Do you know anyone that is oblivious to the world affairs/domestic affairs outside of

wally1990 · 25-10-2020 8:45pm #1

**outside of their own bubble**

I was speaking with a women from work (she is about 38-45 I'd say), who I normally don't ever speak with and it amazed me how just oblivious she was to most things as we ended up talking for ages on different things

I brought up in conversation about the current Chinese, USA trade war and she knew nothing about about it, fair enough (tough subject

Then I mentioned trump v Biden, she knew nothing about USA politics or who even Biden was or didn't know there was an election or how long trump is in power,

Then we were chatting about the hospital admission numbers and current covid in Ireland then she had no clue at all about the numbers, how like?!? Surely people talk to her about it or hear it on radio, TV, news, whatever

At this stage I thought this woman doesn't listen or follow any news or world politics and maybe purposely ignored it but the Irish ignorance shocked me

Then she was on about TV and I mentioned netflix, she never heard of it, I was like wtf, you never even heard of it?

It just got me thinking about people that live in their own bubble and go through life without wanting to or paying absolutely any attention to what is happening around them or in the world

People who ignore world news, domestic news, maybe advances in tech, whatever

dxhound2005 · 25-10-2020 8:48pm

Did you ask her about Madeleine McCann?

Ubbquittious · 25-10-2020 8:51pm

I don't know them but I wish I was one of them.

There is so much sh1t the megacorps throw at us and so much nonsense the government tries to get us worked up about that you're better off not knowing. Perhaps move to Antarctica or some place

wally1990 · 25-10-2020 8:53pm

dxhound2005 wrote: »

Did you ask her about Madeleine McCann?

Who

murpho999 · 25-10-2020 8:53pm

Some people just live in their own bubble.

I recently met someone who is 48 year old and had no idea that July 4th is American independence day. Found it bewildering as it's in news, films, books etc. How can you go through life and avoid that?

Mullaghteelin · 25-10-2020 8:54pm

What did she mention watching on TV? It would be interesting to know what she is familiar with.

25-10-2020 8:54pm

I think people who are obsessed with US Politics but show zero interest in domestic politics are worse.

ahnowbrowncow · 25-10-2020 9:14pm

The last four years the media have been talking about brexit with countless 'informed' people giving their opinion, treading the same ground over and over. I feel no more informed having listened to them for who knows how many hours. Does anyone actually know what is going to happen?

Covid feels similar, same items in the news every day. Why would I want to listen to hourly updates of how bad things are and the constant fearmongering? I know some people that listen to every news broadcast and they think the sky is falling down.

And why are Irish media obsessed with Donald Trump and the US election? I'm sick hearing about it. I get it, he's a horrible person who should be nowhere near the oval office but how does it benefit me or our populace to hear about him nearly every day?

I used to question people that were ignorant of news and current affiars the same way you do but I'm beginning to think maybe they're not so wrong and ignorance really is bliss. If it doesn't affect them or they can't implement change do they really need to listen to constant misery updates?

mcsean2163 · 25-10-2020 9:18pm

Are you sure she wasn't taking the Mick out of you?

the purple tin · 25-10-2020 9:20pm

Ubbquittious wrote: »

I don't know them but I wish I was one of them.

There is so much sh1t the megacorps throw at us and so much nonsense the government tries to get us worked up about that you're better off not knowing. Perhaps move to Antarctica or some place

She is probably much more content in her life than us information junkies constantly looking for an update.

Rodney Bathgate · 25-10-2020 9:23pm

Is she hot?

Trouser Snake · 25-10-2020 9:25pm

Rodney Bathgate wrote: »

Is she hot?

About time jaysus.

Oberkon · 25-10-2020 9:26pm

the purple tin wrote: »

She is probably much more content in her life than us information junkies constantly looking for an update.

Exactly - thought the same thing . My mother was a bit like that when she was alive . Real family person warm hearted , the things that mattered to her were very important and people loved her . She hadn’t a notion of world politics and didn’t care.

McGinniesta · 25-10-2020 9:30pm

most people are if you scratch the surface

pgj2015 · 25-10-2020 9:50pm

I stopped listening to the news the last 4 days, I feel way better because of it. The media and government just want us to be scared the whole time, terrorists, brexit, covid, there is always something.

Mad_maxx · 25-10-2020 9:55pm

i know fellas who could take every part out of a car and put it back together perfectly , same fellas couldnt show you where america is on a map or perhaps even ireland

some people have a small parish - world mentality , they are no worse for it and dont struggle anymore with life than most people , just how they are

my mother listens to the radio all day and is fairly clued in about irish domestic affairs but has zero interest in current affairs beyond these shores , wouldnt have a clue about whats happening in other countries

GarIT · 25-10-2020 9:58pm

I follow the news, I get annoyed, I have ideas on how to fix things, I say them on boards, it doesn't do anything ,I have no impact on the world. Sometimes I obsess over things wrong with the country or the world, it ruins my day.

I've come to learn; ignorance is bliss. Following the news won't help me one bit and not keeping up with it won't affect me negatively.

ongarboy · 25-10-2020 10:27pm

OP, it sounds like your work colleague is just not interested in current affairs. There is quite a large cohort of people like that. Some would probably know every contestant of Love Island by name but wouldn't know who the president or taoiseach is.

I'd just let each to their own and wouldn't judge someone about it as it just comes across condescending. We're all different and just because someone isn't well up on US/ Chinese trade talks (in fairness, I'm fairly well read and consume a lot of news but wouldn't be au fait about that particular topic either so I wouldn't dismiss someone because they didn't have the latest scoop on that), doesn't mean they don't have other worthwhile interests outside of reciting the daily COVID stats per country or whether Biden's son could jeopardize his chances of winning the US election.

Capt'n Midnight · 25-10-2020 11:15pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I think people who are obsessed with US Politics but show zero interest in domestic politics are worse.

There's a special place in hell for those who get worked up about politics but don't actually vote.

GarIT · 25-10-2020 11:38pm

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

There's a special place in hell for those who get worked up about politics but don't actually vote.

Voting is virtually pointless, the only impactful thing you can do is convince others how to vote.

I also doing get all the people encouraging others to vote. Unless you can be sure the group you are talking to mostly think the same as you then you should be encouraging as many people as possible not to vote.

Orange Tiny Terror · 25-10-2020 11:52pm

It’s a rare thing these days but not so long ago it was good manners to keep your politics to yourself. Maybe she is just old school that way

ChikiChiki · 26-10-2020 12:15am

wally1990 wrote: »

**outside of their own bubble**

I was speaking with a women from work (she is about 38-45 I'd say), who I normally don't ever speak with and it amazed me how just oblivious she was to most things as we ended up talking for ages on different things

I brought up in conversation about the current Chinese, USA trade war and she knew nothing about about it, fair enough (tough subject

Then I mentioned trump v Biden, she knew nothing about USA politics or who even Biden was or didn't know there was an election or how long trump is in power,

Then we were chatting about the hospital admission numbers and current covid in Ireland then she had no clue at all about the numbers, how like?!? Surely people talk to her about it or hear it on radio, TV, news, whatever

At this stage I thought this woman doesn't listen or follow any news or world politics and maybe purposely ignored it but the Irish ignorance shocked me

Then she was on about TV and I mentioned netflix, she never heard of it, I was like wtf, you never even heard of it?

It just got me thinking about people that live in their own bubble and go through life without wanting to or paying absolutely any attention to what is happening around them or in the world

People who ignore world news, domestic news, maybe advances in tech, whatever

And she's probably a lot happier than most of us for it. Wish I could be that clued out.

Ignorance is bliss.

Capt'n Midnight · 26-10-2020 12:23am

GarIT wrote: »

Voting is virtually pointless, the only impactful thing you can do is convince others how to vote.

and that can be instantly undermined by pointing out they don't vote themselves

BTW Michael Finucane the TD for the Limerick West lost his seat by one vote in 2002.

paleoperson · 26-10-2020 12:58am

Nice to see some of the understanding replies here.

I do wonder sometimes when I look at or read the news - what the hell is the point?! I mean, there is almost nothing going on that's going to be of benefit for me to know, at least not that I couldn't know elsewhere. Irish politics in particular I only feel a sort of obligation to be familiar with it.

I'm not saying there is no point, I'm just raising the possibility. What if you were like that Playstation girl who didn't know where Phibsborough was (which I don't btw, but I'm not from Dublin).

What if you read the paper for two weeks every year? You'd see about Trump, you'd see about Covid, and so on.

26-10-2020 1:28am

Orange Tiny Terror wrote: »

It’s a rare thing these days but not so long ago it was good manners to keep your politics to yourself. Maybe she is just old school that way

I feign complete disinterest apart from with a couple of people whose opinions I'm interested in. The main person I would ever discuss politics with is a Brexit-voter so that's not even me looking for an echo chamber either. I basically only care to talk to people who form their own opinions.

OP, you brought up a US-China trade war with a women who clearly has no interest in politics. That screams autism to be honest. That is a sub-topic you move onto; you don't just bring it up.. It's a conversation about complex tariffs. Then you moved onto an election in another country involving a man most people hate the sight of and would rather ignore. The actual electoral process itself means nothing to Irish people. Then you brought up Covid-19, a depressing topic where keeping up to date on hospital figures changes nothing about one's life. And when she started talking about something she liked, you had to bring up a modern form of media mostly used by young people, instead of just talking about TV with her for a while. It's all about you and what you want to talk about.

Honestly, it just sounds like you're extremely bad at conversation and cannot talk to someone unless it is current events. That's around the same level of conversation as people who can only talk about football. Instead of repeatedly pushing current affairs on someone who either doesn't care or doesn't care to talk about them with you, find out what actual things she's into.

It's the most unnatural thing in the world for people to know what's happening outside of their immediate tribe, so don't be surprised when people, especially with the shltshow that is the media nowadays, to go back to basics like to their immediate surroundings and storytelling ie. TV shows and books. We're not meant to know about scandals across oceans, and it's clear the vast majority of people who get into this stuff are negatively impacted by it. We're not made for this level of information you bemoan she doesn't have, and we never will be. I know plenty like her and they're all the happier for it.

Jequ0n · 26-10-2020 2:01am

Most people are idiots, interest in current affairs or not. Be prepared to be disappointed..

AndrewJRenko · 26-10-2020 2:06am

Let us know how the second date goes.

TuringBot47 · 26-10-2020 2:12am

murpho999 wrote: »

I recently met someone who is 48 year old and had no idea that July 4th is American independence day. Found it bewildering as it's in news, films, books etc.

Yeah, defeating that alien invasion truly is a cause for celebration.

Larbre34 · 26-10-2020 2:15am

I don't, but I envy them.

quokula · 26-10-2020 2:18am

I remember when I'd just finished my masters (living in the UK) and the 2010 election was coming around, I was quite surprised to find out Gordon Brown was the PM and not Tony Blair. That particular piece of news, along with basically all other world news I guess, passed me by in my uni years.

I imagine people of that age today would be more difficult to be oblivious in a world of increasing Climate Change, Brexit, Trump and of course Covid.

Rubberchikken · 26-10-2020 2:23am

Ive never once paid any attey to these vivid numbers or the statistics.
In fact back in April listening to others talking about them I hadn't a clue and genuinely no interest.

I can't bother listening to the news on rte radio. It's be brutally depressing. Rte seem to be glorying in their relaying of the virus, it's effects, sob stories, deaths etc. I can survive really well not knowing.

I know about the election in the usa. Even understand the voting. I hope trump wins. He hasn't done a bad job and if pi$$ing off the left is all he's done in done opinions, then that's not a bad days work.

The_Brood · 26-10-2020 2:24am

wally1990 wrote: »

**outside of their own bubble**

I was speaking with a women from work (she is about 38-45 I'd say), who I normally don't ever speak with and it amazed me how just oblivious she was to most things as we ended up talking for ages on different things

I brought up in conversation about the current Chinese, USA trade war and she knew nothing about about it, fair enough (tough subject

Then I mentioned trump v Biden, she knew nothing about USA politics or who even Biden was or didn't know there was an election or how long trump is in power,

Then we were chatting about the hospital admission numbers and current covid in Ireland then she had no clue at all about the numbers, how like?!? Surely people talk to her about it or hear it on radio, TV, news, whatever

At this stage I thought this woman doesn't listen or follow any news or world politics and maybe purposely ignored it but the Irish ignorance shocked me

Then she was on about TV and I mentioned netflix, she never heard of it, I was like wtf, you never even heard of it?

It just got me thinking about people that live in their own bubble and go through life without wanting to or paying absolutely any attention to what is happening around them or in the world

People who ignore world news, domestic news, maybe advances in tech, whatever

Not knowing about US politics, covid nightmate, globalist corporatist ****ery, and much of the trash on Netflix....if I could I would pay a million euros to be that woman. What exactly do you or I benefit from being aware of this, other than misery and desperation?

ILoveYourVibes · 26-10-2020 2:25am

Yes. Eamon Ryan.

completedit · 26-10-2020 2:26am

What's that thing nassim taleb said about not reading newspapers. The idea that if something actuary important happens you'll know about it by word of mouth soon enough.

Current affairs is a strange one. In some ways it's just pure entertainment but in others, it's good to feel connected to what is going on. But at the end of the day, on the individual level, it's just a hobby or pasttime.

Intelligence is so interesting. My sister has zero knowledge about most things going on but she is much smarter than me. I always though curiosity equaled intelligence but not necessarily.

ILoveYourVibes · 26-10-2020 2:29am

The_Brood wrote: »

Not knowing about US politics, covid nightmate, globalist corporatist ****ery, and much of the trash on Netflix....if I could I would pay a million euros to be that woman. What exactly do you or I benefit from being aware of this, other than misery and desperation?

I know someone who went to Turkey during the worst time of the Erdogan crisis.

He was like ..I wanted a sun holiday why am in the middle of a war zone?

It will help you plan your finances better.

Obviously you don't plan on travelling much if you don't want to be informed of where you are going.

And it COULD be you if you want it to be. Just stop reading the stuff.

If you know how tax laws are likely to change somewhere ..you can prepare ...

It helps you when to know to sell your house ..or when not to.

paleoperson · 26-10-2020 2:40am

Rubberchikken wrote: »

Ive never once paid any attey to these vivid numbers or the statistics.
In fact back in April listening to others talking about them I hadn't a clue and genuinely no interest.

Yes, that was a bit of an odd one from OP. I have no clue about the numbers either other than they're going up drastically. I knew what the numbers were a few months ago, I just got tired of paying attention to them for 8 months at a time. What is there to know? The numbers are up a lot.

You know I bet what it is is the OP knows so little in general that he's staggered when it turns out that someone else didn't know something he does.

Imagine him sitting every day to diligently read the numbers, watching them go up and down and the admission rates go up and down thinking he is gaining some vital meaning from it, I guess some people have lots of time on their hands.

ILoveYourVibes · 26-10-2020 2:52am

paleoperson wrote: »

Yes, that was a bit of an odd one from OP. I have no clue about the numbers either other than they're going up drastically. I knew what the numbers were a few months ago, I just got tired of paying attention to them for 8 months at a time. What is there to know? The numbers are up a lot.

You know I bet what it is is the OP knows so little in general that he's staggered when it turns out that someone else didn't know something he does.

Imagine him sitting every day to diligently read the numbers, watching them go up and down and the admission rates go up and down thinking he is gaining some vital meaning from it, I guess some people have lots of time on their hands.

it took me three seconds to find out the cases were around 1000k today.

I am a quick thinker though ..i tend to be able to make sense of information quicker than others.

Maybe some people DO have to sit and read things over for hours. I don't.

Justin Credible Darts · 26-10-2020 2:54am

unless I happen to see it here or what my wife might tell me I am one of those oblivious as the opening poster calls it.

I dont read newspapers, dont watch regular tv except netflix, and live darts....and watched the us presidential debate one night as i was bored
Dont have a mobile phone, gave up voting, dont have a credit card dont want one either.

will read the forums,and the net on certain things but in general its because I dont really care about is happening in the world if its something I cannot control. No point in me getting bothered about the us president election when I have no say in the outcome, but have a fleeting interest out of curiosity, but wont lose any sleep who wins.

Same with Irish politics, they are all useless.
Dont care about countless thingfor example take the GAA and as a corkman I cannot name a single player on the cork hurling or football team, dont know what the managers names are, what divisions they are in, ....I simply dont care,

I saw the name greta thumberg recently and had to google her, cos she popped up on some many discussions.
My niece is amazed I have not heard of certain people that pass for musicians.,...again I dont care.

I have reached the stage in my life where I dont care about things I have no control over. If i see something on the tv I dont like or care about will turn it off.
If the radio plays something I dont want to hear, will turn it off.
Same with people if they bore me I will tell them I am not interested in the subject

ILoveYourVibes · 26-10-2020 4:18am

Justin Credible Darts wrote: »

unless I happen to see it here or what my wife might tell me I am one of those oblivious as the opening poster calls it.

I dont read newspapers, dont watch regular tv except netflix, and live darts....and watched the us presidential debate one night as i was bored
Dont have a mobile phone, gave up voting, dont have a credit card dont want one either.

will read the forums,and the net on certain things but in general its because I dont really care about is happening in the world if its something I cannot control. No point in me getting bothered about the us president election when I have no say in the outcome, but have a fleeting interest out of curiosity, but wont lose any sleep who wins.

Same with Irish politics, they are all useless.
Dont care about countless thingfor example take the GAA and as a corkman I cannot name a single player on the cork hurling or football team, dont know what the managers names are, what divisions they are in, ....I simply dont care,

I saw the name greta thumberg recently and had to google her, cos she popped up on some many discussions.
My niece is amazed I have not heard of certain people that pass for musicians.,...again I dont care.

I have reached the stage in my life where I dont care about things I have no control over. If i see something on the tv I dont like or care about will turn it off.
If the radio plays something I dont want to hear, will turn it off.
Same with people if they bore me I will tell them I am not interested in the subject

Brings pipe and slippers !

wexandproud · 26-10-2020 7:17am

wally1990 wrote: »

**outside of their own bubble**

I was speaking with a women from work (she is about 38-45 I'd say), who I normally don't ever speak with and it amazed me how just oblivious she was to most things as we ended up talking for ages on different things

I brought up in conversation about the current Chinese, USA trade war and she knew nothing about about it, fair enough (tough subject

Then I mentioned trump v Biden, she knew nothing about USA politics or who even Biden was or didn't know there was an election or how long trump is in power,

Then we were chatting about the hospital admission numbers and current covid in Ireland then she had no clue at all about the numbers, how like?!? Surely people talk to her about it or hear it on radio, TV, news, whatever

At this stage I thought this woman doesn't listen or follow any news or world politics and maybe purposely ignored it but the Irish ignorance shocked me

Then she was on about TV and I mentioned netflix, she never heard of it, I was like wtf, you never even heard of it?

It just got me thinking about people that live in their own bubble and go through life without wanting to or paying absolutely any attention to what is happening around them or in the world

People who ignore world news, domestic news, maybe advances in tech, whatever

maybe she was thinking '' here's that thick clown'' , i'll pretend to be thick rather than talk to that f...ing knowall .

26-10-2020 8:19am

My wife is a bit like that. She's just not interested.
Sometimes it drives me mad. Sometimes I wish more people were interested only in baking lemon bread, helping children, and taking care of the well-being of their families, like she is.

bb1234567 · 26-10-2020 11:37am

Deleted User wrote: »

I think people who are obsessed with US Politics but show zero interest in domestic politics are worse.

Yeh it's gas isn't it, more juicy issues there like racial tension for them to get behind and act like it's personally affecting them

Anyway I think she was having you on OP. A woman in her 30's who's never even heard of netflix? Is she a mormon or Amish or something? Taking the piss outta ya

bb1234567 · 26-10-2020 11:41am

Deleted User wrote: »

My wife is a bit like that. She's just not interested.
Sometimes it drives me mad. Sometimes I wish more people were interested only in baking lemon bread, helping children, and taking care of the well-being of their families, like she is.

She sounds sweet

26-10-2020 11:44am

wally1990 wrote: »

**outside of their own bubble**

I was speaking with a women from work (she is about 38-45 I'd say), who I normally don't ever speak with and it amazed me how just oblivious she was to most things as we ended up talking for ages on different things

I brought up in conversation about the current Chinese, USA trade war and she knew nothing about about it, fair enough (tough subject

Then I mentioned trump v Biden, she knew nothing about USA politics or who even Biden was or didn't know there was an election or how long trump is in power,

Then we were chatting about the hospital admission numbers and current covid in Ireland then she had no clue at all about the numbers, how like?!? Surely people talk to her about it or hear it on radio, TV, news, whatever

At this stage I thought this woman doesn't listen or follow any news or world politics and maybe purposely ignored it but the Irish ignorance shocked me

Then she was on about TV and I mentioned netflix, she never heard of it, I was like wtf, you never even heard of it?

It just got me thinking about people that live in their own bubble and go through life without wanting to or paying absolutely any attention to what is happening around them or in the world

People who ignore world news, domestic news, maybe advances in tech, whatever

Maybe she just has a life and doesn't feel the need for TV/Netflix!

Maybe she just has enough to concern her within her own four walls?

Church on Tuesday · 26-10-2020 11:55am

murpho999 wrote: »

Some people just live in their own bubble.

I recently met someone who is 48 year old and had no idea that July 4th is American independence day. Found it bewildering as it's in news, films, books etc. How can you go through life and avoid that?

Because that person is thick.

Captain Havoc · 26-10-2020 12:18pm

I think people should care less about world politics and more about what is happening around them. The older I get the less I care about what is happening outside of Ireland. I reckon give it another ten years and I won't care about what is happening outside Kilkenny, possibly less time.

26-10-2020 12:51pm

wally1990 wrote: »

I was speaking with a women from work (she is about 38-45 I'd say), who I normally don't ever speak with and it amazed me how just oblivious she was to most things I spend my time onas we ended up talking for ages on different things

Fixed your post. NOBODY knows everything, or has the capacity to care about everything. We all have bubbles. You have yours. There's no reason why yours is more important or worthwhile than hers.

So to summarise: OP starts thread claiming that anyone who isn't exactly like them must be closed minded.

pgj2015 · 26-10-2020 1:00pm

what gets me is people who couldnt point out any country on a map or that dont know common knowledge things we all learned in school. like did they never listen or what?

dxhound2005 · 26-10-2020 1:25pm

pgj2015 wrote: »

what gets me is people who couldnt point out any country on a map or that dont know common knowledge things we all learned in school. like did they never listen or what?

If they went to school in my time, there were no special needs assistants. Looking back I can recognise a few who were called thick, but probably suffered from dyslexia and/or dyscalculia. I was OK with English, sums and geography, but useless at art and woodwork.

26-10-2020 1:41pm

ive started distancing myself away from a mate who keeps trying to bring trump and occasionally Boris into every conversation - on a night out, he'd try to turn the conversation towards them, when your going out for the pints with the lads, you dont want to give a **** about them...once i liked a meme taking the piss out of biden and he rings me urgently asking was i a trump fan (before anyone says it - no i am not) ...christ im/others are tired of his obsession, pity his poor missus but she's too busy trying to be an influencer and has him as a camera man

gigantic09 · 26-10-2020 1:56pm

I have a couple of teenage nieces and nephews who don't seem to have a clue about what's going on in the world outside their own teenage bubble. They seem to have very little general knowledge, political, historical etc. They wouldn't be aware of the likes of the beatles, Hitler or jfk.
We were playing charades last Xmas and I did 'the Angelus' for my turn. They looked at me like I had two heads, never heard of it.
Their gran offered them a slice of rhubarb pie and again not a clue what rhubarb was.
Nephew got a dog for birthday, and I joked when I was his age I had to walk the plank everyday as we couldn't afford a dog. Joke fell totally flat.
Sometimes I question the government's insistence on keeping schools open at all costs if this is what the result is ðŸ˜‚.

Do you know anyone that is oblivious to the world affairs/domestic affairs outside of

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