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Original poster

Do people pretend not to know who people are in order to seem intelligent?

669 replies

coulditbeme2323 · 05/05/2026 09:35

Do people pretend not to know who people are in order to seem intelligent?

This question is prompted from reading comments online re The Met Gala?

Now let me prefix this by saying I have no interest in reality tv, Showbiz mags, etc - but surely there are some people who you know who they are because everybody does!

There were people saying "who" on a photo of Kim Kardashian. I have never seen an episode of the show, have no interest in her, but of course I know who she is - because how can you not?

Another British example is Jordan/Kate Price. No interest in her, but she has literally been headline news in The UK for 20 years. If you live in The UK - surely its impossible to not at least know who she is?

OP posts:
Original poster
coulditbeme2323 · 05/05/2026 09:45

Andtheworldwentwhite · 05/05/2026 09:43

I don’t watch tv or follow celebrities’ or listen to music. I never have a clue who anyone is. And I really don’t care that people would thinj it has to do with how intelligent I am. Not sitting watching love island as an example is anything to do with how intelligent I am and not knowing who they are.

I mean Love Island types are obviously the bottom of the ladder.

But you must know who Adele is? You must know who David Beckham is? etc

OP posts:
JockTamsonsBairns · 05/05/2026 09:45

I'm pretty far from intelligent, but I genuinely don't know what Kim Kardashian looks like. Obviously I know her name, but I wouldn't know who it was if I was shown a photo. I've never seen her on the telly, and she never pops up on my SM.

Katie Price I would know, as she's been around since I was a lot younger.

Like I say, I'm not intelligent, I just don't recognise modern celebs because I've got no reason to read about them, or watch them?

Nourishinghandcream · 05/05/2026 09:44

I can genuinely say that if you showed me a selection of photos and asked me to identify Kim Kardashian, I would have no idea.
Have heard the name but have no idea what she looks like.

Jordan... well yes, have seen her photo over the years.

Original poster
coulditbeme2323 · 05/05/2026 09:44

TappyGilmore · 05/05/2026 09:41

Of course it’s not to seem intelligent. It’s to seem cool. But not intelligent. In fact it’s very often ignorant if they genuinely don’t know and can’t work out how to google who someone is.

I think it's probably a bit of both.

OP posts:
Andtheworldwentwhite · 05/05/2026 09:43

I don’t watch tv or follow celebrities’ or listen to music. I never have a clue who anyone is. And I really don’t care that people would thinj it has to do with how intelligent I am. Not sitting watching love island as an example is anything to do with how intelligent I am and not knowing who they are.

DontBuyANewMumCashmere · 05/05/2026 09:43

My husband and I wouldn't know who most American famous people were!
I have heard the names but I don't think I'd be able to pick out Kim Kardashian.
I don't know what Kendall Jenner looks like and I know there is another sister with a K name but I don't know what she looks like

(Don't watch a lot of TV, don't read fashion or women's mags, where would I see these people?)
I also wouldn't recognise famous footballers. Or their wags.

I don't think I'm more or less intelligent than anyone else, particularly.

Original poster
coulditbeme2323 · 05/05/2026 09:43

Lomonald · 05/05/2026 09:40

If anybody is saying "who" to Kim K they are definitely acting ignorant and probably are being obtuse, i think it just makes look silly when they act superior like that.

Agreed.

OP posts:
JoanOgden · 05/05/2026 09:43

I have heard of Kim Kardashian but am not sure I'd recognise a photo of her. I'm just not that interested in that world, but I don't think that makes me a superior person!

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 05/05/2026 09:43

I get that some people wouldn't necessarily know who certain famous people are. But the "who" thing on social media just pisses me off. Its just so unnecessary

popdepop · 05/05/2026 09:42

I don’t think my 75 year old dad would know who KK is, genuinely. I know of her but probably couldn’t point her out 🙈 😂

Octavia64 · 05/05/2026 09:42

there are many many people who do not know who Jordan or Kim Kardashian are.

i’m oldish but I know them because they’ve been on telly/in the papers while I was young,

my dc actually don’t know who Jordan is I just asked them. Tbf she’s very nineties.

my mum (79) had no clue for either of them. Twiggy on the other hand…

DustyMaiden · 05/05/2026 09:41

Yes. You distanced yourself from them in your post for the same reason.

takealettermsjones · 05/05/2026 09:41

Yes I think you're right OP 😂 I do think there could be the odd person who genuinely doesn't know, if they never watch TV or read news etc, but they must surely be few and far between.

TappyGilmore · 05/05/2026 09:41

Of course it’s not to seem intelligent. It’s to seem cool. But not intelligent. In fact it’s very often ignorant if they genuinely don’t know and can’t work out how to google who someone is.

Impossiblyme · 05/05/2026 09:41

I’d put a fiver on that neither of my parents would know who any of these people are.

Some people don’t read that kind of news etc

Villanousvillans · 05/05/2026 09:40

My DH genuinely had no clue who anyone was.

Lomonald · 05/05/2026 09:40

If anybody is saying "who" to Kim K they are definitely acting ignorant and probably are being obtuse, i think it just makes look silly when they act superior like that.

Original poster
coulditbeme2323 · 05/05/2026 09:39

popdepop · 05/05/2026 09:38

Why would it be an indicator of intelligence?

I think it's almost a "Oh I couldn't possibly know who Kim Kardashian or Katie Price are"

OP posts:
popdepop · 05/05/2026 09:38

Why would it be an indicator of intelligence?