Signs that you really live under a rock...

[ExitChasedByAnImposter]

I don’t really use my phone and when I do I can be Mumsnet for hours on end. Or I just read Unsolved Mysteries on Reddit, binge watch something on BBC iplayer or Netflix. Or get stuck In YouTube’s whirlpool of recommendations There used to be times in the past, I’d spend hours reading stuff on Wikipedia.

Yesterday, I spent the day watching Arthur. I literally just found out that Prince Philip died. I came across a Mumsnet thread about posters talking about Gordonstoun thinking it sounded like the place Charles went to and then read a comment about the Duke being dead. Didn’t think much of it. I then came across more threads about Philip and I couldn’t believe what I was reading so I googled “is Prince Philip still alive?”

This isn’t a thread about DoE/Prince Philip, although I do acknowledge that I am not the thread police, but rather one about signs that you live under a rock? Can be a rather lighthearted discussion...but have there been times when the world’s news pass you by and somehow everyone seems to know something but you don’t?

This happened to me yesterday.

I sent a jovial end of the week update to my department late yesterday. Later on in the day I received an email about what not to do whilst in a period of mourning ( civil service).

Lots of rules under Forth Bridge and my weekly update broke many of them. I really had no idea. I had my head down all day.

The email I sent was so inappropriate.

The only thing I can equate to seeing as how we don’t use the tv at all but keep diving into our devices is when Diana died as it was over 20 years ago and we were on holiday in the south of france and no mobile phone useage like today. Even the tv system was rubbish
It was only when I went to the apartments pay phone to ring mum at 8 pm that I got the news.
It was an awful shock.
We went out into Cannes and I just felt flat as a pancake.
I’d only last my dad 8 months before and that was a sudden death so no doubt that triggered all the sad feelings.

But yes, without diving into social media every couple of hours these days it could be classed as living under a rock.
On the other hand , it’s not like weeks or even days 😁

A friend's parents went on holiday to the Peak District area in April 1989 and managed not to see or hear anything about Hillsborough during the week. Admittedly it was before internet/24 hour news and I don't think their cottage had a TV but we were surprised that they were unaware of the tragedy.