This is scary!

[erichmond]

Please tell me this is not a truly representative?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJuNgBkloFE

[Drazan]

yep, the dumbing down of US.

Most people here refer to the country as "America" not the US or USA. I'm sure there are people out there who think that "America" is the only name this contry has. blech.

I've witnessed this myslef, where people go to work, come home, and vaction somewhere and not have a clue about what the president/country is even up to. Locked in their own little world where nothing else matters beyond what they want.

[Patrick Shannon]

You have to wonder how many people they had to ask to finally get a really stupid answer, though.

As far as the "U" question, it's redirection. When someone is asked about "a" country, we will most likely think of external countries first...I kind of fell into that trap for five seconds. Redirections can be fun to play on friends.

A favorite of mine is to put a penny and nickel in your hand to show someone and ask, "Peter's mother has three children....they are Penny, Nicklaus, and...." ;)

[Drawing a Blank]

Doesn't surprise me in the least. I heard two teenagers talking while I was waiting at the Home Depot to purchase a few things. One of them was the cashier and the other had an unknown job description. The cashier was arguing that there was no state named Washington, just the city. I changed lines.

[jessicam]

I used to work at a coffee shop and my coworker was asking me how to figure out what the scale said. She was 18 years old, and had no idea that .5 is the same as 1/2. When I worked fast food and the registers went down, I was *the only* employee who could figure out how to add the purchase prices and figure tax, then make change. I don't know if people just don't know how to apply classroom knowledge away from a chalk board and rows of desks, or if they just don't learn it, but it is truly frightening.

[fredrich]

Queen Elisabeth's money? Haha, great.

We have a book/collection of tourist quotes here which is pretty funny. There were some american tourists who got disappointed when they found out that the midnight sun actually was the same sun they had back in the US. :D

[PrintDriver]

I've met design school graduates who don't know what the little marks are on a ruler between the 1/8" marks. Or who don't know how to obtain the decimal equivalent of a fraction of an inch without a chart. Or can't read a scale ruler.

High school students who couldn't tell me which side was Blue or Gray in the Civil War but for some reason felt it important to tell me that shoes made back then could go on either foot... :rolleyes:

[Virgo Nightingale]

I had a client a while ago call and ask me where on her computer hard drive she should save the attached proof I'd emailed her.

[Virgo Nightingale]

Most people here refer to the country as "America" not the US or USA. I'm sure there are people out there who think that "America" is the only name this contry has.
Some people in Central and South America get offended when people call themselves simply "American" just because they're from the US. They consider themselves to be "American" too, since they're from Central or South America, the same way someone from China might consider themselves Asian.

[fredrich]

Some people in Central and South America get offended when people call themselves simply "American" just because they're from the US. They consider themselves to be "American" too, since they're from Central or South America, the same way someone from China might consider themselves Asian.

I bet people from Ireland, Scotland and Wales don't like to be called British.

[Virgo Nightingale]

But if you are from the US, what else can you call yourself aside from American? United-Statesian?

[seamas]

I bet people from Ireland, Scotland and Wales don't like to be called British.

You'd be right with the Irish.
The Welsh on the other hand are British, as they were there before the English. (Welsh = Britons).
I'm not sure about the Scots, as one I've met claimed that the Scotts were British - moreso than the English.

[fredrich]

I think it's more about what it sounds like than what it is. If we would call people by the country name based on who was there first, the only real Americans would be Indians. And they again came from Asia when the continents were "melted" together.

[jimking]

You'd be right with the Irish.
The Welsh on the other hand are British, as they were there before the English. (Welsh = Britons).
I'm not sure about the Scots, as one I've met claimed that the Scotts were British - moreso than the English.
Ditto....A friend of mine is Scottish and calls himself British but not English.
I am an American from the United States. A Mexican is an American too from the United States of Mexico or the United Mexican States.

[Tea]

What we think is important to know is not to these people. Why? Because it doesn't affect their life. Most will never leave their little world and someone else will take care of things for them. There are even more people who will tell them they are wrong, but it doesn't matter. For example, in the case of the ruler measurements, there will always be someone there to bail them out. There is no need for them to know everything.

One of the reasons we don't remember everything, is because we depend on others to remember for us. Moms will remember where our shoes are or friends remember what happened on this day or that. Sometimes we might not want to remember! It is our way of filtering and coping with the mass amounts of information.

However there is another aspect of this phenomenon that is shaking the world. One of my 7th grade students told me quite bluntly just a few weeks ago that they see absolutely no value in education (meaning school). He was not alone in his viewpoint. Give them a computer and access to the internet however, they will read and research things they are interested in.

While parts of the film were quite entertaining, I think the scary part is that we may be in for a really wild ride in the near future.

[carter the artist]

(With head down in shame)

Hello world, I'm a representative of all Americans and I apologize.

sorry.

[carter the artist]

Funny side note tho... I worked in restaraunts to support myself thru college. I was working at a touristy spot (Disney) and had an Australian table. Well the teenager spotted my busser and got all excited. After seeing his nametag she asked me,"Is that guys name really jesus?"

But then again they also pronounce Fajita salad like it's something dirty and don't leave tips.

[urstwile]

What we think is important to know is not to these people. Why? Because it doesn't affect their life. Most will never leave their little world and someone else will take care of things for them. There are even more people who will tell them they are wrong, but it doesn't matter. For example, in the case of the ruler measurements, there will always be someone there to bail them out. There is no need for them to know everything.

One of the reasons we don't remember everything, is because we depend on others to remember for us. Moms will remember where our shoes are or friends remember what happened on this day or that. Sometimes we might not want to remember! It is our way of filtering and coping with the mass amounts of information.

However there is another aspect of this phenomenon that is shaking the world. One of my 7th grade students told me quite bluntly just a few weeks ago that they see absolutely no value in education (meaning school). He was not alone in his viewpoint. Give them a computer and access to the internet however, they will read and research things they are interested in.

While parts of the film were quite entertaining, I think the scary part is that we may be in for a really wild ride in the near future.

Those are some interesting points, Surf, but I also think that a lot of the lack of knowledge of current events has to do with the way current events are covered here in the United States. I found this analysis (http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=319) of the results of a survey done by the Pew Research Center to be interesting.

You can take a quiz that has some of the questions they asked in the survey here. (http://pewresearch.org/newsiq/) For the record, I got 91 (8 out of 9 questions).

[Riya]

The ones that really amaze me are the ones that don't understand the meaning of wild animals. Just real recently here, a tourist was taking pictures of a group of buffalo. One of the buffalo was facing the wrong direction for his shot, so he walked up to it and slapped it in the ass. I think he's still in the hospital.

[Ned]

Those are some interesting points, Surf, but I also think that a lot of the lack of knowledge of current events has to do with the way current events are covered here in the United States.
Actually, Balou, that was Tea who posted that, not Surf Park. :D


I do agree with your rebuttal though. I find that U.S. citizens know very little about U.S. history, events, and geography, nevermind the world. Yes, these are issues relevent to them. One of my favorite stories to tell is when I was stopped in one of the interior states (Utah, Idaho, or Iowa, I forget now.). The trooper saw my Alberta license plate, and asked me (I was had a dark tan at this time), "Is Alberta in Mexico, or New Mexico?"

http://www.smileyhut.com/laughing/hysterical.gif

[Brisvegas]

hehe that video is from a show here called The Chaser's War On Everything. It's the TV version of their online newspaper, which is scarily similar to The Onion (in fact, it's probably a complete rip off :D)

www.chaser.com.au

Don't worry - they pay out a heap of people in their own country as wel l;), proving that wherever you go, there will be the odd idiot out there...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmtPSD45Yxk - some bad language here...very cleverly done though
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSJ6OR9tx8 - seeing how close you can get to the prime minister with a weapon...

hysterical!

[Samakimoto Graphics]

Well I've said on here a couple of times that Africa is not one country. I have been a culprit many times and refered to the US as American. Ever since joining this forum, I am more sensitive to the concept of "America" vis a vis US or North America or South America.

It has a lot to do with something called "selfhood of otherness"...we are often to engrossed in ourselves to take note that there are other things that make us who we are, outside ourselves.

[carter the artist]

then again it could be worse, I could be living in India.

Just ask Richard Gere.

[fredrich]

then again it could be worse, I could be living in India.

Just ask Richard Gere.

Or Christopher Columbus...

[LeftBrain Artist]

I'm not sure about the Scots, as one I've met claimed that the Scotts were British - moreso than the English.

They're all Picts to me. And they can all stay in Pictavia as far as I'm concerned.

As for me - I learned geography from Judge Dread comic books - America consists of Mega City East and Mega City West - and in the middle is my home: Cursed Earth (where the mutants dwell) - and I'll have you know there is no law here, its a living hell.

Besides, it really doesn't matter where the borders are at and what the countries are called - as long as you remember that you don't bury the survivors from the plane crash.

[morea]

Please tell me this is not a truly representative?

you do realize that half the people in the world are of below-average intelligence?

[ellamac]

I also think that a lot of the lack of knowledge of current events has to do with the way current events are covered here in the United States

I love the world and all our quirks, and one thing that does crack me up is the American "World Series of Baseball" - that has ONE country in its world! :) I have seen heaps more examples too, but cant remember them off the top of my head...

[CatintheHat1]

In Canada we have (had) a TV show that regularly went to the U.S. to make fun of Americans. I remember once they asked if Canada should stop hunting seals in the Saskatchewan. But, in all fairness, sometimes the Americans were just playing along and there was some creative editing involved.

[Logo-Mechanix]

In Canada we have (had) a TV show that regularly went to the U.S. to make fun of Americans. I remember once they asked if Canada should stop hunting seals in the Saskatchewan. But, in all fairness, sometimes the Americans were just playing along and there was some creative editing involved.

Thats alright we go to the beach to make fun of the Canadians.:D

[urstwile]

Actually, Balou, that was Tea who posted that, not Surf Park. :D

Was this on purpose, Morea? :D

[Logo-Mechanix]

Was this on purpose, Morea? :D

No it was by accident Exodus.:D

[urstwile]

teehee ;)

[morea]

No it was by accident Exodus.:D

what the heck are you going on about now, mac.Finn? :p

[Logo-Mechanix]

Where 'O where has this thread gone?

[morea]

it's swimming with the fishes. :D

[Virgo Nightingale]

it's swimming with the fishes. :D
PHEW! For a moment I thought it was swimming with the cetaceans! :p

[morea]

yeah, you've got to watch out for them and their damned echolocation!

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c343/gdfmorea/silly%20things/rofl.gif

[Logo-Mechanix]

Echolocation will be the death of me.

[Red Kittie Kat]

I had to check the title of this again ... just to be sure I wasn't in the wrong thread :D

[Virgo Nightingale]

Yeah, finding echoes can be such a b!tch. I suck at it.

[Logo-Mechanix]

Yeah, finding echoes can be such a b!tch. I suck at it it it it it.

[morea]

bah, echolocation, schmecholocation. We can already mimic that with our submarines. How complicated can it be?

When I took marine biology my favorite were always the sea cucumbers, because their special ability was evisceration: they can eject their internal organs to scare predators and then grow new ones in a matter of days!

[Virgo Nightingale]

Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

[Virgo Nightingale]

When I took marine biology my favorite were always the sea cucumbers, because their special ability was evisceration: they can eject their internal organs to scare predators and then grow new ones in a matter of days!
That's just really friggin' bizaare. I knew frogs have to vomit their stomachs out of their body to get it to eject something it's decided not to eat (and then swallow their stomach back into their bodies).

There has got to be some creature out there that has figured out the sea cucumber's game and uses it to their advantage. "Hey Joe! If we go bother that sea cucumber, it'll puke out its guts! FREE LUNCH!"

[morea]

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/2677/cukeqj6.gif



(is it bad that I am laughing hysterically about this?)
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c343/gdfmorea/silly%20things/rofl.gif

[Virgo Nightingale]

The caption for that one should be along the lines of "I has a chikun pocks!"

[morea]

http://i13.tinypic.com/313oap4.gif


http://i18.tinypic.com/2s0d18h.gif


http://i12.tinypic.com/48w5qfr.gif


http://i13.tinypic.com/2hi0bj7.gif

[morea]

http://i11.tinypic.com/2hd5nax.gif

[Virgo Nightingale]

http://SnapShotAM.com/GetPic.aspx?PicID=633132757616108740.jpg

[morea]

this one eviscerated: http://www.scubadivemaui.com/pix3.html

eew.

[morea]

lol Virgo!

http://i14.tinypic.com/2he8wid.gif



http://i18.tinypic.com/2cfcx1j.gif

[balou]

THIS IS ONE WIERD THREAD! Here we go! :)

[morea]

http://i10.tinypic.com/2qlvql2.gif

[Virgo Nightingale]

At least the title of the thread is still quite fitting!

[Logo-Mechanix]

Even more so I would argue.

[morea]

you know, sometimes I pity the poor newbs who wander in here on a Friday afternoon...

[Virgo Nightingale]

What's Friday got to do with it? :D

[Virgo Nightingale]

http://www.SnapShotAM.com/s/0_633132757616108740.jpg
Same from before, but this one is conveniently showing up in the actual post....

[morea]

I don't know about *your* institution, but Fridays are 'extra meds day' here...

[frankster]

I don't know about *your* institution, but Fridays are 'extra meds day' here...

mmmm, extra meds!

http://www.tidningen.aland.net/gallery/temp/04081309382365.jpg

[Virgo Nightingale]

http://i10.tinypic.com/2lo0l5t.jpg

Oh the crap I go through to get this to just show up within the pancaking post. :mad:

[morea]

lol, Virgo: try www.tinypic.com and use the link with the tags (the middle one).


[IMG]http://i18.tinypic.com/402ysz6.gif


http://i13.tinypic.com/4c2z8k4.jpg

[budafist]

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/2121/seacucjk6.jpg

[flutterby nut]

^
umm...budda?....wasn't there anything else in the fridge?!! :D

[budafist]

No, sorry, just sea cucumber soup.

[budafist]

Oh, and passionfruit cheesecake :)

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/5486/notapassionfruitpy6.jpg

[morea]

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c343/gdfmorea/silly%20things/rofl.gif

Nice!

[morea]

http://i17.tinypic.com/2laqans.jpg



http://i18.tinypic.com/4cm979t.jpg



http://i14.tinypic.com/2s8sj7p.jpg

[budafist]

Ewwww...I has a mold is yuckly.