# Has anyone not heard of Adam Sandler? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 28, 2014, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-not-heard-of-adam-sandler/708320 "2014-12-28T02:36:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-not-heard-of-adam-sandler/708320/21 "2014-12-28T05:56:15Z")
I’ve never seen Firefly, Breaking Bad, Buffy, Weeds, House, Big Bang Theory… It doesn’t surprise me that someone might not know a particular actor. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-not-heard-of-adam-sandler/708320/22 "2014-12-28T06:05:57Z")
I have never heard of this Alan Sandberg guy. I assume since everyone else knows who he is that he’s won a lot of Oscars. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-not-heard-of-adam-sandler/708320/23 "2014-12-28T06:06:45Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > It’s not sold in Canada. Well, for once I have an excuse! Say, you ever heard of Smarties? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-not-heard-of-adam-sandler/708320/24 "2014-12-28T06:08:24Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > culturally literate enough to be posting on the IMDB forums Hrm, I’m not sure you’ve actually _read_ too many posts from the IMDB forums… 😉 As to the OP, I can easily imagine someone holder than 55 or younger than 20 who hadn’t heard of Adam Sandler (or even more likely, had heard the name but had no recollection of it as the name wasn’t attached to any face, role or film the person was familiar with). ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-not-heard-of-adam-sandler/708320/25 "2014-12-28T06:26:48Z")
I’ve heard of Adam Sandler, but when I glance at the top singles or albums of the week, I’ve usually never heard of ANY of the artists listed. So it doesn’t surprise me that someone might not have heard of a particular actor, if movies are not on their radar screen. We live in a complex world, and everyone chooses the arenas they wish to follow. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-not-heard-of-adam-sandler/708320/26 "2014-12-28T06:45:55Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Let’s put it another way. It is obviously true that there really are human beings who don’t know who Adam Sandler is. There are young children being born every day, there are adults in assisted living situations, there are people who don’t speak English, and so on. > > But a better question would be: “Is it plausible that a person culturally literate enough to be posting on the IMDB forums to not know who Adam Sandler is?” > > And that strikes me as total bullshit. It’s like when you mention you saw something on the TV news, and the guys says he doesn’t have TV and so didn’t know you could get the news on TV. Yes, there are people who don’t watch TV, who don’t own a TV, who hate TV, and so on. But these people obviously know of the existence of TV, otherwise they wouldn’t be able to brag about how they don’t own at TV, and instead would ask, “What is TV? Never heard of it. Is it like the internet?” like a character in a Chick tract who’s never heard of Jesus. > > Obviously this person on the IMDB forum is trolling you. He knows that Adam Sandler exists, even if he’s never seen a movie by Adam Sandler. In order to dismiss Adam Sandler as not worth knowing about you’d first have to know about him, otherwise you wouldn’t know that he’s dismissible. Yeah, I tend to go with this. Obviously, lots of people haven’t heard of Adam Sandler. My parents, for instance, wouldn’t have the faintest clue who he is. But if you are culturally interested enough in film to be posting on the IMDB, it seems unlikely to me that you would miss him. (I thought I disliked him until I saw _Punch Drunk Love_. He was just fantastic in that role–a perfect fit. If anyone thinks he’s just a one-dimensional comedic hack, they have to watch him in this movie.) Then again, people have weird black holes in their knowledge, even if they’re interested in the subject. I know it’s happened to me. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-not-heard-of-adam-sandler/708320/27 "2014-12-28T07:36:46Z")
Yesterday somebody posted on the SDMB that they [didn’t know](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=18006433#post18006433) who Benedict Cumberbatch was. I found this hard to believe, but then I think on how many actors or pop stars who people suddenly seem to be talking about a lot, as though we’re all supposed to know who they are, where I can’t bring them to mind at all. I still don’t think I’ve seen Allison Janney in anything, or Jared Leto, but loads of other people talk about them quite a lot these days. By pure chance, the things they’ve done haven’t been in my wheelhouse and they passed me by, until I started to see their names so often they began to register as people who it’s broadly assumed everyone is familiar with. Funny how that works. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-not-heard-of-adam-sandler/708320/28 "2014-12-28T07:59:08Z")
Forbes considers Sandlar to be the most overpaid actor:[Adam Sandler Tops Forbes' Most Overpaid Actor List For The Second Year In A Row](http://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2014/12/23/adam-sandler-tops-the-most-overpaid-actor-list-for-the-second-year-in-a-row/) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-not-heard-of-adam-sandler/708320/29 "2014-12-28T09:55:07Z")
Can you give the text where they claimed they didn’t know who Adam Sandler was, and the text of the post they were responding to? I suspect a troll, but more context might provide a smoking gun. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-not-heard-of-adam-sandler/708320/30 "2014-12-28T10:17:18Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …what you doubt and what you can prove are two different things. Sandler has been in a string of movies I’ve never heard of since 2008. And if I haven’t heard of those movies, then it is very plausible that someone under the age of 20 has never heard of those movies either. Calling someone a liar based on an assumption is pretty silly. Unlikely things actually happen all the time: and not knowing who Adam Sandler is is unlikely, but absolutely possible. Proof has nothing to do with it. You have to make assumptions when interacting online. For example, there is no way that **Tripolar** isn’t joking. He’s referencing a meme that would necessitate knowing who Adam Sandler is. I have no proof. He could really be misspelling the guy’s name on his own accord. He could really believe what he says. But it is so unlikely that he would do that good a job that I assume he is just kidding. If you don’t make assumptions like this, you’re going to be pulled in the wrong direction all the time, and just come off as really naive online. ---
**Author:** ![BOOM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c4cdca/32.png) [@BOOM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BOOM)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-not-heard-of-adam-sandler/708320/31 "2014-12-28T10:23:43Z")
I know the name, couldn’t tell you anything about him. Could Google what he looks like but … Fwiw, I don’t generally see films/movies, and never Hollywood stuff. I suspect there would be an awful lot of people who have no idea who he is, probably the majority in most of my circles. ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-not-heard-of-adam-sandler/708320/32 "2014-12-28T10:58:32Z")
I’ve heard the name, can’t put a profession or face to it though. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-not-heard-of-adam-sandler/708320/33 "2014-12-28T12:27:35Z")
I’ve not heard of Adam Sandler. I assume he’s American, so as I’m 61 and live in the UK, that may explain it. Just for interest, how many posters here know who Peter Kay is? I assert that Peter Kay is more talented than this Sandler chappie (whoever he is…) ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-not-heard-of-adam-sandler/708320/34 "2014-12-28T12:50:44Z")
I’m 56 and know who Adam Sandler is. However, I find it completely believable that someone wouldn’t know. There are certainly current musical acts, sports figures and other celebrities I’ve never heard of. I tune out sports news and don’t really make an attempt to follow current pop culture. Never heard of Peter Kay, either. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-not-heard-of-adam-sandler/708320/35 "2014-12-28T13:22:29Z")
As related on this Board at least twice, I knew a lady back in West Texas who was born and raised in Texas and hadn’t a clue where Mexico was. Really. If such a person can exist, then I imagine there are those out there who have never heard of Adam Sandler. Although what they would be doing on [Imdb.com](http://Imdb.com) would be a mystery. EDIT: I have never heard of Peter Kay, and I watch a lot of British comedy courtesy of British friends. > [@GuanoLad](#): > > Yesterday somebody posted on the SDMB that they [didn’t know](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=18006433#post18006433) who Benedict Cumberbatch was. I found this hard to believe, but then I think on how many actors or pop stars who people suddenly seem to be talking about a lot, as though we’re all supposed to know who they are, where I can’t bring them to mind at all. SECOND EDIT: I’ve only in the past year or so heard of Benedict Cumberbatch. I think I’ve seen him before but never heard his name. (I hear he does some sort of Sherlock Holmes, but I’ve not seen his version.) ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-not-heard-of-adam-sandler/708320/36 "2014-12-28T13:39:53Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …what you doubt and what you can prove are two different things. :rolleyes: Then I guess it’s a good thing we aren’t trying to prove that this person has heard of Adam Sandler. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-not-heard-of-adam-sandler/708320/37 "2014-12-28T13:46:40Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > SECOND EDIT: I’ve only in the past year or so heard of Benedict Cumberbatch. I think I’ve seen him before but never heard his name. (I hear he does some sort of Sherlock Holmes, but I’ve not seen his version.) I think I’ve only become aware of him in the last month or so. On the other hand I’ve known who [Mat Fraser](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mat_Fraser) is for some time. He’s more interesting to me than Adam Sandler. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-not-heard-of-adam-sandler/708320/38 "2014-12-28T14:03:55Z")
> [@susan](#): > > I’ve never seen Firefly, Breaking Bad, Buffy, Weeds, House, Big Bang Theory… It doesn’t surprise me that someone might not know a particular actor. I like BBT, I catch the reruns. Never ‘tune in’. Never heard of Weeds. I’ve heard of the other ones and they sound good from what I know. Never seen 'em. ESPN was mentioned earlier. Sports channel. Never seen it. Don’t know what the letters stand for. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-not-heard-of-adam-sandler/708320/39 "2014-12-28T14:05:15Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > I can imagine someone like my parents not knowing who he is - they’re pushing 60, and don’t really keep up with the latest pop culture trends or movies. > [@Frylock](#): > > Hrm, I’m not sure you’ve actually _read_ too many posts from the IMDB forums… 😉 > > As to the OP, I can easily imagine someone holder than 55 or younger than 20 who hadn’t heard of Adam Sandler Someone in their late 50s now would have been in their 30s when Adam Sandler was on SNL. People in their 30s back then, like now, watched SNL. In fact, I’d venture to say there were part of the prime audience for Sandler’s run. I know plenty of people in that age group who absolutely know who he is. You youngsters misjudge the oldsters 😃 That said, not everyone watches SNL, and I don’t think it’s at all odd for someone to have never heard of him. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-not-heard-of-adam-sandler/708320/40 "2014-12-28T15:04:44Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Yesterday somebody posted on the SDMB that they [didn’t know](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=18006433#post18006433) who Benedict Cumberbatch was. I found this hard to believe, but then I think on how many actors or pop stars who people suddenly seem to be talking about a lot, as though we’re all supposed to know who they are, where I can’t bring them to mind at all. I really and truly do not know who Benedict Cumberpatch is. The name doesn’t ring even the vaguest bell. The same goes for the other people you listed. I do know who Adam Sandler is. I have even met him but that was back in the 90’s when I still paid at least some attention to such things. It is the more recent ones that I tend to have never hear of. I am sure there are mega-stars with very long runs that most people consider to be household names at that I have never heard of. I don’t watch current TV, don’t listen to pop radio, don’t read People and don’t go to the movies. It is very easy to become blissfully pop culturally unaware if you don’t participate in certain activities that constantly expose you to the newest trends. Many of the so-called superstars aren’t nearly as important or pervasive as some people assume once you take away the media islands that force their exposure to the masses. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-not-heard-of-adam-sandler/708320.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-not-heard-of-adam-sandler/708320.md?page=3)