"We should turn Iraq/Iran into a parking lot"

[mkreku]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/20..._geography.html

 

Duh.

[Blarghagh]

I'd hate to break it to Americans but it's not like most Europeans could pinpoint New York or Washington or Chicago or Texas on a map either. It's called 'not giving a dingo'.

[Diamond]

Not knowing the geography of one particular countryis not the same as not knowing world geography.

[Musopticon?]

Well, boo-dingoing-hoo. It's not like they really need to know geography. All things considered, I doubt many of them will ever visit or even have the inclination to visit other landmasses. In counterpoint though, if someone had asked me to point Afganistan on the map before American incursion made it so public, I had probably shown them Pakistan.

Edited May 3, 2006 by Musopticon?

[Judge Hades]

Hades begins to sing.

 

I watch the hated news

The Middle east is getting worse, its true;

It is sad but true.

With insurgents and a rising nuclear power;

The kind of crap that makes me sour;

Hypnotize me through.

There's Iran, Iran is so far away.

There's Iran, closer to nukes by a day.

I couldn't get away.

 

A mushroom cloud appears in my head;

Uranium going into reactors? Not true!,

Nukes are coming for you!.

The cloud is moving nearer still.

A second sunrise comes in view;

A sunrise comes in view.

There's Iran, Iran is so far away.

There's Iran, closer to nukes by a day.

I couldn't get away.

 

Israel is ready to kick in their face;

Tensions are rising accoding to the news;

They always so us the bad news.

The UN is reaching for a solution;

I see a mushrom cloud coming soon;

A mushroom cloud coming soon..

There's Iran, Iran is so far away.

There's Iran, closer to nukes by a day.

I couldn't get away.

[Blarghagh]

Not knowing the geography of one particular countryis not the same as not knowing world geography.

 

This does not apply to the U.S. at all because most states are bigger than most countries in the first place.

[astr0creep]

Not knowing the geography of one particular countryis not the same as not knowing world geography.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

This does not apply to the U.S. at all because most states are bigger than most countries in the first place.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Most European countries, yes.

Some of Canada's provinces are bigger than some continents. :D

[Diamond]

Not knowing the geography of one particular countryis not the same as not knowing world geography.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

This does not apply to the U.S. at all because most states are bigger than most countries in the first place.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Does it mean I can accuse anyone for not knowing where Novgorod or Vladivostok is?

[Blarghagh]

I would answer that but I don't know where those are either or how big they are, so really, I can't.

[Diamond]

I would answer that but I don't know where those are either or how big they are, so really, I can't.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Then why everyone else should know details of US geography?

[Kaftan Barlast]

I'd hate to break it to Americans but it's not like most Europeans could pinpoint New York or Washington or Chicago or Texas on a map either. It's called 'not giving a dingo'.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Thats actually false. European kids could definently point out all major wordwide cities and countries and probably even the major landmarks of cities like NY or LA

 

When I think about how much geography I was taught in school... its like I have a world map inprinted in my grey matter.

[astr0creep]

I would answer that but I don't know where those are either or how big they are, so really, I can't.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Then why everyone else should know details of US geography?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

No one should. Who ever said they had to? Americans don't give a crap about the rest of the world, they made that very clear numerous times that's why they know nothing about it. That was a generalisation of course...

 

There is a Simpsons episode in wich the kids are in school and as the teacher walks, explaining something to a child, there is a world map on the wall. It is a map of the US surrounded by water...

[kumquatq3]

I don't know who they f-ing interviewed, but I know that me and my friends can name all the states on the map, and as far as major cities go, show the whereabouts of places like Tokyo, Paris, London, etc.

 

I'm guessing this was a mostly red states survey "

[Llyranor]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDYiPsmK9j8

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L63Jlw2y0k

Edited May 3, 2006 by Llyranor

[Surreptishus]

I'd like to know how the stereotype of geogrphically unaware americans began. It seems to be a pretty old joke amongst Brits and Euros. In any case ignorance and stupidity transcends national and cultural boundaries. In the UK at least it looks like there is a growing number of youths (and adults) who have no idea of current events and would even have difficulty in name the Prime Minister!

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

I'd like to know how the stereotype of geogrphically unaware americans began. It seems to be a pretty old joke amongst Brits and Euros. In any case ignorance and stupidity transcends national and cultural boundaries. In the UK at least it looks like there is a growing number of youths (and adults) who have no idea of current events and would even have difficulty in name the Prime Minister!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Most people can't name the cabinet or the leaders of opposition parties. But people are aware of who the prime minister is. Unless of course they interviewed people with no interest in politics.

 

But dosnt that just show how irrelvent these things have become in peoples lives

[Llyranor]

Videogames are making us all dumber, that's why.

[Blarghagh]

I'd hate to break it to Americans but it's not like most Europeans could pinpoint New York or Washington or Chicago or Texas on a map either. It's called 'not giving a dingo'.

 

 

Thats actually false. European kids could definently point out all major wordwide cities and countries and probably even the major landmarks of cities like NY or LA

 

When I think about how much geography I was taught in school... its like I have a world map inprinted in my grey matter.

 

That is actually not false, and I know it from experience of being around and, in fact, being A EUROPEAN. I don't know when you went to school, but it must have been over a hundred years ago, because geography is not centered around knowing countries and places at all. It's all about infrastructure and geology. Which, might I add, is much more useful information. On the off chance we need to have information on a country, we get an Atlas supplied.

 

In short, Europeans don't know major worldwide cities and countries, at least not in any form other than random trivia, simply because Europeans do not believe this to be of any value. And it isn't. I haven't seen a single geography schoolbook in my life that actually dealt with these things.

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

Videogames are making us all dumber, that's why.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Don't know about that. Shifting the focus from reality perhaps.

[Visas Marr is hot]

u know wat i love? the way the world hates america

[Blarghagh]

The world doesn't hate America. The world just uses strong words to describe the amount of blame that falls on America's shoulders.

[Moose]

Wow that's down right embarassing. Reminds me of that video where they were interviewing americans and one pointed to Australia thinking it was Korea.

[thepixiesrock]

I've grown up all my life thinking, no, believing, that all people, no matter what race or religion, no matter how well they do in their job or at school, in general are idiots. I now need to take a step back and ask myself if it is just all Americans...

[Blarghagh]

No, it's pretty much all people. My fellow Europeans are morons as well.

[deganawida]

I don't know who they f-ing interviewed, but I know that me and my friends can name all the states on the map, and as far as major cities go, show the whereabouts of places like Tokyo, Paris, London, etc.

 

I'm guessing this was a mostly red states survey  "

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

No, just experimentor expectations. The interviewers and reporters expect to find ignorance regarding world geography (as that is their beliefs), and so they look for situations where the circumstances are less than conducive to book-learnin'. They ignore or degrade results contrary to their expections, and instead focus and report on the results that support their hypothesis. Happens quite often; remember, good news doesn't sell or make headlines.