Are Americans really this stupid?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:OP is more ignorant than the people she is mocking. They are going out to explore the world, while OP prides herself on trivia.

https://fs.blog/richard-feynman-knowing-something/

OP here. As others have pointed out, knowing the names of the two oceans that border our country is not trivia (or trivial), but just basic information that any fully functioning American adult (or child for that matter) should know. But you’re right, I’m sure she could have delivered a lecture on ocean currents, tidal basins and other matters related to oceanography.

Why would it have to be oceanography? Maybe she could have delivered a lecture on the soil food web, or the different classifications of curly hair types, or performed open heart surgery, or told you the best cleaning agents for every possible stain on every possible surface. But she couldn’t remember if the ocean she has never seen before is called the Atlantic or the Pacific, so she’s stupid and you’re smart. Congratulations. Here’s your prize.

Because everyone who graduates highschool should know the names and locations of continents and oceans FFS.

Why?

Why know anything? Why even learn your own name?

Why not respond to a very simple question with rhetorical questions rather than take the time to think about it?

Why can't you respond to questions? It cuts both ways.

I asked the question first. And, more importantly, I asked the person making the claim to explain their reasoning. You are asking the equivalent of “well how do YOU know God DOESN’T exist?!”

You (or a different PP) said that “everyone who graduates high school should know the names and locations of continents and oceans”. Can you even explain what a continent is? Where does one continent end and another begin? What an ocean is? Where does one ocean end and another begin? What is the purpose of these designations?

And then explain why those of us who graduated high school 20 years ago would have named four oceans while those graduating high school now will name five? And yet, at the time of graduation, we were all “correct”? Did a brand new ocean spring out of the ether?

I graduated from HS in '94 and could have definitely named the Atlantic, maybe the Pacific, and wouldn't have known two others. I could not have named the continents. Public school on Long Island, NY.

That stuff isn’t on the Regents? This seems to me amazing. I graduated from HS in the 90s is a shit state people here make fun of, public school throughout, and definitely could have named the continents. I remember having tests where we needed to label all the states and all the countries in the western hemisphere. I can’t remember all those countries now but could at least get the big ones. We also had to learn largest lakes, tallest mountains etc. Lake Titicaca, I will remember to my dying day.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Yes.

When I moved here from Pittsburgh for a job, I told my new DC & MD colleagues at work that I was from PA.

What part? Pittsburgh.

Oh cool, I know someone from Philly...maybe you know them...their name is XYZ.

Seriously.

To be fair that's a lot of P-words to keep track of.

lol...it really is. Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania. Philadelphia.
It's too much.
Why do we need to know them all anyway?
My brain can't take it.

Lots of east coasters F up Michigan, Milwaukee, and Minnesota too.

They probably can’t even label the Great Lakes correctly either. Or worse, they think they should be able to see across them.

Ugh. Idiots.

+1

Milwaukee in Minnesota?

MMMMMMMMM somewhere over there.

[Anonymous]

There are small slivers of US society on the East and West coasts that are highly educated, well travelled and have a nuanced understanding of the world outside of the USA.

Then there are swathes of morons populating the rest of the country who don't have passports, have never studied a map and have a very poor reading and math ability. Most of the country, this group.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It’s almost like the Department of Education hasn’t been helpful.

It's almost like DOE doesn't produce curriculum. Oh wait, they don't. That's not their job.

So, PP hasn’t read DOE’s mission. It’s more than just “curriculum.”

Oceans and US presidents are part of each state’s curriculum. All these facts mentioned are part of the average curriculum. I don’t know why people don’t know these basic things. Are they a measure of intelligence? Or, evidence of a fine mind? I don’t know. It does appear that we have been going downhill since DOE was established. Correlation? Causation?

DOE is not involved in curriculum or tests, at all. You may as well say "My hair is getting gray and also gray paint is in style. Causation?"

Most people cannot list all the oceans and seas, and that's not new. Most people cannot list all the US presidents, and that's not new either. In both categories, most people can name "the big ones" only. OP described somebody who didn't know one of the big ones, and yes that's a little shocking but it can't really be generalized nor is it the end of the world.

These things are state curricula and tests already. You are correct; DOE doesn’t have a say in those specifics but it doesn’t matter because they are already there. DOE’s mission, in part, is to keep the US education system strong. If none these lapses discussed in this thread are new or important, then what’s the point on this thread?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are small slivers of US society on the East and West coasts that are highly educated, well travelled and have a nuanced understanding of the world outside of the USA.

Then there are swathes of morons populating the rest of the country who don't have passports, have never studied a map and have a very poor reading and math ability. Most of the country, this group.

Oh yes, small slivers of the East and West coasts have a nuanced understanding of the world outside the US but no one else. That’s exactly right.

Lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are small slivers of US society on the East and West coasts that are highly educated, well travelled and have a nuanced understanding of the world outside of the USA.

Then there are swathes of morons populating the rest of the country who don't have passports, have never studied a map and have a very poor reading and math ability. Most of the country, this group.

What would you call well traveled?

[Anonymous]

If you've ever worked with the American public, you know there is a large percentage of people who are morons.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Yes, my mother still tells the story of the time she at a very small local lake and heard one woman ask the anther woman if it was low tide or high tide.

Great Lakes have tides.

Are you the stupid American?
Great Lakes are not very small, local lakes.

You don't sound as smart as you think you do. I said Great Lakes have tides. That's all.

In response to the quote about very small local lakes. Nice try.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I live in DC but am originally from Scotland. Back when I was single I went on a date with an American that I met online. Nice guy, but when he complemented me on my English I knew it wouldn’t last.

I work with some Scots. You don't speak English. Even the guys in Reading ask the Scots to repeat themselves.

I agree. That accent is a tough one.
I was in Ireland and had a tough time a few times, as well.

NP, I think it’s you two who OP was taking about. Quintessential American attitude.

DP. No, the accent is notorious.

https://youtu.be/NMS2VnDveP8?si=MK7marvXr3oOYiPr

The Glaswegians like to taunt us with that video.

[Anonymous]

Think of the average person you know. Not too bright, right?
Well, half of the people are stupider than him!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP is more ignorant than the people she is mocking. They are going out to explore the world, while OP prides herself on trivia.

https://fs.blog/richard-feynman-knowing-something/

OP here. As others have pointed out, knowing the names of the two oceans that border our country is not trivia (or trivial), but just basic information that any fully functioning American adult (or child for that matter) should know. But you’re right, I’m sure she could have delivered a lecture on ocean currents, tidal basins and other matters related to oceanography.

Why would it have to be oceanography? Maybe she could have delivered a lecture on the soil food web, or the different classifications of curly hair types, or performed open heart surgery, or told you the best cleaning agents for every possible stain on every possible surface. But she couldn’t remember if the ocean she has never seen before is called the Atlantic or the Pacific, so she’s stupid and you’re smart. Congratulations. Here’s your prize.

Because everyone who graduates highschool should know the names and locations of continents and oceans FFS.

Why?

Why know anything? Why even learn your own name?

Why not respond to a very simple question with rhetorical questions rather than take the time to think about it?

Why can't you respond to questions? It cuts both ways.

I asked the question first. And, more importantly, I asked the person making the claim to explain their reasoning. You are asking the equivalent of “well how do YOU know God DOESN’T exist?!”

You (or a different PP) said that “everyone who graduates high school should know the names and locations of continents and oceans”. Can you even explain what a continent is? Where does one continent end and another begin? What an ocean is? Where does one ocean end and another begin? What is the purpose of these designations?

And then explain why those of us who graduated high school 20 years ago would have named four oceans while those graduating high school now will name five? And yet, at the time of graduation, we were all “correct”? Did a brand new ocean spring out of the ether?

I graduated from HS in '94 and could have definitely named the Atlantic, maybe the Pacific, and wouldn't have known two others. I could not have named the continents. Public school on Long Island, NY.

That stuff isn’t on the Regents? This seems to me amazing. I graduated from HS in the 90s is a shit state people here make fun of, public school throughout, and definitely could have named the continents. I remember having tests where we needed to label all the states and all the countries in the western hemisphere. I can’t remember all those countries now but could at least get the big ones. We also had to learn largest lakes, tallest mountains etc. Lake Titicaca, I will remember to my dying day.

No idea - I didn't take Regents. We were supposed to learn the states in 7th grade and I was amazed other kids seemed to be able to differentiate the shapes within a blank map. I couldn't even find the state I lived in!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are small slivers of US society on the East and West coasts that are highly educated, well travelled and have a nuanced understanding of the world outside of the USA.

Then there are swathes of morons populating the rest of the country who don't have passports, have never studied a map and have a very poor reading and math ability. Most of the country, this group.

Is that not true of every country in the world? Ever spent time in rural Europe? And I don't mean the pretty touristy areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are small slivers of US society on the East and West coasts that are highly educated, well travelled and have a nuanced understanding of the world outside of the USA.

Then there are swathes of morons populating the rest of the country who don't have passports, have never studied a map and have a very poor reading and math ability. Most of the country, this group.

Is that not true of every country in the world? Ever spent time in rural Europe? And I don't mean the pretty touristy areas.

Pretty much true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP is more ignorant than the people she is mocking. They are going out to explore the world, while OP prides herself on trivia.

https://fs.blog/richard-feynman-knowing-something/

OP here. As others have pointed out, knowing the names of the two oceans that border our country is not trivia (or trivial), but just basic information that any fully functioning American adult (or child for that matter) should know. But you’re right, I’m sure she could have delivered a lecture on ocean currents, tidal basins and other matters related to oceanography.

Why would it have to be oceanography? Maybe she could have delivered a lecture on the soil food web, or the different classifications of curly hair types, or performed open heart surgery, or told you the best cleaning agents for every possible stain on every possible surface. But she couldn’t remember if the ocean she has never seen before is called the Atlantic or the Pacific, so she’s stupid and you’re smart. Congratulations. Here’s your prize.

Because everyone who graduates highschool should know the names and locations of continents and oceans FFS.

Why?

Why know anything? Why even learn your own name?

Why not respond to a very simple question with rhetorical questions rather than take the time to think about it?

Why can't you respond to questions? It cuts both ways.

I asked the question first. And, more importantly, I asked the person making the claim to explain their reasoning. You are asking the equivalent of “well how do YOU know God DOESN’T exist?!”

You (or a different PP) said that “everyone who graduates high school should know the names and locations of continents and oceans”. Can you even explain what a continent is? Where does one continent end and another begin? What an ocean is? Where does one ocean end and another begin? What is the purpose of these designations?

And then explain why those of us who graduated high school 20 years ago would have named four oceans while those graduating high school now will name five? And yet, at the time of graduation, we were all “correct”? Did a brand new ocean spring out of the ether?

I graduated from HS in '94 and could have definitely named the Atlantic, maybe the Pacific, and wouldn't have known two others. I could not have named the continents. Public school on Long Island, NY.

That stuff isn’t on the Regents? This seems to me amazing. I graduated from HS in the 90s is a shit state people here make fun of, public school throughout, and definitely could have named the continents. I remember having tests where we needed to label all the states and all the countries in the western hemisphere. I can’t remember all those countries now but could at least get the big ones. We also had to learn largest lakes, tallest mountains etc. Lake Titicaca, I will remember to my dying day.

No Child left Behind and then Common Core annihilated that all, and customized curricula for the study body, gifted, honors, special needs.

Whomever subscribers to those federal standards, for federal dollars! Most states signed up! And starting in 1999 with NCLB the focus was on state testing math and reading 2-3x a year (instead of every 3 years), send the scores in and get millions of dollars.

Problem was the standards were too many and it needed up pressuring school districts to buy new curricula from retired teachers admins who crafted the standards and pacing.

Massachusetts never signed up.

[Anonymous]

It also obliterated specials like art, band, PE, music. Those stamped meeting 3-5x a week and went to 1-2x to make more time for reading and math and getting all kids testing testing testing well.

That carried on to high school and band and orchestra programs because weak and lacked students