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?

I’m not expecting that he would have read it or know anything about it, but was just surprised that he hadn’t even heard of it, that’s all. I think coupled with a few other things, I’m just a bit like ‘Eh?’

Why would you pick up an olive branch and say "it's an Olive Branch" if you didn't know the saying? I mean, has anyone ever said "look it's an oak/hazel/willow branch"? And doesn't being able to recognise it as olive branch demonstrate some general knowledge?

He’d be gone for Wuthering Heights.

I rarely date men of the same culture, race, background as me so this would not phase me in the slightest but if it does you then so be it.

Ditch him because he's talking SHIT..

I loved the Superman song!!!

Tbh most people wouldn't be able to identify an olive branch so I would be impressed.

urgent...

Being put off a guy for not knowing a Black Lace song?

Tiny bit picky?

@SukonthaM It doesn’t, I’m just surprised how you can get through life as a Brit especially never having heard it 🤷🏻‍♀️I don’t think badly of him for it, I’m sure they’ll be loads of things I haven’t heard of, there are..but this, I dunno.

I know Wuthering Heights, but it was only about two years ago that I realised Kate Bush references it in a song. Only took me about 25 years to figure about what she was saying 🤣

I wouldn't date someone who;d never heard of Wuthering Heights...but at least he knows how to recognise trees...that's something quite impressive. I don't think many Brits would know it was an olive branch.

@Janaih He did, that one is likely that he didn’t remember, which is understandable, but the common saying and the book

Not sure I dare admit this but I know the olive branch saying and the super man song but honestly couldn’t tell you a thing about wuthering heights or a Kate Bush song related to it.

@KineticSand Did it put you off?

I totally get where you're coming from. This would completely put me off.
For me, it's important to have the same cultural references as my partner so we can joke and talk about things. I'm not saying you should like the same things, but be able to riff off each other.
It sounds like he's really sheltered or had a very different upbringing to you. Unless he had other redeeming qualities such as he was really funny and you had a great time, I'd not bother again.

My daughter's ex was a bit like that. Really obvious general knowledge had passed him by. I don't know if it contributed to their breakup, but it certainly meant they weren't compatible in one sense, as my DD loves quizzes and just seeks out and soaks up information.

I wouldn't be put off, no.
I'm sure there are references he could make that you wouldn't get.
If he was otherwise OK, I'd see him again.

My husband (47) had never heard of the Superman song. I was 😲....then I didn't believe him!!! How could he not known it. I still married him......(Although if he also claimed no knowledge of Wuthering Heights - the book or Kate Bush - or even Kenny Everett 'doing' Kate Bush....then I might have had to call off the wedding!!)

@AhNowTed I know?! It’s so weird to me, but then if you weren’t into music or books, I guess it wouldn’t be that weird 🤷🏻‍♀️He’s into planets and the stars and shit, I’m just not really, there must be so much he knows, that I don’t…but Wuthering heights and Kate bush 😳come on.

You’re 43.
I’m 47.
My sister is 51.

I can tell you that Kate Bush was very much her “era” in my secondary, and not mine. And you’re younger than me! I know the song you mean - but hasn’t to Google to check that the one I think of as, “the waily one, somehow related to Wuthering Heights” actually has that title. It was released in 1978. Yes, it gets a lot of airtime even now (though not on R4 or Classic FM, I can tell you!) but it’s hardly contemporaneous with his childhood, born around the same year it was released! I didn’t listen to much pop music as a teen (love Box Boy! I am Box Girl, though perhaps lid open not closed 🤣) but I could probably give you a run for your money on classical music. I think you’re being very picky.

@TatianaBis 🤣

I have a friend who has spent almost all her adult life living outside of the U.K. We’re similar ages but she has none of the same cultural references as me (eg she had no idea what I was on about when I started talking the Crystal Maze). I did find it a bit bizarre at first, but she’s absolutely lovely and we still have a laugh about all sorts Try to look past it!

@LegendaryReady

Why would you pick up an olive branch and say "it's an Olive Branch" if you didn't know the saying? I mean, has anyone ever said "look it's an oak/hazel/willow branch"? And doesn't being able to recognise it as olive branch demonstrate some general knowledge?

I wondered this. And assuming the OP is in the UK, are there even Olives growing here? (Genuine question as no idea!)

@LegendaryReady Yes, it’s great that he can recognise an olive branch..but they’re growing all around, lots of people possibly can

I wouldn't know an olive branch if it bit me on the arse.