Ahhh no people just make references because it occurs to them. Its an off the cuff thing and other's don't always get it. People with shared interests hang out and often do get them, but its not a given. People don't have to be the target audience to be aware of the existence of something. I could reference anything from Howdy Doody to Paw Patrol if i wanted, to invoke a certain kind of image. But hell if I've ever seen the shows. I only know them from the zeitgeist.