! :)

Answer

I agree with Lauren.

Answer

Thank you so much! :D
Then, 'happen to' can be used meaning 'actually' in any situations? Or it means 'actually' only in this scene here? I've looked it up in a lot of dictionaries, but I've never found it. :'(

Answer

Yes.  It is very rude.  We usually don't point out people's age, especially with coworkers. So yes, it shows that the character is frustrated.  Also, I think the movie is partly about how older people aren't normally respected or valued in the modern work place.

Here "happen to" means "actually".  In other words, I actually think you do a lot of things right.

Answers · 3

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