Is it a fad in Britain to hate Americans?

Started by exanda kane43 pages

Originally posted by Ushgarak
Is part of the reason they get confused because you just made up two extra states there?

I'd like to think someone making a post like yours would at least know how many States there are.

I said I'd struggle 😉

Fair enough.

Whilst we are there, try asking someone from the UK to name all the Counties within it.

Originally posted by Kinneary
Yeah. I'm an American, I just live in Japan.

I see, well, I like Americans, i dont judge people by their homeland or creed or anything like that.

Originally posted by Ushgarak
Fair enough.

Whilst we are there, try asking someone from the UK to name all the Counties within it.

And they could probably name more states than their own counties, yes.

Originally posted by Ushgarak
Fair enough.

Whilst we are there, try asking someone from the UK to name all the Counties within it.

With England, I believe a lot of people would get a lot right. However someone in England trying to get all the counties in N.Ireland and Scotland as well, I don't think many people could do that.

Originally posted by Ushgarak
Fair enough.

Whilst we are there, try asking someone from the UK to name all the Counties within it.

I think thats slightly different Ush, States are alot more powerful than our counties and do have large importance on the American Political scene. It isnt like that here, but they could all name England, Scotland Wales, N.Ireland.

Originally posted by Grand_Moff_Gav
I think thats slightly different Ush, States are alot more powerful than our counties and do have large importance on the American Political scene. It isnt like that here, but they could all name England, Scotland Wales, N.Ireland.

Cop out.

Not like we have Sir Elton John, Governor of Suffolk, is it? Wouldn't really work.

Originally posted by Quiero Mota
Cop out.

Not atall, I doubt Ush has ever heard the Leader of the Council of The Highlands and Islands say anything or even know who he is, why, i dont even know who that is...I doubt people from that county do either.

Originally posted by exanda kane
Not like we have Sir Elton John, Governor of Suffolk, is it? Wouldn't really work.

So you admit to not knowing all the counties? But you called Americans stupid who don't know every state on a map??

Originally posted by Grand_Moff_Gav
Not atall, I doubt Ush has ever heard the Leader of the Council of The Highlands and Islands say anything or even know who he is, why, i dont even know who that is...I doubt people from that county do either.

Hardly the point, is it?

Not much grounds in criticising the US for not knowing global geography when our very own local geography is hardly spot on.

People tell me all these scare stories about ignorant American Geography. But people don't realise that, generally, people only assimilate the information that is pertinent to them, and there is nothing wrong with that. You shouldn't expect everyone to be of the sort of bent as to want to accumulate knowledge pretty much for the sake of it. In the real world where you have jobs, taxes and a family to worry about, knowing which way around India and Pakistan goes is a non-issue.

Nor is it exclusive to the Americans. One of my friends who went to an exceedingly good school was very fuzzy about where Spain was, and I have a feeling that many of you would be exceptionally shocked at the level of European geographical knowledge of the average Brit, and it being part of my job to engage with those who have not exactly received a top flight education I know the problem all too well.

Your very point about American being so powerful rather hits the nail on the head. There's simply no need and no great responsibility for the majority of the American populace to be so informed.

Frankly, what IS the actual use of knowing where everywhere is? Unless you plan to walk it, we've developed to the point where you don't really need to know. Things will just take you there.

Sure, I like to think I know it. But then I can quote most of Blackadder verbatim as well. I wouldn't be that concerned about teaching it.

I WOULD be concerned if people were not educated to the point where they could find geographical information at a point where they did need it. That's different.

Originally posted by Quiero Mota
So you admit to not knowing all the counties? But you called Americans stupid for not knowing every state on a map??

I certainly did not say that. I didn't say that either. Looks like your walking on ice as thin as old keira knightley and as tired as michael gambon.

Originally posted by exanda kane
I certainly did not say that. I didn't say that either. Looks like your walking on ice as thin as old keira knightley and as tired as michael gambon.
actually, it looks like he called your bluff.

the fact that smug people post here about how stupid and arrogant americans are...based on completely bias, unaccountable, and reference-void comedy media (all of the same tired geography theme, no less) screams volumes about their hypocrisy and stupidity. if some of you want to prove that europeans are smarter you should just sit on your hands and say nothing. you're not helping your cause.

There was a program on TV, the one where all the pupils had to go to a Secondary Modern from the 80s and when it came to geography, a boy thought N.Ireland was Scotland England was Scotland and England and couldnt point out Cardiff or Edinburgh or London.

[edit] these were british kids

This thread is looking more and more like some of the americans feeling sorry for themselves.

Originally posted by Rogue Jedi
actually, it looks like he called your bluff.

He done what to the what what?

Essex (what I call home), Sussex, Suffolk, Surrey, Yorkshire, Middlesex, hampshire, northampsire, cambridgeshire, oxfordshire (notice a pattern?), lincolnshire, kent warwickshire, worschester shire (aint sure of the spelling, never been). glouchestershire, buckinghamshire and thats all i can remember for england. and berkshire (edit)

scotland im lost on

Originally posted by Ushgarak
Hardly the point, is it?

Not much grounds in criticising the US for not knowing global geography when our very own local geography is hardly spot on.

People tell me all these scare stories about ignorant American Geography. But people don't realise that, generally, people only assimilate the information that is pertinent to them, and there is nothing wrong with that. You shouldn't expect everyone to be of the sort of bent as to want to accumulate knowledge pretty much for the sake of it. In the real world where you have jobs, taxes and a family to worry about, knowing which way around India and Pakistan goes is a non-issue.

Nor is it exclusive to the Americans. One of my friends who went to an exceedingly good school was very fuzzy about where Spain was, and I have a feeling that many of you would be exceptionally shocked at the level of European geographical knowledge of the average Brit, and it being part of my job to engage with those who have not exactly received a top flight education I know the problem all too well.

Your very point about American being so powerful rather hits the nail on the head. There's simply no need and no great responsibility for the majority of the American populace to be so informed.

Frankly, what IS the actual use of knowing where everywhere is? Unless you plan to walk it, we've developed to the point where you don't really need to know. Things will just take you there.

Sure, I like to think I know it. But then I can quote most of Blackadder verbatim as well. I wouldn't be that concerned about teaching it.

I WOULD be concerned if people were not educated to the point where they could find geographical information at a point where they did need it. That's different.

you are completely right, but still, madagascar?
😛

Originally posted by exanda kane
He done what to the what what?

Essex (what I call home), Sussex, Suffolk, Surrey, Yorkshire, Middlesex, hampshire, northampsire, cambridgeshire, oxfordshire (notice a pattern?), lincolnshire, kent warwickshire, worschester shire (aint sure of the spelling, never been). glouchestershire, buckinghamshire and thats all i can remember for england. and berkshire (edit)

scotland im lost on

You missed Devon, where I live!

oops, cornwall too and somerset