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Original poster

DD 22 has never heard of Prince Edward

298 replies

livingontheheart · 30/01/2022 20:59

As the title says pretty much, showed her a picture of him and she said she has never heard of him in her life. I think it shows the generational difference as most people my age would know who he is I think.

OP posts:
Tosement · 31/01/2022 18:34

@ninnynonny

Slightly OT but I found out yesterday that my 34 year old next door neighbour, who is not stupid by any means, had never heard about the Holocaust. She only realised it happened because she watched The Boy in the striped pyjamas. That I find really shocking
There is no way on Earth that she’s telling the truth if she grew up in the UK and attended school. I genuinely think that some people lie to exaggerate their ignorance. God only knows why.
Buwch · 31/01/2022 18:46

You’re so interested in politics you could name half of the cabinet, but you don’t watch the Opening of Parliament?
I don’t believe I have ever watched it, no. I’ll settle in for the marathon of election night, follow the news daily, and watch PMQs, but not the opening.

Of course, it probably doesn’t help that I’m a labour voter and the Conservatives have been in power for almost my entire adulthood.

Buwch · 31/01/2022 18:54

You’re so interested in politics you could name half of the cabinet, but you don’t watch the Opening of Parliament?
Mulling this more - I think it’s fair to say that I read about politics far more than I watch it. Outside of elections nights, I could go years without watching the news. Never a day without reading it, though. Generally means I’m more exposed to the substantive than the ceremonial.

(I do make an exception for PMQs, which I’ll track down the highlights of, online).

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

The royal family
RussiasGreatestLoveMachine · 31/01/2022 19:30

Then it’s even more incredible that you haven’t absorbed such basic information over the course of your lifetime…

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 31/01/2022 19:35

So do all the republicans rejoicing about the younger generations lack of enthusiasm for the royals support a President Boris? For this reason alone I hope we always keep the monarchy.

If you look at the minuscule little proportion of ALL adults in the UK who attended Eton College and then compare that with the very high proportion of adults who end up as Prime Minister of the UK, you could be forgiven for thinking that we already do have something akin to an 'elected monarchy' there in all but name.

The lack of general knowledge is seen on things like Pointless.
I was shocked the other day when only just over 50 of the 100 people knew the first man on the moon.

I remember they had a picture round asking people to name five of the planets from the pictures of them. Guess which of those planets 11 of the 100 people clearly couldn't recognise even though they were standing directly on it at the time.

There was another time with at least one (very probably British) person who couldn't even hazard a guess at which modern-day world capital city might just have been known as 'Londinium' by the Romans.

Buwch · 31/01/2022 20:03

Then it’s even more incredible that you haven’t absorbed such basic information over the course of your lifetime…
To be honest, I’m starting to think posters like yourself, who are unable to grasp the idea that even somebody well-read can have one surprising gap in their general knowledge, might be somewhat lacking in intelligence.

madisonbridges · 31/01/2022 20:08

22 year olds know nothing. That's why they think they know everything!

AuntyClem · 31/01/2022 20:18

I didn’t even realise we had a Queen until I asked someone who the old lady on the money was.

BonnesVacances · 31/01/2022 20:28

I had a similar conversation with DD(20) the other day. She said even the name (Prince Edward) didn't mean anything to her.

Tosement · 31/01/2022 20:32

@AuntyClem

I didn’t even realise we had a Queen until I asked someone who the old lady on the money was.
Grin I think this shows how remarkably intelligent you are and how you're too busy to follow celeb, z-list gossip.
Buwch · 31/01/2022 20:51

I think this shows how remarkably intelligent you are and how you're too busy to follow celeb, z-list gossip.
Gosh you really are very triggered by this - do I need to issue a formal apology for my ignorance on this topic?

I sincerely hope that you know everything that other people consider to be basic general knowledge.

Tosement · 31/01/2022 21:04

@Buwch

I think this shows how remarkably intelligent you are and how you're too busy to follow celeb, z-list gossip. Gosh you really are very triggered by this - do I need to issue a formal apology for my ignorance on this topic?

I sincerely hope that you know everything that other people consider to be basic general knowledge.

I wasn't talking to you, so I'm not sure why your taking that comment personally. It was aimed at those on this thread who have claimed not to know who any member of the Royal Family is because they don't follow 'celebrities'.

I do think it's an astounding level of ignorance that you didn't know who Prince Philip was, but whatever.

Tosement · 31/01/2022 21:04

You're

Buwch · 31/01/2022 21:07

I wasn't talking to you, so I'm not sure why your taking that comment personally. It was aimed at those on this thread who have claimed not to know who any member of the Royal Family is because they don't follow 'celebrities'.
Fair enough, I’ve had so many negative comments directed at me I wrongly assumed it was another.

And I think you’re astoundingly unintelligent, so I guess we can just call it quits.

Buwch · 31/01/2022 21:10

You're
Don’t worry, I’m not small-minded enough to equate an isolated slip to ‘astounding ignorance’.

Tosement · 31/01/2022 21:20

@Buwch

I wasn't talking to you, so I'm not sure why your taking that comment personally. It was aimed at those on this thread who have claimed not to know who any member of the Royal Family is because they don't follow 'celebrities'. Fair enough, I’ve had so many negative comments directed at me I wrongly assumed it was another.

And I think you’re astoundingly unintelligent, so I guess we can just call it quits.

Grin I would just neglect to mention this particular general knowledge absence to anyone in real life.
Buwch · 31/01/2022 21:24

I would just neglect to mention this particular general knowledge absence to anyone in real life.
Oh I have, but a lot of colleagues have reciprocated with similar stories.

I will admit that I probably would not divulge to a client!

blyn72 · 31/01/2022 21:55

I must say I don't remember ever seeing the opening of parliament on TV or if I did, it made no impression; also I've never understood what trooping the colour is about. Things like that bore me. I do, however, find characters interesting so I know about those in the royal family, past and present. I like history.

It surely doesn't matter if a young person doesn't know Prince Edward.

Cahu58 · 31/01/2022 22:53

I met him a few years ago at a STEM workshop at a local school. None of the sixth formers or young teachers had a clue who he was. I heard one ask if he was Williams brother! He was very nice, friendly and normal.

Kitkat151 · 01/02/2022 09:55

@Tosement

DD and I were just watching Goggle box and the had a snippet of Harry and Meghan's interview on it. She asked who his dad was and thought Harry was older than William..I am pretty certain she wouldn't know who Princess Anne or Prince Edward were. I think the Royal family are losing their relevance in the modern age.

Is your daughter very young? I assume so if she doesn’t know the order of succession, which will continue to be very relevant during her life because those heirs will go on to be the Heads of State (presuming she’s in the UK).
Of what relevance? My 3 kids are 20s And 30s ...l I bet none of they would have a clue who PRince Edward is and wouldn’t give a shiny shit if they were told..... none of them have the slightest interest in the royal family at all....I’m 57 ...,I could name all the queens GGC but so what?
Today’s general knowledge is not the same as my generations general knowledge.

Of what relevance is the Head of State? I am 33 and would find it absolutely embarrassing if any of my friends didn’t know who was in line to be king out of William and Harry, as the PP I was replying to’s DD apparently didn’t.

I can only assume it’s feigned ignorance. It doesn’t make anyone sound more intelligence and ‘above’ matters like celebrity to not have a basic understanding of the Royal Family, it sounds ignorant and a bit thick.

Same as people who proclaim ‘I’ve never even heard of the Kardashians!’

Yes you have, because you don’t live under a rock. But whatever. Applying the same to a family who produces our Heads of State who will appoint our PM, open and dissolve Parliament, have weekly meetings with the PM, a family who lives on our taxes in return for serving the public, is seriously strange.

Strange to you....not to me ....it all goes over my kids heads.....they have zero interest in any of it.......not one of my 3 20/30s kids went to uni but they all have good jobs....Got/ getting their first homes.....are happy raising their children....they don’t have any interest in government either......,they just ( like all their friends) have no interest in any ‘news’. So, no, it is of no relevance to them at all.... but they wouldn’t judge anyone who did find it relevant.....unlike you 🙄
Tosement · 01/02/2022 10:24

They’ve just endured two years of the Government imposing restrictions on their lives and they don’t see the Government as relevant to their lives? Good God. No wonder the country is where it is.

thereisonlyoneofme · 01/02/2022 10:31

Im sure a lot of ignorance is that people dont read these days. Some of my friends have never read a book or the papers, If its not on Facebook or some reality show they havent a clue.
I knew who the Queen was and her family when I was very young

Kitkat151 · 01/02/2022 10:58

@Tosement

They’ve just endured two years of the Government imposing restrictions on their lives and they don’t see the Government as relevant to their lives? Good God. No wonder the country is where it is.
Well we don’t all look at it that way.....live and let live I say ......maybe my kids live in a bubble ......but they are all very happy ...... they just got on with the lockdowns....,none of them were affected financially .....their kids still went to school....so maybe that’s the reason why ......everyone is different.......they Certainly don’t judge people based on their general knowledge.........and they wouldn’t give a flying fuck what you think of them
Tosement · 01/02/2022 13:04

Christ.

Kitkat151 · 01/02/2022 13:15

@Tosement

Christ.
🙄 you’re a bit weird