I’m not (well, at least I think I’m not), but I most certainly have a couple friends I would classify as clinical pop-culture bullies. But what does it mean to be inflicted by this malady, you ask? Amy’s Theory of PCBs is expressed through two specific (though not necessarily mutually exclusive) forms:
1. The Manhandler
The classic manhandler feels the need to proselytize their pop-culture favorites to anyone willing (or unwilling) to listen. This behavior is often accompanied by sudden and frequent urges to force friends to read, listen, or watch said favorites. Exhibit A is my friend "D." D has made me endure many an unwelcome pop-culture advance including repeated YouTube viewings of "D— in a Box" and a barrage of Margaret Cho comedy CDs. The most egregious offense, however, has to be the dozen or so forced viewings of a Mitsubishi Eclipse commercial spoof (featuring a slow-mo wardrobe malfunction) from Chappelle’s Show. (D used this clip as a hazing ritual for new visitors to his apartment, and as someone who spent many hours there, I often had to witness these unfortunate events.)
2. The Insulter
People suffering from this complex tend to criticize or make fun of their friends’ pop-culture preferences. "K" displays all the signs of a typical insulter, having recently left this uncomplimentary message on my Facebook wall regarding one of my favorite TV shows:
"Dude, ‘My Life on the D-List’ sucks. Sorry to break it to you."
Wow, way to brighten someone’s day!
I like to think that PCBs mean well — that they’re just trying to keep me on the pop-culture straight-and-narrow. And I have actually discovered a few faves thanks to some incessant bullying (after the fifth viewing, "D— in a Box" actually became funny to me). But for the most part, I just find this behavior annoying and sometimes hurtful. What say you, PopWatchers? Do any of you exhibit signs of PCB? Or have you been bullied into watching, listening, or reading something you really don’t want to? Let’s not suffer in silence any longer!
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Michael Sleaze-suck is the greatest grand fairy PCB of all.
Your Honor
Your Honor,
As to count one of the indictment: guilty as charged.
As for count two, NOT GUILTY (by reason of insanity?)
I was going to make reference to the many(not so) enlightend trolls that post over on AICN (who apparently do not subscribe to the notion that one man’s garbage is another ones pearls) but I see Mack beat me to it.
I’ll only go after someone if they’re being a complete ass-hat about something. Like the mother upset that a gay male ex-stripper was doing well on American Idol (“how am I supposed to explain this to my 12 year old daughter?”) or the goof who suggested Heath Ledger commited suicide over advancing the homosexual agenda in Brokeback Mountain.
So let me see if I have this straight, you didn’t find a Chappelle Show skit funny, and D–k in a Box funny until the 5th viewing? And you are writing for EW (well, the website anyways).
That makes a lot of sense. Let me guess, you must REALLY love American Idol and The Hills right?
Scott P – lol – as if to prove the point. Anyway, if I don’t get bullied I am likely to watch the same things over and over and never expand the horizons from musical theater and variety shows. As long as I can take my friends to see Chicago I can go with them to see Batman.
I suspect Simon Vozick-Levinson falls under the Manhandler category in real life…fortunately I don’t have to click on the videos and links he posts here!
But bullying is what comment postings are for. It sucks enough that we have to be, like, pretend nice in real life. At least on the internet we can hate as much as we want to!
My former best friend preferred to call herself elitist instead of an insulter. *g* And really, she didn’t so much do the insult thing as just quirk the eyebrows and give a look that let you know that your taste sucked.
Funny comment Nix! I’m frequently told my taste in movies, tv, and music sucks, and I don’t really care. I just laugh and agree. The only thing I’ve ever been “bullied” into is listening to music out of my R&B comfort zone- and I’ve discovered some Rock, Punk, and Country artists I now love. I refused to watch “D— in a box” though- no one can bully me into having anything to do with Justin TImberlake’s career.
I detest the people who say, “Only idiots watch (insert show name here).” I also detest the opposite of the PCB, or the “I don’t even HAVE a tv” group. So I watch some television. That’s really no reason to look down on me. Jerks.
I can’t stand people who say that if you know about pop culture, you’re not an intellectual. I feel it’s best to know all corners of the square, not what’s in the middle. Then again, I’m a librarian so what’d you expect?
My boyfriend’s birthday was a couple weekends ago and a friend of mine bought him the dvd set of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” Now mind you, my boyfriend has never watched the show. I heard that my friend was buying this set for everyone at any special occasion just to make people watch one of his favorite shows. If that’s not manhandling, then I don’t know what is.
Wow Vicky, I have to applaud your friend for his taste and boldness, since “Always Sunny” is one of the funniest and least appreciated shows on tv. More power to him!
I definitely fit into a third category of pop culture bully: The Shameless Pimper. People suffering from this complex are much less threatening. They sound more like a never-ending infomercial than a jackass who abuses a YouTube video (although “D— In A Box” is a fine choice) or insults “bad” shows like their an authority. The Pimpers tirelessly inundate friends and family with information on their favorite shows, movies and musicians and hound them until they start participating in the awesomeness! For example, I was super-excited about the season premiere of “The Closer” last night, so I emailed my friend, who doesn’t watch that much TV, with the channel and time the show premiered. When the show started, I called her to make sure she was watching. Shameless Pimpers are more enthusiastic pests than bullies.
Love entertainment? Check out my blog…The Pop Culture Closet at themediacloset.blogspot.com
See, I can’t stop!
I have a different, but related problem. I know lots of useless pop culture trivia, my husband does not, but always turns to me when we’re watching something – “What’s her name again?” “What else have I seen the guy in?” The problem is that he never remembers what I tell him, then he’ll ask me the SAME QUESTION the next time we watch the show, and the next time after that. Constantly! I’ll have to admit, sometimes I lie and say I don’t know, go look it up on IMDB.
I think I fall into another category of PCB: the Corrector. I constantly correct people on their pop-culture misinformation, and I have to imagine that gets annoying after a while. Doesn’t stop me from doing it, though!
I admit, I’m totally an insulter — but I’m pleading genetics, because my whole family is the same way. We still make fun of my sister for seeing ‘Definitely, Maybe’ at the movies 6 months ago (I’m buying her the DVD for her birthday next week). So I’m forced to hide my shameful taste in certain VH1 reality shows that will not be named…
I am a former PCB, now currently in recovery (though my posting a comment shows that I have a lot to work on).
One of the many things that made “Seinfeld” such a great show was their use of this phenomenon to poke fun – Elaine’s hatred of “The English Patient,” Kramer getting beat up for refusing to wear The Ribbon, etc.
A classic example would be that you can find many people who can’t stand Radiohead simply due to their resentment of the Pop Culture Bullying that has taken place for the past 10 years on a massive scale.
I say that as a fan of the band, btw.
Haha. Oh, “D”. Quality. Excellent writing, Amy. It’s really exciting to see people I know writing in such accessible forums. “D” sent me the link to the article saying, “I wonder whom she could be referring to….” I love it. Don’t know if you had much interaction with the “A” type of PCB, he would probably fit into the latter category. Keep the sharp, poignant, thought-provoking articles coming.
I’m in no way a pop-culture bully. Ever since I had a person actually stop talking to me because of my taste in music and TV, I keep what I like quiet but only in real life; I’m not shy about it online.
The most egregious Insulter I ever knew was an otherwise peace-and-rainbows hippie in college, who actually shouted at a girl: “Lenyrd Skynyrd is WAY better than Crosby Stills Nash and Young! BE OBJECTIVE!!!!”
Guilty on both of these from time to time. I blame this magazine in part.
I’m a passive aggressive pop culture bully. Unable to sway the opinions of the people I know in person, I spend my time here ragging on the very writers who inform me about all the latest in pop culture all the while alienating my fellow readers.
Now that I’ve admitted to my problem, does it mean I get sent to “pop culture bully” rehab? Or just a well deserved beat down by my fellow readers?
I’d like to think I’m not a PBC, but I’m probably guilty of charge #1. I try not to criticize other’s tastes because I have such eclectic tastes myself. My boyfriend made fun of me a few months ago for DVRing Masterpiece theater and Rock of Love on the same night. I’m more likely to yell at someone for NOT liking something, but it’s definitely on a case by case basis. For example, I wouldn’t criticize someone for not liking Real World/Road Rules Challenge, Ghost Hunters, or Girls Next Door because I get that bad reality shows aren’t everyone’s cup of tea; however, if you don’t like 30 Rock, then we’re gonna have words! I recall telling numerous people to just give Arrested Development a chance — you’ll start to get the inside jokes!
To Nose – you are so right. I had a roommate in college that was so condescending about us having a TV. She refused to pay her part of the cable even though she watched the news (we were in the middle of nowhere and only got local news from antenna). I would get livid when she would sit down and say, what’s happening on ER? Amazing Onion article on the subject – http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28694
I think I might be a PCB- but it might be okay as most of the time I’m trying to force people to realize how awesome Battlestar Galactica, Dr. Who and Hot Rod really are. Without a little push, you might miss all that joy!
Oh crap. I’m totally a manhandler. Whoops. And I definitely have my Insulter moments.
Yikes, I’ve just realized I may be both. My usual screening process for friends is 1) Are they Big Lebowski fans? 2) Are they Arrested Development fans? If yes to one or the other, we’ll get along just fine.
I continually insult one of my friends for DVR-ing reruns of Beverly Hills, 90210. I say to her: the DVR should be use for good, not evil.