I don’t know who anyone is, anymore

[Nobiggerthanyourhand]

Does anybody else not understand popular culture?

I do a bit of MN and I look at the Daily Mail online (please stay with me), and sometimes I watch programmes like Strictly and Masterchef and … I don’t know who any one is.

Molly-Mae
Tommy Fury
Zara McDermott
Sam
Pete from strictly with the tattoos
someone called Maud who he might have been in a relationship with

What can I do to understand this better? How do these people become so important?

What's ignorant about it @Nobiggerthanyourhand ?

I couldn't tell you which Kardashian is which, whereas DP can. Equally, she wouldn't know an actor from Star Wars if he came up to her in the street and said "May the force be with you" whereas I'd be struck dumb in awe.

DD on the other hand can wax lyrical on ancient greek myths and Roman emporers, whereas I can talk at length on the pioneers of computing in the 70s and 80s.

We all have different areas of expertise, and just because we're not interested in other areas, doesn't make us thick.

If your definition of ignorance is that you don't know who 4th rate celebrities are I think you need to think about what's really important and maybe read up on that.

Why would you want to understand it better? These people are not important. Anyway, what is there to 'understand'? There are gazillions of these people and you don't need to know about them unless you want to.

I spend too much plenty of time on media and social media, but I'm not really aware of who those people are either (though I see their names sometimes), because that's not the kind of thing I follow. I hate reality tv, never warch stuff like Strictly and don't follow influencers on social media except ones related to specific things I'm interested in.

My teenagers aren't interested in those kinds of people either tbh.

DH and I had the same conversation when watching Strictly (we don't watch any other reality TV). We end up Googling who people are. The only time it matters to us is if we're in a quiz and there's a celebrity picture round!

I never know the majority of people are when I watch celebrity shows (Eg: Celebrity Masterchef, Bake Off, IACGMOOH). I just google them, they’re usually from one of the soaps or something like Love Island, Made In Chelsea or Only Way Is Essex which I don’t watch or they’re some kind of influencer or podcaster. I don’t feel it matters not to know who they are, but if you do want to know who all these people are you need to watch more trashy TV, including the after shows, and follow these people on social media.

I can't tell a Kardashian from a Jenner

But I know a bit about the Drake/Kendrick beef (partly because I find rap beefs entertaining in a shallow way) but mostly because my teens know so I got their interpretation (I mean this took about 10 minutes max) anyway we are team Kendrick was the result of that conversation.

If you need to know because your teens are well teens, just talk to them. Teens still yap about shallow things, like we all did, it's an indulgence they should keep.

I read out a lengthy "Sigma male" article to them a couple of months back, they were all "oh my god mum" it was very entertaining.

One of our teen's friend's Mum, who is 15 years younger than us and watches Love Island, no judgement I don't care what other people watch, I messaged her "me and H are going to watch AN episode of Love Island it's very influencial so we think we should at least try and educate ourselves on what young adults like nowadays". Well that was an hour of our lives we won't get back! We had no fucking idea what was going on, we knew what wasn't going on clothing, no clothing shall be worn during this production! Mum friend said the thought of us watching an episode of Love Island was hilarious. She tried to explain it to us, bless her, again it was a popular culture conversation that was generally laughing from start to finish.

If you want to find out what's going on with current celebrities ask someone who's into them, if you don't want to Google, they will happily attempt to educate you, whilst you ask dumb questions.

Exactly THIS.
I don't understand why people don't Google more for information.
Look up any of those celebs and if they're 'anybody' they be in Wikipedia.
If they're just currently popular, you'll still find out more about them than you really need to know.

What is ‘sigma’ frozen daisy?

I don’t agree, actually. There is a lot of missing information that makes this difficult.

I tried to google Pete with the tattoos from Strictly and didn’t understand any of the references.

It is all so alienating.

Give over!

He was on the Essex one, now does a podcast with the one from Chelsea, probably dating another one from Love Island and appears on lots of reality tv stuff. I know this basic stuff and don't watch any of those programmes but do watch eg Strictly and have done a bit of googling when necessary.

It's not difficult and certainly not alienating 🙄.

What do you mean, you didn't understand the references?

You just need to watch Love Island. That will also help you with current slang and sayings. The All Stars version is on soon.

And I'm A Celebrity would help too, but that's just finished.

Pete is old news, all those Geordie Shore/Made In Chelsea/The Only Way Is Essex TV shows have been cancelled or are on their way out.

If you're really keen just buy Heat magazine every few weeks.

Or you could look at the Tattle website, they have wikis on each celebrity that explains them.

But you're probably seeing more about certain people because you're clicking on posts about them on social media so then you see lots more posts about them and that makes them look more popular than they are.

My life is better for not knowing who these people are.

My musical knowledge is terrible these days. I used to watch top of the pops religiously (and still do when it comes to the BBC4 vintage reruns).

I couldn't tell you who has had a number 1 in the last 15 years. Music is on all the time in our house, but not Radio 1.

You’re a wind up 🤣 what is it that you’re struggling with exactly?

I see the names of these people as headlines on Google sometimes or when FB decides I'm boring and need to 'get down with it'.
I just ignore all these suggestions as it really isn't of any interest to me.

I will take onboard recommendations for TV programmes from my children and grandchildren as they know me.

As pp said, it is only an issue at pub quizzes, especially the picture rounds. At the last one I attended my team did well with the pictures but the music round!! A pub full of bemused people of all ages from 20s onwards who mostly had no idea who any of the artists were.

Apparently the pub landlord /quizmaster had asked one of the bar staff, a lad of 19, to set the questions and provide the music. He had enthusiastically done so, compiling all his current favourites. To be fair, the music was chilled but not one team got an answer right.

I thought back to my father and his outrage at Top of the Pops. It was ever this!

I do google people like this as I wonder who they are. I agree with a PP that strictly and other celeb reality/contest shows can keep you up to date with current celebs, but strictly is the only one I watch. So I google those people but still couldn’t work out what Pete actually does.

Congratulations! I don't know who they are, nor does it bother me. I know who the main politicians are, a few film stars etc.

I think most of these people are probably talent-free reality TV or social media nobodies. I doubt we are missing anything much.

I googled Pete at the start of Strictly too, IIRC he was on TOWIE and then has made a career out of being on celebrity shows, panel games etc, good for him, he came across as a nice person and very hard-working on Strictly.

It’s obviously because you’re so clever and far superior to the rest of us who can Google and understand the references OP.

Pete is from the Only Way is Essex. Guick Google cos I can't remember who's who anymore either. Do you need to know more? Do you need to understand his motivations or background?

Honestly this sounds like some odd mid life crisis. "I used to be so hip and down with it and now I can't chat with the local teens about what is lit and what is not! I must be ancient and forever uncool!"

Honestly I finder it weirder when someone my age (early 40s) can recote every cast member from Love Island etc and all their backstory. Like who has the time once you leave education??

I think you’re better off not knowing who any of these people are. They do nothing but unfortunately influence many youngsters. If that’s what the next generation are aspiring to, God help the lot of us

What a blinkered point of view. It's fine to not be interested in them, but not fine to write them all off as a negative influence.

Here's a bit more about Pete

Pete Wicks: Strictly trolling was horrendous and heartbreaking

https://www.thetimes.com/article/44ef4aed-e152-46e0-846d-e5b0e925d321?shareToken=cc0f555deefec1ef21d4be1866a33f3c