Worst 21st century phenomenon (pop culture only) so far

[Bossy Monkey]

Poll question: Worst 21st century phenomenon (pop culture only) so far

So no sneaky trying to put on Bush, PNAC, Diebold, neocon beerhall putch, etc. Let's be silly, dammit. Or anyway somewhat frivolous.

The last time I did this, somebody mentioned the flying cars and I had to put them on the poll. I appreciate that a lack isn't a phenomenon, but sometimes you just have to stretch a point.

Last time also I mentioned SUVs, cell phones and reality TV, and was greeted with tiresome lectures about how each of these was around in the 20th century, too. So this time around I was a bit more specific.

Putting on Good Charlotte just reflects opinion on the internets. Hell, I'm 43; I don't know from Good Charlotte.

Other will be added in an hour, if I'm still up.

[KitchenWitch]

1. definitely poker

So sick of Texas Hold Em I could puke.

[Warren DeMontague]

2. White People in Expensive Cars Blasting Hip-Hop out the windows

Trucks with giant, oversized tires.

Oh, and surly twentysomething guys with shaved heads.

Okay, so maybe those aren't precisely 21st century phenomena, but they still piss me off.

[ghostsofgiants]

3. I voted for American Idol...but relating to the flying car situation...

http://www.viewaskew.com/tv/leno/flyingcar.mov (Quicktime)
http://www.viewaskew.com/tv/leno/flyingcar.wmv (Windows Media)
http://www.viewaskew.com/tv/leno/flyingcar.rm (Real Media)

And a transcript, just because it was there: http://www.viewaskew.com/newboard/messages364/1226.html

[DS1]

5. Was going to mention that clip

;-)

[ghostsofgiants]

6. It's a classic, what can I say?

[name not needed]

15. You'd do it with a bunch of guys just to get a car?

[ghostsofgiants]

17. If more people threw their hats over the wall...

We wouldn’t be sitting here in this mess right now.

[last_texas_dem]

4. Had to give a vote to Good Charlotte

Such a truly horrible band, and I know and love many truly horrible bands. But they're just awful. Though Simple Plan and New Found Glory may actually be worse, but there isn't all that much of a difference.

I'll also agree on the various, more disturbing types of reality TV shows that appear with every new season. And also with the poster who mentioned the surly 20-something guys with shaved heads; though I have nothing personally against the various guys out there with shaved heads, the supershort hair look is a phenomena that I hope loses its popularity as soon as possible.

[ghostsofgiants]

7. Dammit, were they always there?

They definitely get my vote over all others.

I was watching a show on Muchmusic up here in Canada called Fandemonium, where two fans of a particular band compete in all kinds of dumbass stuff to win a trip to meet the band or whatever. The one I saw was for a chance to meet Good Charlotte. At the beginning, the host (George Stroumboulopoulos, aka the coolest guy in Canadian television), who hates Good Charlotte, described them as "you take Hanson, then throw in some G.G. Allin...then a WHOLE LOT more Hanson, and what do you get? You get Good Charlotte". Best description ever.

[Bossy Monkey]

8. Sure. The only thing I changed was adding Other.

Given the overwhelming response, however, I guess I needed to put on Tom Cruise and Steve Gutenberg.:)

[ghostsofgiants]

9. Shit, how did I miss them?

My hatred for them is unparalleled.

[terrya]

10. The popularlity of "The Apprentice"

Donald Trump is a disgusting, greedy, scum sucking real estate developer. People should not be encouraged to be like him, which presumably is the pretext of this show.

[Bossy Monkey]

13. I should have put it on the poll instead of The Surreal Life

Ah well. I'm afraid it didn't occur to me because my dislike for it was swallowed up in my general disdain for that slumlord, which of course much predates the 21st century. I'm sure you can relate.

[alarcojon]

11. Can't decide between poker and the apprentice

The Hold 'em thing is completely oversaturated (and hey, I play in a weekly game - just don't want to see it on TV 24/7). And the fact that Trump's "you're fired" has become at all popular bugs me to no end.

[coloradodem2005]

12. Simple life.

What is the big deal about Paris Hilton? She's not THAT attractive and so what if she is rich?

[lpbk2713]

14. Michael Jackson and all his trials and tribulations.

It's newsworthy in itself that anyone in the 21st century really GAF about this freak.

[formerrepuke]

16. The piercing phenomenon: On men, anywhere.. or on either sex

in noses, eyebrows, lips, tongues, nips, navels, etc. I know many piercers are liberals, but damn, it's unsightly. Not that I would tell anyone not to pierce; it's a free country (still): Free to make hideous fashion statements.

[gmoney]

18. Gravity-defying fights in movies...

...this may be a holdover from the end of the 90s, but the whole "crouching tiger, hidden dragon" and "matrix" inspired bit where kung fu folks have a 40-foot vertical leap and all that other BS. Ugh. Saw the Batman Begins this weekend, and even BATMAN's freakin' doing it.

Curse you, Quentin Tarantino... I blame this on YOU!

[Bossy Monkey]

19. Exciting the first time, fun the second time, tedious imitation after that

(but it's fun to look for the wires). The parody of this in Shrek was pretty funny though.

[u4ic]

20. Reality TV

:eyes:

[LeftyMom]

21. The utter lack of MST3K

I am not entirely prepared to face the world without wiseassed robots.

At least some of the episodes are on DVD.

[Bossy Monkey]

29. I hate to admit that the lack of a TV show can do this to me, but

it's a neverending ache. Want my damn MST3K back, dangit! Neither Comedy Central (but for The Daily Show) nor SciFi have anything fit to shine their shoes.

[Dukkha]

22. given all those options I'd rather watch this

I'd even send it money

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

26. Most people DO

Everybody forgot coins (or worse, bills) in a trouser's pocket at least once in life.

[Rabrrrrrr]

23. American Idol.

[elshiva]

24. Poker on TV! Feh!

[TimeChaser]

25. People being famous for doing nothing...

... ie: Paris Hilton and friends :puke:

[henslee]

27. flourescent socks.

[sendero]

28. "Reality" TV...

.. most of which is as scripted as any sitcom, and way way more stupid.