Let’s be honest: most of us are not checking for famous people. We’re hunting for the guy who invented the plastic pizza saver, or the woman who once yelled “Bless you” on a sitcom in 1987. That’s the real celebrity gold.
You’ll see a name like “Geraldine ‘Geri’ P. Henderson, 94, known for her legendary rhubarb pie.” You never tasted it. You don’t even like rhubarb. But suddenly, you feel a pang of loss for something you never had. It’s the emotional equivalent of crying over a spilled latte you didn’t order.
The “I Haven’t Thought About Them in Years” Effect
My personal favorite is the “I haven’t thought about this person since 2003” moment. You see a photo of a musician who had one hit song—the one they played at your middle school dance. Immediately, your brain summons the exact sweaty-palmed memory of awkwardly swaying to it.
Suddenly, you’re a 12-year-old in cargo shorts, and that song is stuck in your head for the next three hours. Thanks, dead guy. You’ve now ruined my grocery run with nostalgia.
It’s a weird mix of sadness and mild inconvenience. Like finding out your favorite diner closed—you’re bummed, but you didn’t eat there since 2015.
