Do people pretend not to know who people are in order to seem intelligent?

[coulditbeme2323]

Do people pretend not to know who people are in order to seem intelligent?

This question is prompted from reading comments online re The Met Gala?

Now let me prefix this by saying I have no interest in reality tv, Showbiz mags, etc - but surely there are some people who you know who they are because everybody does!

There were people saying "who" on a photo of Kim Kardashian. I have never seen an episode of the show, have no interest in her, but of course I know who she is - because how can you not?

Another British example is Jordan/Kate Price. No interest in her, but she has literally been headline news in The UK for 20 years. If you live in The UK - surely its impossible to not at least know who she is?

Indeed! Do people ask on here then?

Oh, do stop it. Your response is far too sensible for this thread and is spoiling all the self-righteous indignation!

I don't know 90% of so called celebrities these days. The term is pointless now. Only appeals to vacuous minds.

When celebrity edition TV programmes are on, I literally haven't heard of one of them.

Everyone tends to have a Kardashian look nowadays. I couldn’t identify her in a line-up. I always get Katie Price and Katie Piper mixed up to. Not sure intelligence has anything to do with it?

I don't know what Kim Kardashian looks like - I knew what Katie Price looked like when she was in the Jungle but probably not now. Not interested.

Yeah that's nasty.

Quite often I'm thinking 'who?' But google them to see if I recognise them/find out who they are.

I know a few of the reality tv stars because sometimes you can’t avoid them.

I’m aware of MAFS, Geordie Shores, Love Island and any of the Housewives of shows. They don’t entertain me so I don’t watch them so I wouldn’t know who the people are.

Same with today’s crop of musicians, they’re undoubtedly talented but I don’t follow music like I did in my teens so couldn’t put names to faces.

It’s not snobbery or intelligence, just that my interests have changed

Well, my parents get their entire media exposure from Radio 3, the BBC 6 o’clock news (only watch the headlines usually), and the Economist and Gramaphone magazines. The highlights of their year are Glyndebourne and Wimbledon.

They certainly would have no interest in social media. I can guarantee they would have no idea who Kim Kardashian, Katie Price, or Taylor Swift are. Their last contact with popular culture was probably going to a Shirley Collins concert in 1967.

There's a thread appearing in the trending list about people called Tess Daley and Vernon Kay who have split. I've never heard of them.

I don’t follow that kind of celebrity world at all. I’d know who Katie Price was because she’s been around since the 90s but although I’ve heard of the Kardashians / Jenners etc I probably wouldn’t know who they were in a photo. I don’t think I’m more intelligent / superior at all but that’s the truth - I wouldn’t be pretending!

I recognise the names but wouldn't be able to pick them out in a line-up. No interest in what passes for 'celebrity' nowadays (ie vacuous attention-seekers)

I saw a clip of her taking a really tight dress off recently and if it hadn't been titled with her name I wouldn't have realised who she was. Possibly one of her sisters, but her face has changed. I pay very little attention to celebrity stuff, but I don't think it makes me superior, just very apathetic about celebrities. I don't have the shits to give, and unless something pops up that interests me I ignore it. In this case I thought the dress looked awesome.

Also read Stuart Hall. I can't remember who came up with the framework: Good/good, Good/bad, Bad/good, Bad, bad. Where the first adjective is the subjective aim for literary reception, and the second is the realisation of that.

I wouldn't recognise a Kardashian. I'd recognise Katie Price.

Just to add another perspective, I have some face-blindness so even celebs I’ve heard of I might not pull out of a line up! Especially if the “clue” to their appearance is missing (for example, I’ll remember people by a hairstyle or other prominent feature and if that changes it really throws me!). This is also a problem in real life!
for example, from the celebs you mentioned, I’d recognise Adele before she lost weight, but thin Adele I’d be totally unable to pick out of a line up 🤷🏻‍♀️

that, coupled with a general lack of engagement with celeb culture means my partner will often have to field “who’s that?” Comments from me over celebs 😂

however, I wouldn’t go to the effort of commenting that on a post about them!

I literally have zero attention for famous people. I don't watch many movies and honestly? My brain taken up by other things in my irls life. I can barely keep Royal family members straight.

If I recognise some of these people or can say I've heard of the name or seen a picture that turns out to be them, it's in spite of a lack of interest, not because I'm trying to be viewed as highbrow or ditzy or oblivious (or whatever criticism is being directed at me).

I'm sure they wouldn't be interested in my ability to recognise characters in Star Trek, the animated characters of Ray Harryhausen, the difference between a Woodlouse and a Pill Millipede or the approximate date and origin of assorted Bronze Age armour.

I think people who follow KK or KP are often people with low intelligence. Why does anyone watch that nonsense?

Exactly. I know she exists. I don’t really know why she’s famous- she had some TV series or something. Never watched it. Lots of family members also begin with K? No idea what she looks like.

I am really not feigning ignorance to seem intelligent. I simply have zero interest in celebrities. That’s not me being snobby and up myself, I just can’t hold that information in my brain.

Wow, this is so super-judgey!!

Presumably these 'low-rung' celebs are out there because they are someone's cup of tea?

Live and let live.

Wow, this is so super-judgey!!

Presumably these 'low rung' celebs are out there because they are someone's cup of tea.

Live and let live!

I know who she is - as in her name. But I might struggle to recognise her. If that makes sense? But I'm not the best with faces anyway.

Yes. This so much! I've also never been cool, and whilst I could tell you who all the characters in Buffy the Vampire Slayer are, I'm a bit useless with a lot of the regular reality TV stuff. I do actually like some shows (Traitors, Sewing Bee etc ) but I've two young kids a full on job and never enough time to actually keep on top of TV at the moment. When the 2 year old is a bit more cooperative over bedtime, we'll have more time to catch up! Though reality TV shows and entertainment programmes don't tend to hold for a catch up bunge watch 6 months later.

Not sure why this correlates with intelligence?
I never know who celebrities are - I know the Kardashians are but wouldn’t know which was which, I do know Katie Price. I never know who half of them are on “I’m a celebrity” etc.
its just not my interest but don’t see why this would make me more or less intelligent than someone?