Hope for Civilization

I'm in the wine store buying a nice Languedoc (Cathar country!) Merlot for Mass, when someone, engaged in mid-conversation and clearly looking for a name, stops me and just points at me;

Him: Greek guy. With the rock. Starts with a T.
Me: Uhh... Sisyphus?
Him: That's him, yeah. So anyways....

and continues his conversation.

Now I think there's something to be said for a society in which one can, in the midst of buying wine, ask a a complete stranger for an obscure name from Greek mythology, and proceed as though it were no big deal.

Carry on.