FWIW in college when I would visit family during holidays, I was often confused by cultural references; someone would slip in a catch-phrase and everyone in the

FWIW in college when I would visit family during holidays, I was often confused by cultural references; someone would slip in a catch-phrase and everyone in the room would laugh. I was too busy to watch TV in those days, and it was like being from another culture. After college, I had fallen out of the habit of watching TV, and for decades I thought my culture of tech journals and overwork was superior to their sitcoms and crime dramas. I can still find merit in my choices, but of course that is missing the point. I was wrong. However frivolous the _structure_ of TV entertainment, the _function_ of shared experience reinforced in-group bonds within my family. I feel like a Martian for having to explain this to myself. So I thank you, dxbydt, for sharing your story. :-)