[roel_v]

I like (or rather, dislike, but find strange enjoyment in spotting yet another instance) how ignorance of popular culture is a status symbol in some circles, to be flashed as often as possible. It's exactly what is so greatly parodied in http://www.theonion.com/articles/area-man-constantly-mention..., down to the picture with the goatee of the typical person exhibiting this behavior.

Justin Bieber, just so you know, is a Canadian teenage singer who has over the last few year build a large mass of rather devoted fans. He makes very 'poppy' music ('mierzoet' as we'd say in Dutch, I'm not aware of an English term capturing the essence of that word) and is therefore widely reviled by those who consider their own musical interests more refined or otherwise better.

It's all described on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Bieber, and no it's not just a US thing (although he has been popular there for longer, but he's also well known here in Europe, including here in the Netherlands; see http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Bieber ).

[jacquesm]

I think you're reading a bit too much into two words.

[roel_v]

Maybe I do; it would be folly for me to claim to know you, based on a few HN posts. Maybe you did mean these two words in the same way that others here inquire about a linked list or the Riemann hypothesis; with a genuine desire to be explained and to know; topics that in these circles would be considered 'Worthy' of knowing, I feel. Wanting to know about things, all sorts of things, is the quintessential trait of the Hacker, after all.

That said, the tone (as far as there can reasonably be understood a 'tone' from two words) and the upvote the post had when I posted my comment did not, prima facie, lead me to believe that the purpose of the post was to be informed about who actually Justin Bieber is. A 5 second google search would've shown more than enough to be able to understand what the GP (and following posts) are complaining about. So, all these circumstances combined, lead me to believe that there is at least a core of truth to my post, even if it's not as dramatic as spelling it out like I did makes it seem.

Then again, me making these ridiculous multi-paragraph posts on a topic that is wholly devoid of any intellectual value would probably rationally be considered indicative of me taking pride in some sort of meta-pseudo-intellectual snobbery; so am I sticking up for pop culture because for the right reasons or for vain self-gratification? Does it matter? I don't know. And I think it doesn't matter that I don't know, either ;)

[astine]

"Maybe you did mean these two words in the same way that others here inquire about a linked list or the Riemann hypothesis; with a genuine desire to be explained and to know; topics that in these circles would be considered 'Worthy' of knowing, I feel."

More likely he was pointing out to bobf, the user whose post to which he was replying, that participation in pop-culture is entirely voluntary. I think to assume that he was passing judgment on Justin Bieber fans out of some 'pseudo-intellectual snobbery' is just a little bit presumptuous.

[roel_v]

Maybe, although I find that hard to read into it. From here on it's just a 'he said she said' or interpretation thing, I guess.

Anyway I'm just posting to point out that that last paragraph with the 'pseudo-intellectual snobbery' was a sneer at myself, and not at Jacques; to point out that these things are relative and that I'm not above it. Just sayin' to make it clear - like I said before, I can't presume to be able to pass judgment on Jacques as a person from a few HN posts.