(This quote has often been attributed to Hyman Rickover, but he apparently did not claim authorship of it[0].)
[0] http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Hyman_G._Rickover#Misattributed
Interesting quote, but I think it unfairly judges people who are not "like you". Discussing people, like celebrities, is like discussing the weather. It's a lowest common denominator that you fall back to when you have difficulty connecting or communicating with another person.
It's better to think of ideas, events, people, and weather as a way to measure the quality of connection and communication you are having with someone. (You can also start a conversation with a "bottom up" strategy by starting with weather, or people, and working your way up.)