I am dumbfounded.

[Bertha Venation]

My 22-yr-old nephew nephew is a huge Dexter fan. I sent him this item:



He couldn't see it, so I told him: "It's a picture of Dexter reading a newspaper. The headline on the newspaper is "Zimmerman not guilty.""

He replied: "I'm unfamiliar with a Zimmerman case."

My nephew doesn't watch TV, but there are newspapers, there is news radio. But he remains ignorant. He was once fired from his job as a grocery bagger/cart guy/etc. because he was late on Super Bowl Sunday -- he not only had no idea that is was Super Bowl Sunday, but he didn't know what the Super Bowl was.

He does pay attention to elections and he does vote. Other than that, it pains me that he doesn't pay attention to what goes on outside his life. I wonder how many more are like him. Any idea?

PS Do not insult my nephew.

[hlthe2b]

1. I know a lot of people--not just youth that are like that...

It is just as though they made a decision to be "blissfully ignorant" and stuck to it (I suppose there might be something to that)...

Or they just have a very low curiosity quotient... I don't know. Have you ever asked him about it?

[Bertha Venation]

2. Yes, I believe that he is not very curious

about things that go on around him. That makes me sad, because he is a very smart kid.

[hlthe2b]

3. I know I'll sound like a grouchy old person, but the truth is that peers usually make or break

that attitude. I always felt pressure to know what was going on, so as not to appear "ignorant" and would be absolutely mortified if it became clear i was the one person who was clueless in a discussion... If I was part of a conversation on a subject for which I knew nothing or a term was used I didn't know, I would almost always go home and try to figure out what it was that I didn't know. Now (and across the board) it just seems as though ignorance is not a source of embarrassment, but pride.

It is very strange to me. I thought after being mortified as a country by GWB* constant display of cluelessness and cringe-inducing faux pas that this particular trend would start to end... But, if anything it has just become more accepted.

[noamnety]

4. Would you say he's in a primarily white community?

It was a topic of casual conversation where I teach, which is a very racially integrated area and the people there tend to be up on social issues of all sorts, so even people who weren't watching the news knew what was going on to some degree. But I can see that in a white and not politically active social group, there might be a sense that "this has nothing to do with me."

It actually doesn't surprise me that someone would be tuned out of news radio or newspapers - but I'm surprised social media hasn't become a part of his life. Even on non political boards I go to (like ones for the arts), the discussion blew up there.

[Bertha Venation]

5. Yes, primarily white. The next larges group is Latinos. (Southern CA)

He does not get on the computer, and uses email only on his iPhone. He has a Facebook account, but only goes there once in a blue moon. No Twitter. I doubt he even uses his browser at all.

He doesn't care about anything that doesn't directly affect him -- and I don't think he's aware of it.

[handmade34]

6. I know the Zimmerman case

I don't know who Dexter is...

[Bertha Venation]

7. Dexter is a TV show

Dexter is a serial killer who only kills other bad guys.

[charlie and algernon]

8. I'm curious to know what he does do

Since you said that he doesn't watch TV or go on the computer very much. I've found that it's usually one or the other. For example, I have friends that watch very little TV yet are on the computer a lot and that's where they catch their shows (hulu, netflix, etc). Is he just someone who likes to read lots of books or play video games? Or who's very active outdoors or busy with his job?

As for the blissfully ignorant, I've often noticed in movies and shows that there are always people going about their day who seem to have no idea there's say a giant monster trashing the city 5 blocks away. My favorite example is in "I am Legend." As Will Smith and his family are speeding to the evacuation center in their motorcade, you see people calmly walking down the street as though there isn't a deadly plague infecting the city. Now I know it's just a movie, but I've certianly known people who had no idea big events were taking place.

I've even wondered if there are Americans who have no idea that an event like 9/11 even happened. People who are in their own world and are only concerned with the events that affect them.

[Bertha Venation]

9. what he does

He works at Home Depot. He fashions fantasy swords from wood. He has a "sparring club," friends who gather to play with his swords. He studies iaido (a martial art). And he plays video games.

I've never imagined that there are people who don't know about 9/11. I suppose it's possible, but the possibility sure is freaky.

[datasuspect]

20. sounds like a very simple, yet fulfilling life

sometimes i wish i didn't have the overhead i have so i could disconnect from everything and pursue erstwhile "frivolous" pursuits (seemingly, to the outside world), but which had great meaning or brought great meaning to my life.

kudos to this kid!

[OriginalGeek]

10. I was in Indianapolis all last week

I couldn't even count how many times I was asked "Oh, you're from Florida? How far are you from Sanford?" so it's not like nobody outside of Florida is hearing about it...But I guess there are folks who have their own concerns and current events may not be one of them.

The Superbowl thing boggles my mind though lol. I know lots of people who have no interest in football or the Superbowl but I don't know anyone who doesn't know what it is...

[Myrina]

13. Indy was curious because we have a version of Stand your Ground and lots of racist rednecks ...

(in and outside of gated communities) ... looking for an excuse to use it. Sadly.

[OriginalGeek]

17. I can believe that

When we first got to town we went under an overpass where there four or five teabaggers waving signs that read "Impeach Obama!" "Obama the traitor!" and other nonsense. I didn't even feel bad about popping open the sun-roof and holding up both middle fingers as we crept under in 5:00 traffic.

But other than that we had a great time in Indy. Saw family and old friends and my wife attended a convention. Ate some great food and some terrible food that I loved anyway. (White Castle, Jack In The Box - stuff I don't have here lol)

[alarimer]

11. I don't see how someone can vote without paying attention to the news.

Because then, you're just going by party or personality or something like.

I don't believe in party loyalty. There are a lot of Democrats out there who are really, really awful (especially on the local level).

But if you're not up on the issues, how can you say which candidates represent your views better?

I don't know anyone who doesn't at least listen to the news occasionally or watches some TV.

[Myrina]

14. I'd argue the opposite ...

.... paying attention to the 'news' is what skews potential voters toward one candidate/party or another.

If one has a solid belief of what they believe is best for the country and tends to know how the party/candidates have acted on those issues (reading, research, whatever), the crap ads and hit-pieces that pass for 'news' are basically useless.

[avebury]

12. I am not a football fan so I usually have a good idea of when we are

approaching the Super Bowl date by the cakes and goodies put out by the supermarket for Super Bowl parties.

It is hard to tune out college football though because football is scared in Oklahoma.

[MicaelS]

15. So what does he do for recreation? n/t

[Bertha Venation]

21. martial arts and sparring with fantasy swords

And I'd say video games, but I think that's more of a religion than recreation.

[olddots]

16. He seems to want to get away from pop culture

I did the same at 22 and pop culture now means the "news " even more than it did in 1970 . There are times in our lives when we find peace in being out of the loop , if this lasts a long time it can get self destructive but I bet this is a phase of that 1/4 life crisis that doesn't get as much attention as mid life crisis .

[datasuspect]

18. i am proud of your nephew

he isn't ignorant.

[Taverner]

19. I knew nothing of Glee until last year

Some stories just don't get to people