Clever Americans...

[Arthu®]

The teacher showed this in class today, thought it was pretty funny. Not trying to take a stab at you lot, if you think I am you are too uptight.

Btw they could probably do a same questionaire here in Holland and the outcome could be pretty much the same, it just depends on who you ask...

http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2007/clever-americans-p1.php

Arthur

[TruckDriver]

Well, I have to admit, that some of the questions about stuff of other countrys I cant answer either. But I did know what currency is used in the UK. Euros.  But I am willing to bet some of those people were either one of the next, school drop out (the drop out rate is pretty high here), school screw off (just did enough in school to barely pass and graduate), and or they are just stupid. The best question was how many corners does a triangle have  I laughed at those answers. The school system is really bad here in some states.

[Vainglory, Esq.]

But I did know what currency is used in the UK. Euros.

Heh.  Nice...

[Vainglory, Esq.]

Okay, I just watched it.  Here's the problem.  Most of that was filmed at Venice Beach in California.  If you know SoCal, you know that that's a haven for drug-addled hippie retards. 

In point of fact, I got every question he asked right.  Too bad they wouldn't have aired my responses....

[mikepmcs]

I think you'll find that a lot of us over here find those clips funny as well.  I believe we have shows here, hosted by US Citizens that do the same thing.

Humorous indeed.

M

[Arthu®]

In point of fact, I got every question he asked right.  Too bad they wouldn't have aired my responses....

I'm sure some of the people got the answers right, I just thought it was humorous especially the triangle question... Just hilarious. Also name a country that starts with a U. Utah

[bull]

Ever seen Jay Walking on the Tonight Show? I always hate to think how many people outside the US see that and believe we are all completely retarded.

[konigcharger]

Well, I have to admit, that some of the questions about stuff of other countrys I cant answer either. But I did know what currency is used in the UK. Euros.  But I am willing to bet some of those people were either one of the next, school drop out (the drop out rate is pretty high here), school screw off (just did enough in school to barely pass and graduate), and or they are just stupid. The best question was how many corners does a triangle have  I laughed at those answers. The school system is really bad here in some states.

The UK never ratifyed the Euro

they still use the Pound sterling (£)

[dodgecharger-fan]

Ever see "Smarter than a 5th grader"?

Hosted by Jeff Foxworthy....

Funny premise, but they need to change the format just a bit to give the pace of the show a little more snap.
It's hard enough to watch as it is.

I'll admit that there are some questions that are tough - but it's more a matter of memory than actual knowledge. Some people are just dumb though.
The first guy ont eh show got the first question with help from the kid and never got any further...

link: http://www.fox.com/areyousmarter/

[68chrgrwife]

you know that the show was edited to show only the stupid people as is jay walking.  I just thought I'd let you all know that in case you weren't smart enough to figure that one out...LOL  But truthfully, stupidity sells, they look for "dumb" people or have people "lie" about the answers.  Makes better tv.

[Drache]

The questions weren't all that hard! Granted how many people got the answers right but weren't shown! Kind of a biased show... we have something like that up here in Canada that asks U.S. citizens stupid questions like that including a professor at harvard who thought Canada's government building was made of ice and we JUST legalized penacilin!


EDIT: I decided to try and answer the questions myself and see how I did. Let me know if I got any wrong:


Name a country that begins with U: United States of America

Coalition of the willing: bush used this term to describe the countries that supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq

religion of Israel: Mostly Jewish and some Muslim

Buddhist Monks: They are Buddhist

Vietnam War: North Vietnam did

Fidel Castro: Leader of Cuba

Triangle: Three Sides

UK Currency: Pound Sterling

Tony Blair: Prime Minister of the UK

Axis of Evil: (misleading, not WWII) Bush named, Iran, Iraq, and North Korea

First man on moon: Neil Armstrong

Mosque: Islamic temples

Kidneys: Two

Collateral Damage: accidental damage during a military operation

World Wars: 2

KFC: it's from Kentucky

Star Wars T/F: False

Hiroshama/Nagasaki: Japanese cities destroyed by atomic bombs during WWII

West Bank: Israel

Eiffel Towers: Only one in France, one in Japan

Al Qaeda: terrorist group started by bin laden

Berlin Wall: Berlin Germany

Latin America: Spanish

[konigcharger]

including a professor at harvard who thought Canada's government building was made of ice!

its not 

[Rocky]

Ever see "Smarter than a 5th grader"?

Hosted by Jeff Foxworthy....

Funny premise, but they need to change the format just a bit to give the pace of the show a little more snap.
It's hard enough to watch as it is.

I'll admit that there are some questions that are tough - but it's more a matter of memory than actual knowledge. Some people are just dumb though.
The first guy ont eh show got the first question with help from the kid and never got any further...

link: http://www.fox.com/areyousmarter/

I think that show would be much more interesting if they used actual grade school teachers.  It would probably be even sadder/funnier than it is already.  "All teachers deserve raises".

[Chargen69]

That's the great thing about Americans, we usually dont know anything about other countries, and dont care.

[MorePwr]

Idiots are funny. fortunatly stupidity knows no borders.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pze9u6erx0E

[GTX]

The teacher showed this in class today, thought it was pretty funny. Not trying to take a stab at you lot, if you think I am you are too uptight.

Btw they could probably do a same questionaire here in Holland and the outcome could be pretty much the same, it just depends on who you ask...

http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2007/clever-americans-p1.php

Arthur

It's really pathetic how so many people can't answer basic questions but I have to wonder where these people are.
Like on Jay Leno's Jaywalking, who are these idiots answering his questions? Just about everyone I know can answer 95% of the questions that the 'people on the street' can't.

Most Americans can't get our own 230 year history down let alone thousands of years of others. I love European history but I get really lost too. It's pretty daunting.


Holland? Don't you guys get slivers walking around in wooden shoes all day?   

[MorePwr]

The teacher showed this in class today, thought it was pretty funny. Not trying to take a stab at you lot, if you think I am you are too uptight.

Btw they could probably do a same questionaire here in Holland and the outcome could be pretty much the same, it just depends on who you ask...

http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2007/clever-americans-p1.php

Arthur

It's really pathetic how so many people can't answer basic questions but I have to wonder where these people are.
Like on Jay Leno's Jaywalking, who are these idiots answering his questions? Just about everyone I know can answer 95% of the questions that the 'people on the street' can't.

Most Americans can't get our own 230 year history down let alone thousands of years of others. I love European history but I get really lost too. It's pretty daunting.


Holland? Don't you guys get slivers walking around in wooden shoes all day?   

umm.. stage fright?
it's probably not hard to find well educated people who couldn't remember their own name. in front of a camera crew. I think most people don't perform their best in that situation.

[GTX]

Good point and I'm one of them. Put me in front of people and I can't think straight.

I guess that's why on shows like that one with Richard Dawson people said such silly things.

[MorePwr]

Good point and I'm one of them. Put me in front of people and I can't think straight.

I guess that's why on shows like that one with Richard Dawson people said such silly things.

me too. that's why I thought of it. I've been in front of the big cameras and groups of people a couple of times and found it pretty hard to concentrate.

so with that, for what reason would any "teacher" show that video to their pupils? as it certainly couldn't be construed as an accurate test of anything. other than peoples nervousness.

Arthur, for what purpose was this video shown to students? I'm not saying it wasn't funny, cause it is. just curious.

[Arthu®]

Arthur, for what purpose was this video shown to students? I'm not saying it wasn't funny, cause it is. just curious.

We were comparing the US school system to the Dutch school system and that in theory you guys should have more years of general education. We have to chose a direction much earlier. The video wasn't really part of the program, but she got it send to her a day before and thought it would be funny to show, that even though in theory you should have more common knowledge and yet are known for the fact to know little about the rest of the world, etc. I am not saying it is true, we have a lot of dumb people here in Holland, even at the universities.

BTW I usually think a lot clearer when in front of group, nervous as hell before though, but when I eventually stand there it just flows out of my mouth and actually makes sense... Amazes me everytime

Arthur

[mikepmcs]

Arthur,
I honestly think that what you will find here is people are content to just live in this country and not really venture to learn other cultures in general.  Not saying its right or wrong as I'm pretty happy here myself, but, It seems countries other than the US are more apt to teach US culture in their schools and not the other way around.  Being in the military, I've seen many other countries and appreciated the education I received about them through inchop briefs and my own research.  I guess in that right, other countries education systems are a little more advanced in, at least, that respect. 

I know it's unfortunate in a way, but that is the mentality here in the US.  I like my own back yard so to speak.

v/r
Mike

[Arthu®]

Why would it be unfortunate, for the average joe it is useless information they will likely never have to deal with foreign countries or cultures as everything they need is in their own country. The difference is, is that we can't, there is no way I could get away with not knowing anything about at least the countries surrounding me in order to make a living. If I want to be anything in a corporate position knowledge about the other cultures is everything.

I even have a class (Dress to impress) that teaches you the etiquette and manners used by some of the most imporatant trading blocks we deal with. The US, Middle East and Asia basically.

Don't worry we have the back yard mentality as well, the small town I lived in for 10 years of my life, most people there will live there until they die. It's not my cup of tea, but you can be sure that their english is the worst, they are afraid of anything foreign and weird. It's sad in my eyes, but hey whatever makes one happy right?

Arthur

[GTX]

On the other hand I'm not sure that a lot of people outside of the U.S really appreciate the size and complexity of this country. We have states that are larger than some countries.
I have a few friends in Germany and a couple other countries and I'm always surprised at how little they know about us. People think we are easy to understand but you could spend a lifetime  learning to understand American history and culture. I sort of snicker at some foreigners arrogance thinking they 'know' America.

People  know that we have 50 states but do they know the capitals or should they? Do they really understand American government? You'd be surprised how many think they do but don't.
Many don't seem to understand the regional differences and different dialects. Just as anywhere else we have vastly different groups of people in one country and each has a slightly different culture but are one nation.

Here is anther example, one friend wants to come and drive a rental car from L.A or S.F, to Vegas  through the southwest and all the way into Florida and thinks it can be done with sightseeing trips along the way in 3 or 4 days. This is not a stupid guy either and he knows that the U.S is pretty much a continent but there is really no way to drive from L.A to Florida and see much of anything. He just doesn't understand how many miles that really is.

My point is that this is a huge country here and there is a whole lot to it which may be partly why some people are content to just stay here and may or may not really even care about the other side of the continent let alone the planet.
I'm a little offended by people calling us dumb but we sort of are in respect to the rest of world but then the world is sort of dumb in respect to the complexity of America too.



P.S

I didn't take offense to the original post.
 

[mikepmcs]

On that note

The state of Florida is bigger than England!


v/r
Mike

[Dodge Don]

The USA is large, but if you ever get a chance to visit Russia....now that is a huge country. Coming from Canada (second largest country in the world) I was shocked at the scale of Russia. Been there twice. Loved it. If you ever get the chance...go.