Faking Cultural Literacy

[JoltinJoe]

Present company suspected.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/25/opini ... .html?_r=0

It’s never been so easy to pretend to know so much without actually knowing anything.

[Col Hogan]

I didn't read the article, but the author is full of caca toro...

[JoltinJoe]

I didn't read the article, but the author is full of caca toro...

Good one!

[JohnStOnge]

I actually take pride in the fact that I am out of the loop on what's going on with popular culture. I mean, you can't help but know about some of what's going on if you also want to watch the news. But I don't feel pressure to keep up with what's going on in pop culture at all. When someone starts talking about some pop culture thing and I never heard of it I feel proud of myself for being able to honestly say I never heard of it. Makes me feel kind of superior actually. I know I shouldn't be that way but if I'm honest about it that's the effect it has.

[Ivytalk]

Another self-consciously hip article in that self-appointed arbiter of American culture. And I read the whole thing. Three minutes I'll never get back. Thanks for nothing, Joe.

[BlueHen86]

I actually take pride in the fact that I am out of the loop on what's going on with popular culture. I mean, you can't help but know about some of what's going on if you also want to watch the news. But I don't feel pressure to keep up with what's going on in pop culture at all. When someone starts talking about some pop culture thing and I never heard of it I feel proud of myself for being able to honestly say I never heard of it. Makes me feel kind of superior actually. I know I shouldn't be that way but if I'm honest about it that's the effect it has.

Your ignorance makes you feel superior? I guess that is one way to rationalize it.

[JoltinJoe]

Another self-consciously hip article in that self-appointed arbiter of American culture. And I read the whole thing. Three minutes I'll never get back. Thanks for nothing, Joe.

Sorry, I only read the one sentence I quoted.

[JohnStOnge]

Your ignorance makes you feel superior? I guess that is one way to rationalize it.

Sure. Everybody's ignorant. Nobody can know about everything. I spend a lot of time watching documentary type stuff on cable channels and news programs. Like today I've been watching episodes of World War II in Color on the American Heros Channel (which used to be the military channel). Still have it on right now. I've never watched American Idol. Can't remember the last time I watched ANY entertainment show unless you count watching Ancient Aliens for laughs (nobody's perfect).

You only have so many hours in a day and I would rather be somebody who spends time watching documentaries on the Battle of Midway and the German Blitzkreig like I did today than someone who spends time watching American Idol or a reality show about the Kardashians. So yeah I'm proud that I spend my television watching hours on stuff other than that which would keep me up to speed on pop culture.

And I was like that when I was in college too. Like I saw one of those interview things the other day where someone would ask college students at some school like George Washington or George Mason University if they knew what the Benghazi thing is about and they had no clue. Never heard of Benghazi. But they'd ask them a pop culture question and they'd nail it. Or like the time in the 90s when I heard about the results of a poll where less than half of Ivy league students could name a single Supreme Court Justice. Pathetic. That would never have happened to me when I was in college. And I'd much rather be the person who knows at least what's been reported about the Benghazi issue and NOT be able to answer some pop culture question than visa versa.

Reminds me of when the Iranians took the US embassy. I walked into class and started telling people that the Iranians took our embassy. This babe looks at me and says, "Where's Irania?"

But I'd bet she would've known all there was to know about pop culture.

[Pwns]

I'm with you there on pop culture JSO. I couldn't care less about American Idol, the vast majority of TV shows and movies, or who Angelina Aniston is married to. I don't see the need to act haughty about it, though. Just consider that there are some well-read, civically-aware people who read People magazine and think sports are for philistines.

[CAA Flagship]

I'm with you there on pop culture JSO. I couldn't care less about American Idol, the vast majority of TV shows and movies, or who Angelina Aniston is married to. I don't see the need to act haughty about it, though. Just consider that there are some well-read, civically-aware people who read People magazine and think sports are for philistines.

I'm in the middle here. There are some things that I will stay on top of. There are other things that are the punctuation of pussification. American Idol is a perfect example. Before the Pussification Era was in full swing, American Idol was called Star Search and it was not popular.

[BlueHen86]

Your ignorance makes you feel superior? I guess that is one way to rationalize it.

Sure. Everybody's ignorant. Nobody can know about everything...

Agreed, but you went a step further and said that your ignorance makes you feel superior. We all get to choose our guilty pleasures, but it's arrogant to announce that your guilty pleasures make you superior to others.

[kalm]

I'm with you there on pop culture JSO. I couldn't care less about American Idol, the vast majority of TV shows and movies, or who Angelina Aniston is married to. I don't see the need to act haughty about it, though. Just consider that there are some well-read, civically-aware people who read People magazine and think sports are for philistines.

Me too.

I've never seen AI. Really don't know much nor could care less about the Kardashians, Rhianna, Kanye...etc. Never even watched an episode of Friends. I'm good for about one TV show every five years. The current one is Game of Thrones. Before that it was 24. Before that it was the Simpsons.

There's a constant battle in the car between ESPN radio and the local top 40 station (do they still call it that?).

Pop music for the most part hasn't changed 80's since and still mostly blows.

I'm as curmudgeonly as 89 when it comes to pop culture...and like JSO I'm kind of proud of that.

[JohnStOnge]

Agreed, but you went a step further and said that your ignorance makes you feel superior. We all get to choose our guilty pleasures, but it's arrogant to announce that your guilty pleasures make you superior to others.

No worries. I forfeited my basis for feeling superior by going to see Godzilla 2014 today.

[Pwns]

Really JSO, you went to go see a quintessential unoriginal cash cow movie?

Your pop culture ignoramus card will be suspended for a month.

[Grizalltheway]

Does eye fucking pubescent girls make you feel superior, too?

[BlueHen86]

Agreed, but you went a step further and said that your ignorance makes you feel superior. We all get to choose our guilty pleasures, but it's arrogant to announce that your guilty pleasures make you superior to others.

No worries. I forfeited my basis for feeling superior by going to see Godzilla 2014 today.

I want to see Godzilla, but I will probably wait until it's available on demand.

[travelinman67]

Think folks need to prioritize...

...was with a group of friends camping over the weekend, one of whom said she'd never heard of Vladmir Putin.

The 50ish gal reads People magazine, follows everything Kardashian, watches Soaps during the day at work, and has little interest in music outside 60's classic rock.

Typically, she's defensive about her informational choices.

Sadly, she's raised 4 kids.

In 20 years, Kanye West, Beyonce and the other over-hyped pop icons will fade into shadows as they have not contributed to our culture.

You will not develop an understanding of the person whose finger rests on the button of the nuclear missile pointed at your neighborhood listening to narcisstic entertainers.

[D1B]

Think folks need to prioritize...

...was with a group of friends camping over the weekend, one of whom said she'd never heard of Vladmir Putin.

The 50ish gal reads People magazine, follows everything Kardashian, watches Soaps during the day at work, and has little interest in music outside 60's classic rock.

Typically, she's defensive about her informational choices.

Sadly, she's raised 4 kids.

In 20 years, Kanye West, Beyonce and the other over-hyped pop icons will fade into shadows as they have not contributed to our culture.

You will not develop an understanding of the person whose finger rests on the button of the nuclear missile pointed at your neighborhood listening to narcisstic entertainers.

Great. How big were her tits, Tdog?

[travelinman67]

Think folks need to prioritize...

...was with a group of friends camping over the weekend, one of whom said she'd never heard of Vladmir Putin.

The 50ish gal reads People magazine, follows everything Kardashian, watches Soaps during the day at work, and has little interest in music outside 60's classic rock.

Typically, she's defensive about her informational choices.

Sadly, she's raised 4 kids.

In 20 years, Kanye West, Beyonce and the other over-hyped pop icons will fade into shadows as they have not contributed to our culture.

You will not develop an understanding of the person whose finger rests on the button of the nuclear missile pointed at your neighborhood listening to narcisstic entertainers.

Great. How big were her tits, Tdog?

You already know the answer to that question.

[JohnStOnge]

Does eye **** pubescent girls make you feel superior, too?

No but recognizing that it's natural for a sexually mature male to be attracted to a sexually mature female of the same dioecious species and that "legal age" is a social construct that has no relevance to our biology does; especially when there are so many people that don't seem to be able to grasp that.

[Ibanez]

Does eye **** pubescent girls make you feel superior, too?

No but recognizing that it's natural for a sexually mature male to be attracted to a sexually mature female of the same dioecious species and that "legal age" is a social construct that has no relevance to our biology does; especially when there are so many people that don't seem to be able to grasp that.

So basically, "old enough to bleed, old enough to breed," is your motto.

I got my period when I was 11. Though the thought of a 6th grader becoming physically able to get pregnant is the stuff of most parents' nightmares, it's not as uncommon as you might think. The national average age for a girl to get her first period is 12, and girls can start as early as age 8. Why so young? No one would argue that an 11-year-old is emotionally capable of raising a child. Why would female biology be seemingly so far ahead of psychology when it comes to sexual maturity?


Recent controversy surrounding this topic tags a fatty and preservative-laden diet as the culprit. But a growing mound of research points to some surprising social and evolutionary influences on the timing of a girl's first period, namely parental care.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the ... s-so-young" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Spoiler: show

Btw, I just learned my 9 yr old neighbor is now having her periods. 9 years old. Must be something in the food supply.

[kalm]

No but recognizing that it's natural for a sexually mature male to be attracted to a sexually mature female of the same dioecious species and that "legal age" is a social construct that has no relevance to our biology does; especially when there are so many people that don't seem to be able to grasp that.

So basically, "old enough to bleed, old enough to breed," is your motto.

I got my period when I was 11. Though the thought of a 6th grader becoming physically able to get pregnant is the stuff of most parents' nightmares, it's not as uncommon as you might think. The national average age for a girl to get her first period is 12, and girls can start as early as age 8. Why so young? No one would argue that an 11-year-old is emotionally capable of raising a child. Why would female biology be seemingly so far ahead of psychology when it comes to sexual maturity?


Recent controversy surrounding this topic tags a fatty and preservative-laden diet as the culprit. But a growing mound of research points to some surprising social and evolutionary influences on the timing of a girl's first period, namely parental care.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the ... s-so-young" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Spoiler: show

Btw, I just learned my 9 yr old neighbor is now having her periods. 9 years old. Must be something in the food supply.

"Mound". Ha!

[CID1990]

Think folks need to prioritize...

...was with a group of friends camping over the weekend, one of whom said she'd never heard of Vladmir Putin.

The 50ish gal reads People magazine, follows everything Kardashian, watches Soaps during the day at work, and has little interest in music outside 60's classic rock.

Typically, she's defensive about her informational choices.

Sadly, she's raised 4 kids.

In 20 years, Kanye West, Beyonce and the other over-hyped pop icons will fade into shadows as they have not contributed to our culture.

You will not develop an understanding of the person whose finger rests on the button of the nuclear missile pointed at your neighborhood listening to narcisstic entertainers.

Great. How big were her tits, Tdog?

They would have to be huge.

Why else would you go camping with what has to be a very annoying woman?

[YoUDeeMan]

No but recognizing that it's natural for a sexually mature male to be attracted to a sexually mature female of the same dioecious species and that "legal age" is a social construct that has no relevance to our biology does; especially when there are so many people that don't seem to be able to grasp that.

So basically, "old enough to bleed, old enough to breed," is your motto.

I got my period when I was 11. Though the thought of a 6th grader becoming physically able to get pregnant is the stuff of most parents' nightmares, it's not as uncommon as you might think. The national average age for a girl to get her first period is 12, and girls can start as early as age 8. Why so young? No one would argue that an 11-year-old is emotionally capable of raising a child. Why would female biology be seemingly so far ahead of psychology when it comes to sexual maturity?


Recent controversy surrounding this topic tags a fatty and preservative-laden diet as the culprit. But a growing mound of research points to some surprising social and evolutionary influences on the timing of a girl's first period, namely parental care.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the ... s-so-young" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Spoiler: show

Btw, I just learned my 9 yr old neighbor is now having her periods. 9 years old. Must be something in the food supply.

Old enough to bleed, old enough to breed is factually correct, isn't it?

As far as the early menstruation studies go, did they study the impact of a parent owning a shotgun?

[Ibanez]

So basically, "old enough to bleed, old enough to breed," is your motto.




http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the ... s-so-young" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Spoiler: show

Btw, I just learned my 9 yr old neighbor is now having her periods. 9 years old. Must be something in the food supply.

Old enough to bleed, old enough to breed is factually correct, isn't it?

As far as the early menstruation studies go, did they study the impact of a parent owning a shotgun?

I guess if you want to rationalize sex with a 10 yr old girl. Sure.