I don't get a lot of reactions from folk. I either get -
1) a minimal reaction - a simple acknowledgement to the fact I have just told them I don't work anymore, with little response beyond that. This is fine, as I understand that I have a lifestyle they are not realistically interested in. I wouldn't expect anyone to ask questions about anything that wouldn't appear to have much relevance to them,
2) a simple response, along the lines of "that must be nice", "oooh, lucky you" or something similar, or -
3) very occasionally, someone asks a little more about how I achieved ER. My neighbor recently started asking questions. He's 30 yrs old and working as a firefighter. He'll be receiving a pension from the state, but wanted to know some basics of investing so that he'll be able to supplement his pension. His knowledge is minimal, but he's interested, and knows what questions to ask. It's great to come across a friend who wants to get his financial life in shape. He has already mastered the first part of the plan by being fairly frugal. It's part of his personality. I call it frugality, while he calls it simply, "not spending money on bullsh*t."
I think he'll do well
For the record, I don't think that ER is really that misunderstood. Rather, I think that most folk aren't that interested. By this, I mean that they are not interested enough to follow the process. Most of us wouldn't say no to 100 million dollars, but few of us are genuinely interested, such that we will take the steps necessary to get that kind of money in our accounts. Likewise, I don't think most people are that interested in ER, which is totally fine.