This has put me off, would it you?

[Uribentmyspoon]

Met a new guy, really nice, getting on well.
Today we took our dogs for a walk and he grabbed a large stick off the ground, showed it me and said ‘It’s an olive branch’ I jokingly (isn’t funny, bit cheesy) said ‘Oh are you offering me an olive branch?’ 🙄 He was really confused and I explained that it was just a crap joke, like offering someone an olive branch, y’know, the saying…he had no idea what I was talking about and hadn’t heard that saying. Is it weird that I’m really surprised by that? He’s also never heard of Wuthering heights, and, silly one here, The Superman party song, played at practically every children’s party in our 80’s childhood.
We’re both the same age, 43, so he’s not done young guy. Would you be put off by these things (not the Superman one) but the others? It felt weird explaining the saying to him and explaining Wuthering heights 😳 or am I just a bitch?

@Letsallscreamatthesistene 🤣 It was an actual olive branch

I’m also curious where you were that you found a random olive branch. Do you like in Greece?

@BeenAsFarAsMercyAndGrand Hasn’t heard of Kate bush, who I love

@Mulletsaremisunderstood

Op what does he claim to do for a living?

@Susannahmoody Wasn’t a first date, we’ve been out a few times, it was on my book shelf at home, he mentioned it.

Was it an actual Olive branch? If not why would he say that if he had no idea what one was in terms of a peace offering? That seems weird.

Im 60 and haven’t heard of the superman song and had DC born in the mid 80s. Wuthering Heights I’m surprised he’s not heard of. Ok not to have read it but unusual not to be familiar with it as a book or song title. I think if he’s otherwise ok at the moment I’d give him a bit of a chance here. It’s possible to be on the same wavelength as someone but not actually have that much in common I think.

@DontMakeMeShushYou It really was an olive branch on the floor, off a tree, we’re not in the U.K. 😅

No it wouldnt put me off. If it was because he wasnt widely read or something then that might put me off but not knowing one phrase by itself doesnt mean anything.

I am married to someone from another country, we don't share loads of 'cultural references' but to me, culture is about more than that, it's a general sense of how people approach situations and interact with other people and society and thats more important than having read the same books or watched the same films etc

Oh it WAS an olive branch then. At least he knew what one looked like. So he knows a bit about trees? Loads of people don’t can’t distinguish one branch from another so he has that knowledge .

Until recently assumed that everyone knew what a Damascene conversion was. I once recently made a joke about a salami dancing naked in front of Harrods to a friend and he thought I’d gone mad.

I’ve learned that sone cultural references just aren’t as common as you think they are. And that’s fine. I’ve never read any Jane Austen; but I have read lots of Tolstoy. I wouldn’t think any the worse of somebody who wasn’t aware of every single “classic” novel out there.

Assuming you're in UK, where did he find an Olive branch whilst walking the dog? In fact the way you wrote that part of the story makes me wonder if he made the "joke" first and was pretending not to get yours, like you didn't get his.

I'm going to say I doubt whether any man I know could tell you much about Wuthering Heights, unless you mean the song by Kate Bush.

To be honest, by starting this thread you're waving a bigger red flag than he is.

It was an actual branch of an olive tree? Oh I think that’s different tbh. Just hasn’t heard of the saying but knows his trees 😃

Is English his first language?

Sorry, I didn’t think to put, we’re not in the U.K., but both British. There was an actual olive branch on the floor when we were walking in the woods, it’s pretty normal, so he was literally stating it was an olive branch, when he picked it up.

The Superman song thing isn’t bad or that surprising, I think it was just a bit ‘Huh?’ to me as there’s been quite a few things I’m
surprised he doesn’t know, or that I’ve had to explain.

The Superman song is by Black lace I think. As a kid we had to follow the actions ‘Comb your hair’ ‘Spray!’ ‘Superman!’ 🤣Am sure I’m not making much sense, perhaps it’s me!

I wouldn’t think any the worse of somebody who wasn’t aware of every single “classic” novel out there

Well no, few people would as few people are aware of every single classic novel. She’s not thinking worse of him for not being aware of every single classic. It’s only one novel, wuthering heights. Which most people inc school kids are aware of.

He sounds odd

@Susannahmoody

It wouldn't put me off, no.

Tbh if someone mentioned Wuthering Heights on a first date I'd think they were a bit pretentious and trying to prove themselves.

I'd think hallelujah I've met someone with some culture

@AICM Why’s that then?

@BeenAsFarAsMercyAndGrand

Never having heard of Wuthering Heights is unusual. I can understand not having read it, but surely he's heard the Kate Bush song if nothing else?

Not sure if it would put me off, but it might. I like to be able to have conversations about culture with a partner (books, films, music, plays) and this guy doesn't seem like he'd be able to do that.

I’ve heard of wuthering heights, I know the olive branch saying and I know the superman song. However, I have never heard of Kate Bush or her song 🤷🏼‍♀️ Not being taught or experiencing things doesn’t mean you’re unintelligent.

So he never went to a school disco or family wedding in the 80s? that is odd tbf.

@Sillysuzie Why 😅

Black Lace LOL, now I remember!

The Wuthering Heights thing is a bit odd. Like if you haven't read the book, surely you've heard of it, and at the very least the song.

Who on earth hasn't heard of Kate Bush!