Why 1/5 of Americans Can't Locate The U.S.

Originally posted by dr_strangecraft


This goes under the category "How to lie with statistics."

very well said

Originally posted by thematrix

Finding the US on that blank map is still easy imho (but then again I have an above average IQ and am very interest in history and geography).

Not finding the US on a map that has all the countries nicely marked of (as it was in the clip with the fake australian PM) is stupid, no matter how you look at it.

I think his point is we all determine what is easy or hard, and everyone of us is totally ignorant about many subjects that others find extremely easy and common knowledge. Go on a farm and talk to the old farmer who has a 8th grade education and see who thinks who is dumb.

reply to post by Xtrozero


Bad example, I grew up on a farm :p
And there is a difference between wisdom and intelligence too.

I was having this conversation with my grandmother last night. She was telling me that my cousins and brothers were only taught history class in grade school. She said now they don't even teach history in junior high or high school. If this is true, which I still have my doubts, it is surely one of the most horrible things one could find out about the education system in this country. The school systems to which my family belongs are Los Angeles Unified and Ventura County School Districts.

I can't imagine not learning about history in school. That is probably THE most important subject a child could learn about. How else is he/she going to learn about this country's origins and all the wars we've participated in? As a great person once said, "Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it."

She also mentioned that when she was in school six decades ago she had to take a "music appreciation" class. That is also a very good subject which kids today should be required to take, at least in some point during school. Maybe then they wouldn't care so much for gangsta' rap and wearing pants around their ankles.... and chains 6 inches thick from their wallets to their butts. I know music is a subjective preference but the finer forms, such as Jazz and Classical should be introduced to kids when they are young.

Its because people don't know history and geography anymore that they can be tricked by an administration like the current US one to believe just about everything.

They have no basis to form an educated opinion on anything and believe their government will form their opinions and direction on an educated basis, while in reality, a goverment thats driven by capitalist ideals and goals, doesn't form opinions on anything, they only form goals in the framework of whats profitable and best for them, and manipulate the people's opinions to be able to go ahead with these goals.

Originally posted by jsobecky
Geography was one of my favorite subjects in school. We covered a lot of ground in that class.

I didn't like History. It was too time consuming.

I was just the opposite. I loved history and couldn't stand geography. Never really did see the relevance of knowing where such and such country was located. I suppose that that type of thinking is what contributes to people's ignorance in regards to geography.

reply to post by thematrix


I don't fully agree with this, that simply learning history and geography in school has such an impact. You need to get on a plane and go see things for yourself.

Once you engage in meaningful face to face conversation with Russians, Chinese, Arabs, Americans, Europeans, Africans etc, once you eat in their house, enjoy their hospitality and friendship, appreciate their rich and diverse cultures, then you eventually realise that we are all pretty much the same. Full of fear for the most part, ameliorated with just a touch of hope.

It then becomes impossible to believe the blanket lies put out by our corrupt and self serving administrations about other races.

hey we all got our little nationalistic idiosyncracies, but that's one of the things that makes the world such a fascinating place

Originally posted by RogerT

hey we all got our little nationalistic idiosyncracies, but that's one of the things that makes the world such a fascinating place

And, unfortunately, a very dangerous one. Hey, don't get me wrong, I'm one of the most nationalistic individuals you may ever cross, but I see the danger in it.

Some people seem to miss the point

The people that got interviewed, they weren't obliged to answer nobody forced them (well i believe) they just could have said "sorry, i don't know the answer"
I would understand, even myself i don't know everything (still, i know where u.s is located at ... ).They tried, they thought they could answer for whatever reason but guess what...all wrong .So Yes their answers were stupid and yes that's laughable.

For the fun of it:
www.youtube.com...

reply to post by jsobecky


You my friend, have missed the point. This girl is trained to do what she does. I'm also quite certain that this isn't her first pageant. Very rarely you'll find a girl on such a large scale pageant doing it for the 1st time. She's done this before. Don't kid yourself.

2ndly...you probably just looked at that particular video. Checked out the other previous videos? Ever looked at Americans on T.V...especially reality, candid T.V? There's a game show(can't remember the name of it) that asks people on the street common things about America, things that even I know...& I'm Trinidadian...and it's hilarious the kind of remarks these people give. Oh...don't think for one minute I'm an 'American Hater' or whatever you want to call it...I think most of the people in the world are stupid...from Trinidadian...to Jamaicans, to Alaskans, to the Finnish...everywhere. Stupidity is common...please believe, even if she did make a mistake(which is quite possible), that still doesn't take away from the fact that idiots are abundant in this world.

I was alway very good at geography but there are usually two areas that I usually get confused at though, south east asia and the smaller countries in Europe, Luxembourg, Belgium etc..

There's no excuse for that kind of ignorance, the fact is that people just dont care to know this stuff anymore. I saw a scan of an 8th grade 1950's civics exam on here one day and I was like whoa, college level stuff.
Part of the problem is our school system and Bush's No Child Left Behind BS, dumbing down our kids and the other part is just pure apathy.


Its always Americans this and Americans that, people are constantly judging us and looking for ways to put us down, sounds like jealousy to me.
When was the last time you saw a poll, any kind of poll for any other country and their citizens' abilities to correctly answer some questions?
Americans are Fat
Americans and their SUV's
Stupid Americans

Kiss my American ***

reply to post by sdrawkcab

Originally posted by sdrawkcab
You my friend, have missed the point. This girl is trained to do what she does. I'm also quite certain that this isn't her first pageant. Very rarely you'll find a girl on such a large scale pageant doing it for the 1st time. She's done this before. Don't kid yourself.

The point, as I see it, is that people are condemning her and calling her stupid because she screwed up a response.

She did not screw up the chance to find the US on a map.

Now, many people have screwed up a cameo appearance. Matter of fact, it is not uncommon for a seasoned veteran to make a mistake, either. We are human beings.

So, I have to ask myself: why would you (generic you) want to call this girl stupid?

Because you never got past the name-calling phase that most of us outgrow by 4th grade?

Because it makes you, an insecure little man, feel good about yourself to pick on someone who is not here to defend herself?

Btw, don't ask me questions about TV sitcoms or reality shows. I don't watch them. The only TV I watch is the occasional sports or news broadcast.

Easy, probably because they are under 5 years old or they are the ones that live in caves.

The stupification of the United States in these recent times started over a generation ago by the Reagen Administration. It is a very real problem that was intentionally created. This is one of the tactics that were employed by the CIA AND KGB in their "20 year plans" to control nations or societies. As far as particulars go, I'll let you internet warriors find those. It's not that hard to figure.

[edit on 31-8-2007 by WhatIsay?]

[edit on 31-8-2007 by WhatIsay?]

Originally posted by dr_strangecraft

If you found Kiska, can you find Mustang Island?

One might call that cheating.

Could you perhaps provide a map that actually shows Kiska and Mustang Island?

OMFG, I did'nt think people could be so stupid, that video Leevi posted may not show everyone in the us but if it is any indication of it, then OMFG, i;m a drop-out and i knew everyone of those questions, LMAO.

Originally posted by SpeakerofTruth

Originally posted by Carnap
It also could be the simple fact that approximately 1/5 of the people currently living in the United States are not nationals. I dont think Geography is a requirement for citizenship here.

Well, that's funny...

They didn't seem to have any problem finding their way here.

Even a hungry dog can find its way home when it wants. :-)

Originally posted by WhatIsay?
The stupification of the United States in these recent times started over a generation ago by the Reagen Administration. It is a very real problem that was intentionally created. This is one of the tactics that were employed by the CIA AND KGB in their "20 year plans" to control nations or societies. As far as particulars go, I'll let you internet warriors find those. It's not that hard to figure.

[edit on 31-8-2007 by WhatIsay?]

[edit on 31-8-2007 by WhatIsay?]

Is everything a conspiracy? I think it is more to do with the vast numbers we are dealing with. Not long ago many schools outside the big cities were very small with excellent teacher to student ratios. Back then the teacher had total power to teach and mentor at a very personal level. Parents were also very involved since more were your typical family were the dad worked and the mom took care of the home and children. Lessons were taught in the school then reinforced at home all in a very close setting.

Now we have big classroom and teachers that are tasked saturated and have their hands tied behind their backs too. If you think schools are bad it is even worst at home. We just do not have the infrastructure to handle it all. This will only get worst and we will continue to see a large gap continue to grow between the family that will use private schooling with a strong family support to the children stuck in poor public schools with nothing at home to support them in anyway.

www.youtube.com...

This is a video about schools in the USA.
I am from Romania, our school system remained the same from the communist times until recently, I learned under this system and I think it was a good one. Now they want to change it, they say kids learn useless stuff, they want it to be more like in the western countries - what they achieved is that the percentage of kids who graduate high school in the first try has dropped from 80% to 50% from 2000 to 2007
Maybe kids these days don't like to learn or they have too many ways to have fun instead of learning and that is the problem ?

Useless stuff it may be, but even if kids forget what they learned, the fact that they learned it makes it more easy to learn more, it's like training for something
I think the system is to blame for what kids know.

I see the NWO everywhere, I can say they are behind this too - they sure do not want a world of educated and smart people.
Just my paranoia don't mind this I tend to make the most crazy assumptions , I will check if they are real another day. Shoot first ask questions later

[edit on 3-9-2007 by pai mei]

Originally posted by ThichHeaded
I am from the states, I cant comprehend how stupid people can be... Altho I guess it takes a lot of skill to watch a football game or some blonde chick walk down an isle.. or watch TV to see who is our enemy...

Here I will show u something..

Posted here.. I was going to mention something in this post.. But I thought it would be mean and rude.. Altho... I make a lot of sense...

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Here are some stats for ya..

67% of people who watch fox believe Iraq had something to do with Al Qaeda.

33% believe they found WMD's in Iraq.

You tell me..... You sure that 1/5 is remotely accept as being half ass smart.. I say no... How about a tad bit smart.. Probably not...

My statement stands.

BTW, I live 40 mins from where Flight 93 crashed...

See those 1/5 of people wouldn't even know answer to my riddle above..

this is one of the bvest posts ever KUDOS

thing is most americans are really arrogant and think they are invincible and the best