I saw a discussion on the IMDB boards once about Shia LaBeouf’s character’s ringtone in the movie Disturbia. Someone asked what the song. It was 2 Live Crew’s “Me So Horny,” one of the most infamous songs off the 1980’s and recognizable enough that the screenwriter had chosen that as a joke in the film (because, after all, it wouldn’t be funny if no one knew what it was). I felt very, very old after reading that.
I was able to instantly name every performer but one, Harry Belafonte. Had to think about that one for a couple of seconds before I realized who he was.
I’m 38, though.
I’m 31. I recognized Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers and Michael Jackson. No-one else.
wow. that’s just…How old was she?
Yeah, the whole pop culture disparity with some of my younger co-workers just kills me sometimes. I couldn’t believe it when some of them had never even heard of the movie Escape From New York. That’s one I assume everyone on earth has seen. They can’t believe that I, a 40 year old unmarried male with no kids, haven’t seen Twilight.
I’ll bet some of them didn’t know Paul McCartney was in a band before Wings.
Who is Paul McCartney?
My mother asked me one day what caused solar eclipses…
I’m 28 and I only recognized MJ, Dan Akroid and Tina Turner. I saw two black guys I though were Isaac Hayes and Richard Prior, but apparently, it’s not them
I feel excessively old in the presence of people who don’t recognize Bruce Springsteen or Ray Charles.
I spent a great deal of time on Friday explaining to my mother’s co-worker, who carpools with us, why antibiotics don’t work on viruses and how road salt works. She’s 40 years old with an associate’s degree level of education.
I was shocked that nobody seems to know what a merkin is anymore.
We’ve had this debate around here before. I think it’s because some women (and men) don’t know exactly what the term “vagina” refers to. They think it’s the whole area, rather than just the… em… chimney. It makes me cringe when I hear anyone refer to a shaved or waxed vagina, when they’re trying to be proper and not say pussy. It’s just not possible, folks!
Back on topic, I am frequently astounded by other folks lack of vocabulary. I am frequently accused of using big words to try and impress peopple. Nope, it’s just my vocabulary and I’m not doing it on purpose.
Just yesterday I got in trouble for using the phrase “common parlance”, because nobody knew what I meant.
I once remarked on the “crenellations” adorning a railway viaduct, to a blank stare from my companion. Likewise when I once used the word “fortuitous” amongst my friends. Those are just examples off the top of my head.
I see what you did.
These things stick with you.
When I was a teenager, I had a guy staying with our family from Belize. We were downtown one evening, and a street preacher accosted us. Trying to be friendly, she asked where he was from. He told her.
“Oh,” she said. “Where’s that?”
I told her it was way south of here.
“Like in Georgia?” she asked.
Sheesh.
Then there was the time I was standing in line waiting for a movie. Some teenyboppers behind us looked at a poster and said, “Starsky and Hutch–who the hell is that?” It was the first time I felt old.
(I won’t even bother looking at We Are the World–I’m 35, but I’m guessing I’d recognize less than half a dozen people. I suck at recognizing folks).
You were genuinely surprised somebody didn’t know the world crenellations? Do you live in Oxbridge or something? 
I was 28 when *We are the World *was made. In other words, I was in the heart of the pop music demographic at the time.
From the list linked to in post #11 I recognized 34 of the 36 headline names & a couple of the 7 minor players at the end.
From the youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmxT21uFRwM I think the OP was referring to? 6 on sight and a couple more by recognizing their voice.
Back at the OP: ask your Mom who her faves were when she was 20 and see how many you can recognize from a photo. Likewise, if the song was to be remade today by current music talent of equivalent fame to those in the 1985 original, I’d probably recognize 3 of the new faces, tops.
People that don’t know stars in the sky are just VERY distant versions of our sun.
Yeah, the impact on your life for not knowing this is very likely zero, but given that for most of man’s history this was considered an important question…
And hey, if people are allowed to pull facts outa their ass, you should be able to pee out of a vagina if you are so inclined.
You’re 37 and you didn’t recognize the guys from U2 or Culture Club or Duran Duran? Did you nap through the 80s or something? 
That may be true, but I know for a fact there are a lot of people out there who don’t know there are three holes.
It’s a type of pickle, no?
This is not my story. I actually read it here, in the SDMB, in a similar thread a few years ago. I hope the original author forgives me, but it’s too good not to repeat here (and for all I know he’s banned or will miss this thread).
He and a friend were out one night, a rare clear and non-light-polluted one, with a sky exploding with stars.
Friend: “Hey, the Sun’s a star, too, isn’t it?”
He: “Yeah, absolutely”
Friend (looking up to the sky): “Which one?”