I remember this kid in highschool that, when I asked what was his favorite movie or TV shows, he said he never really watched much stuff before. Like… I ask him about piracy, I forgot what he answered but it was something on the lines of “idk”, dude doesn’t have a netflix and never figured out piracy… So um… yea, strict parents sheltering him… I guess… so that’s why we never really “clicked”.
To be fair, I wasn’t exactly the most outgoing person, but like I could do some amount of random conversations, I know common topics to talk about.
In some ways it is crucial, being able to talk about pop culture stuff is as essential to small talk as talking about the weather. Some people see these as trivialities, but it’s an essential part of human connection.
And I feel it everyday, I have zero interest in pop music, zero interest in pop culture, I couldn’t give two shits in a tin bucket about movies or shows.
It’s going to make me sound like a douchebag, but I like plays, theater, art, jazz, human expression. And most people don’t and I feel the disconnection continually. I don’t think repeating jokes from the office qualifies as a personality or sense of humor. And most people do.
So to come back around, it’s essential to basic connection with other people, but I find it endlessly frustrating.