# Embarrassingly famous pop culture that has passed you by... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 14, 2008, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassingly-famous-pop-culture-that-has-passed-you-by/449244 "2008-05-14T03:37:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassingly-famous-pop-culture-that-has-passed-you-by/449244/101 "2008-05-15T17:56:13Z")
I don’t know if this counts or not, but I’ll take a shot anyway. I missed an entire decade of pop-culture, with an exception or two. My kids were born in 1982 and 1984. I can honestly say that I have very little idea of what the pop-culture fads were between those years and about 1998 or so. A couple of exceptions I alluded to would be things like the Smurfs and the He-Man cartoon and figurines. In other words, if the pop-culture phenomenon wasn’t targeted to pre-teens it didn’t register with me. In retrospect that is kind of weird. Only in the last five years or so have I discovered the music of the 80s. There was some pretty good stuff that I now have on my iPod. I have no idea what was popular on television during those years. Seinfeld? I really like Seinfeld in syndication but I don’t think I ever saw it when it was first aired. Now that I think about it though, I guess some other stuff did hit my radar. I do recall watching Michael Jackson’s _Thriller_ on MTV, way back in the day when they actually showed music videos. ---
**Author:** ![InappropriateHumor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eb8c5e/32.png) [@InappropriateHumor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InappropriateHumor)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassingly-famous-pop-culture-that-has-passed-you-by/449244/102 "2008-05-15T18:42:32Z")
[QUOTE=Cisco] I’m such a nerd I can sing the Spanish version. _¿Estan listos, chicos?_ _¡Si, capitan, estamos listos!_ _¡No los esCUUUcho!_ [/QUOTE] What does it say about me that I think that’s cool? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassingly-famous-pop-culture-that-has-passed-you-by/449244/103 "2008-05-15T18:55:48Z")
[QUOTE=InappropriateHumor] What does it say about me that I think that’s cool? [/QUOTE] In means we’re cool in our own minds 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassingly-famous-pop-culture-that-has-passed-you-by/449244/104 "2008-05-15T19:43:32Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] Sorry, didn’t mean to attach motives to you that didn’t exist. How about I make up for it by having you over for a South Park marathon…I have a bunch of the DVD’s. 😃 [/QUOTE] As long as you’re buying the beer (and it had better be _good_ beer–none of that embarrassingly famous pop culture beer 😉 ), I’ll be there with bells on. Okay, I’ll skip the bells. That would be just too weird. ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassingly-famous-pop-culture-that-has-passed-you-by/449244/105 "2008-05-16T00:58:53Z")
I haven’t watched a single Quentin Tarantino movie. Not even the big one, Pulp Fiction. I also haven’t watched a single James Cameron movie since Titanic (which I found to be servicable cheesy romantic fluff with spectacular visuals, and one viewing’s enough for me, thanks). The first Mike Tyson fight I saw in its entirety was that stupid ear bite DQ. I still have not seen any of the fights where he was a ferocious, terrorizing juggernaut. I missed the entire first season of American Idol. I kinda regret this; from what I’ve heard it was a pretty good contest and gave us Kelly Clarkson, arguably the only true superstar to come out of this. Is it on DVD? Haven’t seen a single episode of Lost. Haven’t read a single page of the Harry Potter series (admittedly, I don’t have children, so of course this particularly phenomenon doesn’t resonate with me as much). Haven’t bought a PS3, Wii, or XBox 360. They’re nice systems, but I’m not just seeing enough of what I absolutely have to have. I’m actually starting to shop around for a used N64, if you can believe that. I have a cell phone. I use it mainly for the alarm clock function, although I sometimes take pictures with it. Personally, I find the idea of giving the world the ability to contact me any time, anywhere about as appealing as a broken leg. I get enough damn calls at work and at home, dangit. (See? A nice mix. It’s not that hard, folks! 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassingly-famous-pop-culture-that-has-passed-you-by/449244/106 "2008-05-16T01:11:21Z")
I have to say that some things in this thread just blow me away. An American adult never seeing **one** episode of The Simpsons? Wow. My, now dead, 80 year old Granny LOVED The Simpsons. It was the only reason she turned on the TV. But the following quote is so true for me. Only recently, I actually listened to a top 20 show just to see what was going on and it really surprised me how out of touch I was. I liked some of the stuff but knew little to nothing about of the actual acts. [QUOTE=Cisco] I no longer recognize the songs or even the artists on most of the top 40.. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassingly-famous-pop-culture-that-has-passed-you-by/449244/107 "2008-05-16T01:24:19Z")
[QUOTE=DKW] I also haven’t watched a single James Cameron movie since Titanic (which I found to be servicable cheesy romantic fluff with spectacular visuals, and one viewing’s enough for me, thanks). [/QUOTE] I’ll let you in on a little secret, just between you and me. He hasn’t made any movies since Titanic. Unless you count some underwater documentaries. He is supposed to have a couple in production so you have time before they pass you by. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassingly-famous-pop-culture-that-has-passed-you-by/449244/108 "2008-05-16T02:14:09Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] I’ll let you in on a little secret, just between you and me. He hasn’t made any movies since Titanic. Unless you count some underwater documentaries. He is supposed to have a couple in production so you have time before they pass you by. [/QUOTE] Hah! I read that and I was sitting here thinking, “_I_ haven’t seen a Cameron movie since Titanic, either. Wait, has he _made_ any since Titanic?” ---
**Author:** ![coffinjumper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8baadc/32.png) [@coffinjumper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffinjumper)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassingly-famous-pop-culture-that-has-passed-you-by/449244/109 "2008-05-16T03:36:17Z")
[QUOTE=Agent Foxtrot] I’ll probably get chased down, flogged, tarred, feathered, drawn, quartered, and crucified for this, but I’ve never seen any of the _Star Wars_ movies. I think the concept of the Jedi Knight is fascinating and Darth Vader is agreeably the coolest villain ever, but neither of those things has ever motivated me enough to see them. I’ll be 29 in July. For what it’s worth, I understand enough of the _Star Wars_ culture to get pretty much every joke in _Spaceballs_. 😃 [/QUOTE] I never thought I’d find another! People obsessively yell at me about how I need to see them, and I’m just like “your shrill whining is making me want to watch it even less” I also agree on much current music, reality tv, and Harry Potter on these lists. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassingly-famous-pop-culture-that-has-passed-you-by/449244/110 "2008-05-16T15:15:43Z")
I want to learn the Spongebob theme song in Spanish! ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassingly-famous-pop-culture-that-has-passed-you-by/449244/111 "2008-05-16T18:11:14Z")
I have never seen a James Bond movie from beginning to end. In fact, my total 007 exposure amounts to maybe two or three scenes from two or three movies. I’ve never seen an episode of _Buffy_, _Sex in the City_, any of the _Law & Order_ franchise or any of the _CSI_ franchise. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassingly-famous-pop-culture-that-has-passed-you-by/449244/112 "2008-05-16T18:15:53Z")
[QUOTE=Ellen Cherry] I want to learn the Spongebob theme song in Spanish! [/QUOTE] \*OOOooooooooooooooo ¿Quién vive en una piña abajo del mar? BobEsponja Pantalones… \* That’s all I got ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassingly-famous-pop-culture-that-has-passed-you-by/449244/113 "2008-05-16T18:25:33Z")
[QUOTE=Ellen Cherry] I want to learn the Spongebob theme song in Spanish! [/QUOTE] [Better yet, here you go.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpD6B0tbuso&feature=related) Apparently I wasn’t too far off! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassingly-famous-pop-culture-that-has-passed-you-by/449244/114 "2008-05-16T23:03:01Z")
I’ve never seen an episode of Seinfeld. Ok, I’ve seen parts of it on the way to to other shows, but not a whole one. And even though my friends quote it repeatedly, I got no urge to see it either. 9 times out of ten I don’t know who’s on the radio. That’s 7 out of ten if it’s from the 80’s. Missed 90% of the television growing up, from what I’ve been told. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2008, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassingly-famous-pop-culture-that-has-passed-you-by/449244/115 "2008-05-17T08:43:00Z")
I’ve never seen a Monty Python sketch. Do I win? ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2008, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassingly-famous-pop-culture-that-has-passed-you-by/449244/116 "2008-05-17T08:43:59Z")
That depends. Is it intentional? If you’ve specifically avoided it, then no, you don’t win. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2008, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassingly-famous-pop-culture-that-has-passed-you-by/449244/117 "2008-05-17T22:00:17Z")
No Cell Phone. Hate telephones! Why the fuck do I want to carry one? No Tivo. Don’t play on-line games, never have. Don’t watch Survivor, American Idol or whatever it is the kids are watching these days \. Hell, I very rarely watch network TV at all. Don’t care for Hip hop, but I don’t like Country either, so there. As far as I’m concerned, Tatoos are still for carny folk and sailors, not regular people. Sometimes I think the only reason women get Tramp Stamps is so that they can be “cool” in having a tatoo, but they don’t ever have to look at it themselves. Goatees are for your evil twin, not for you. Yeah, some companies won’t let you have a full beard. I hate that too, since I HAVE a full beard. So unless you’re the evil twin, shave it. Soul Patches and chin strips. WTF? Beard or no beard, asshole. See previous. I’ll shave my head the day [Alicia Witt](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001860/), [Scarlett Johanson](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0424060/) and [Kate Beckinsale](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000295/) agree to be my three concubines. ---
**Author:** ![8675309](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/ea5d25/32.png) [@8675309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/8675309)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2008, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassingly-famous-pop-culture-that-has-passed-you-by/449244/118 "2008-05-17T22:17:46Z")
[QUOTE=EsotericEnigma] I have never heard Free Bird or Stairway to Heaven. [/QUOTE] Never heard Freebird or Stairway to Heaven? This is the only one that has shocked me. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2008, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassingly-famous-pop-culture-that-has-passed-you-by/449244/119 "2008-05-18T01:54:19Z")
[QUOTE=Chimera] (stuff Chimera doesn’t like) [/QUOTE] You seem to have missed the point of the thread. This isn’t a “stuff I don’t like” thread, this is a thread about stuff that passed you by that everyone else seems to know about. ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2008, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassingly-famous-pop-culture-that-has-passed-you-by/449244/120 "2008-05-18T23:48:14Z")
Nothing since Titanic? It’s been, what, 11 years now? Dang, I’m _really_ out of the loop. 😃 And I really regret missing the entire first season of American Idol. I’m not a big fan of overplayed, cliched, sappy pop, I _loathed_ the thankfully short-lived karaoke craze, and I find Whitney Houston and Robert Marx just plain annoying. Also, I really, really do not see any worth in three overpaid spectators who don’t have the slightest influence on the contest making insipid comments and getting yelled at. Of course, I never realized that 1. my mother would become a huge fan of the show, 2. I’d have to watch so I’d know what happened and be able to discuss it, 3. and furthermore, all the faults would become far WORSE by season 7. I don’t understand why whoever has the rights to these episodes hasn’t released a complete season, especially given the less-than-stellar reviews for the “Best of” and “Worst of” offerings. The one that _surprises_ me the most is my vastly waned interest in console videogaming. Part of it is the paucity of reliable cheat devices (I’ll start a new threat about this soon…I really need to get this off my chest.), but for the most part, the new games just don’t appeal to my predominently arcade sensibilites. I’m flustered by most fighting games, I don’t have the chops for first-person shooters at all, the last RPG where I wasn’t hopelessly over my head after the first five minutes was Ultima 3, I find most racing games a colossal waste of time (Helooooo, Outrun 2006! :mad: ), and nearly all the licensed stuff is slapdash or half-realized or just not that good. I don’t know how many times this year I walked into a Gamestop, glanced around a bit for two minutes, and walked right back out, something that I don’t _ever_ remember doing even one year ago. I was serious when I said I was looking into an N64. Heck, I’m seriously considering buying a set of NES and Super NES emulator files. And I’d just about given up on getting emulated NES games to work! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassingly-famous-pop-culture-that-has-passed-you-by/449244.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassingly-famous-pop-culture-that-has-passed-you-by/449244.md?page=7)