Oh, you're a writer, are you published?

I seriously hate that question. I am a writer and I went to purchase a new laptop the other day at Walmart and the woman that was selling it to me said, "Now this is google doc. There is no windows on this." I replied, "That's fine, I don't really like Windows and I only use it to write."
She got wide eyed and excited, "Oh, that is awesome, what do you write?"
Now I am also excited, I love talking about reading or writing, " Paranormal stuff, some thriller, and humor stuff, too."
Then she asked it, the question I hate more than anything, "So what do you have published?"
I am immediately deflated. I shouldn't be. I know inside that very few works actually get published, so there is no need to feel embarrassed about it. Its the reaction that I get when I respond with, "I haven't been published." that drives me mad. I can watch all interest they had in me leave before they take the next breath.
It can be very discouraging if I let it. I don't. I think everyone has their own definition of what makes a person a writer. Here are mine:

• You read, and you write.
• You journal, or you blog, but you write.
• You make money doing it, or you don't. You write.
• You appreciate words, so you write them.

That pretty much sums up my guidelines as to what a Writer is, just my opinion. Be easy on Writers, because they are never easy on themselves.