1/5 Of US Can't Find US On Map

[Beowulf]

Miss South Carolina weighs in on the problem:
Help The Iraq! (http://helptheiraq.ytmnd.com/)

[4letterwords]

I cried a little bit.

PS I can't believe that 1/5 of Americans can't locate America on a Map. There's no way that's true.

[Comazon]

Out of those who can't, I wanna know what percentage is from South Carolina. :D

[ruaidhri]

Wow!

I sure hope that's not true. Certainly the people that visit OP9 are not so lacking in basic knowledge. Where do these people come from that don't know the basics of world geography, most notably the global address of their own country. I seriously doubt the accuracy of the quoted "polls" when applied against all Americans throughout the United States.

But then Miss South Carolina apparently is a member of the the oblivious 20 percent.

As my mother would have said, "perhaps if she shut her mouth people wouldn't know how stupid she is."

[Cherub Rock]

There is no way that this is true. I refuse to believe it. If you told me 1/5 can't locate Iraq or Japan or hell, even the state of Florida then I could believe you, but to not be able to pick out the country we live in? It's not like we are some African or European country that is in the middle of some geopolitical log jam. We have almost HALF OF A CONTINENT.

[Beowulf]

National Geographic says it's actually closer to 1/15:
National Geographic Geography Literacy Study (PDF) (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/roper2006/pdf/FINALReport2006GeogLitsurvey.pdf)
The graph showing the results is on page 26 if you want to just skip to it, though I will suggest that you read through the whole thing.

[ruaidhri]

Beowulf, that study is incredibly depressing.

It's little wonder that George W. is our President. We deserve him.

Damn

[vxnine]

because uhh people dont have maps like duhh

[Citizen]

Most of the people who do these polls want depressing results. It's like when you see one of those TV shows with an obnoxious English host who's out to "prove" that "all Americans are stupid". And then they spend 30 minutes picking out the dumbest looking people they can find on the boardwalk.

It could be done with people from any country.

[Black fist]

Ask my brother where the United and he did better than 1/15 of the united states.

[Kaji]

I caught that little clip last night. Once Miss Carolina stated "Well, with most US Americans...", my girlfriend and I were too busy laughing our asses off to hear the rest of what she had to say.

WV was the big winner last night from the bits we saw, though we didn't watch it to the end...

[Excel-2008]

Most of the people who do these polls want depressing results. It's like when you see one of those TV shows with an obnoxious English host who's out to "prove" that "all Americans are stupid". And then they spend 30 minutes picking out the dumbest looking people they can find on the boardwalk.

It could be done with people from any country.
You mean like Jay-Leno?

[whispering]

Most of the people who do these polls want depressing results.
When making poll's the people are chosen random from a specific agegroup. I would assume National Geographic was aiming for truthful results, rather then shocking results.

The Aussie TV show wasnt a "poll", and yea it could have been done in any country.

[japanat]

I honestly believe that 1/15 of Americans (although it feels like 1/5 some days) couldn't find their own asses with both hands, let alone the US on a map. And this young lady sounds like she's definitely part of that minority.


But I actually understood what she meant by US Americans. One of my Canadian friends used to get mad when the Japanese called the US "America": "Canada is part of America, too! North America!" But she overdid the PC when she applied the same rule to nationality.

[RandomPasserby]

Don't you guys have "loads" of almost illiterate people? Maybe they are the ones who can't read "United states of America" part of the world map?

[Candyvan Stan]

I don't believe at all that 1/5th of the Americans are that stupid.

[Roxie]

Don't you guys have "loads" of almost illiterate people?
"Loads"?

[Excel-2008]

I don't believe at all that 1/5th of the Americans are that stupid.
You're right. You have it backwards. 4/5 of Americans are stupid. The other fifth is only slightly stupid.

[Jetsetlemming]

I guess I'm part of the 1/5th. :gloomy: I can't find the US on this map anywheres!
http://www.nationsonline.org/maps/countries_europe_map.jpg
HALP

[RandomPasserby]

Doc, it's there on top of France, making France it's bitch.

Toxic, "loads" as in several millions which are still a small percentage of 300 million (CIA's factbook's 99% literacy amongst adults already gives 3 million 100% illiterates). Wikipedia's literacy page has lots of info about semi-illiterate people not earning more than $2k avg a year as they can't read well enough to get a better job.

[Beowulf]

It could be done with people from any country.
That really just depresses me further...

Beowulf, that study is incredibly depressing.

It's little wonder that George W. is our President. We deserve him.

Damn
Let's not go crazy now.

[Citizen]

Doc, it's there on top of France, making France it's bitch.

Toxic, "loads" as in several millions which are still a small percentage of 300 million (CIA's factbook's 99% literacy amongst adults already gives 3 million 100% illiterates). Wikipedia's literacy page has lots of info about semi-illiterate people not earning more than $2k avg a year as they can't read well enough to get a better job.

I just read the article on literacy. It was horrible. It was one of the most non-NPOV articles I've ever seen on Wiki. The section on illiteracy, in particular, wasn't even written like an encyclopedia entry. It's no surprise that it was removed from the good articles list.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literacy

For anyone who wants to check it out for themselves.

When making poll's the people are chosen random from a specific agegroup. I would assume National Geographic was aiming for truthful results, rather then shocking results.

The Aussie TV show wasnt a "poll", and yea it could have been done in any country.

It'd be nice if what you said is true, but sadly, it's not. Slant can be added to a poll, just like anything else. Such as straw polls. And while I'm sure that the National Geographic poll was, in fact, unbiased and properly conducted, many are not.

[Excel-2008]

http://www.maniacworld.com/what-is-she-talking-about.html

[Jetsetlemming]

According to this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Literacy_rate_world.svg
The US literacy rate is the same as Europe's (except for Portugal's, which is fail).

[RandomPasserby]

According to this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Literacy_rate_world.svg
The US literacy rate is the same as Europe's (except for Portugal's, which is fail).
Yeah, I was talking about semi-illiterates not being able to read maps, not totally illiterates.

Anyway Citizen, the wikipedia article just reminded me of the semi-illiterates in USA(studies about literacy in USA are in the news here too).

[Jetsetlemming]

As if Europe doesn't have "semi-illiterates"? :P

Every time I hear a European trying to paint Americans as stupid, I think back to all the footage I've seen of soccer holligans and the Paris riots that occured when the government had the audacity to make it possible for private employers to fire employees. :3

[Roxie]

I envy their passion en mass.

[RandomPasserby]

As if Europe doesn't have "semi-illiterates"? :P

Every time I hear a European trying to paint Americans as stupid, I think back to all the footage I've seen of soccer holligans and the Paris riots that occured when the government had the audacity to make it possible for private employers to fire employees. :3
Like I said, the semi-illiterates were my answer to how some can't find USA on the map. not about us vs. eu. Uk and Poland have loads of illiterates.

[Citizen]

Semi-illiterates can read hundreds to thousands of words, and being semi-illiterate doesn't keep you from being able to recognize shapes and general locations.

So I'm guessing semi-illiteracy probably doesn't have much to do with people not being able to locate the USA.

[RandomPasserby]

Semi-illiterates can read hundreds to thousands of words, and being semi-illiterate doesn't keep you from being able to recognize shapes and general locations.

So I'm guessing semi-illiteracy probably doesn't have much to do with people not being able to locate the USA.
How can you learn to read if you can't find your country on the map?

[Citizen]

What does that have to do with anything I said?

You referenced semi-illiterates, saying that they may not be able to find the USA on a map. I pointed out that being semi-literate implies that you can, at the very least, read several hundred words, making it unlikely that semi-illiterates are the problem, and that they probably can find their countries on a map. Semi-illiteracy isn't the same as illiteracy. Semi-illiteracy implies that they can read, just not very well yet.

So I'm not entirely sure what you're trying to ask or what point you're trying to make.

And for the record, people don't learn to read from maps. That doesn't even make sense.

[whispering]

Every time I hear a European trying to paint Americans as stupid, I think back to all the footage I've seen of soccer holligans and the Paris riots that occured when the government had the audacity to make it possible for private employers to fire employees. :3
No, they made it possible to fire for no apparent reason, if my rights were ripped away, id probably go to the streets too.

Anyway, there are 1% of illiterate people in US (definition: age 15 and over can read and write), AFAIK those are mostly immigrants?

[Kaji]

No, they made it possible to fire for no apparent reason, if my rights were ripped away, id probably go to the streets too.

There's no such thing as a right to work. It's not the government's job to tell private employers how to run their companies; as long as they're staying within the bounds of anti-discrimination laws, let them fire whomever they want for whatever reason. If they abuse that right, they'll eventually fail, anyway.

[Roxie]

Uh Kaji, remember there subject is France.

[Kaji]

I know, principle still applies, though.

[h2orowe]

I guess I'm part of the 1/5th. :gloomy: I can't find the US on this map anywheres!
http://www.nationsonline.org/maps/countries_europe_map.jpg
HALP
It makes me sad that I can identify where all the Northern European countries are =[ I can identify SOME Southern European countries, like Spain, Portugal, and Italy, but I can't shit for Western besides maybe Germany, and I can't do shit for Eastern besides Russia. D; Damn me and my love for Scandinavians.

[Jetsetlemming]

It makes me sad that I can identify where all the Northern European countries are =[ I can identify SOME Southern European countries, like Spain, Portugal, and Italy, but I can't shit for Western besides maybe Germany, and I can't do shit for Eastern besides Russia. D; Damn me and my love for Scandinavians.
PSSST! JOEY!












They map is marked with the names over the countries!

[Candyvan Stan]

It makes me sad that I can identify where all the Northern European countries are =[ I can identify SOME Southern European countries, like Spain, Portugal, and Italy, but I can't shit for Western besides maybe Germany, and I can't do shit for Eastern besides Russia. D; Damn me and my love for Scandinavians.


Wow. You do suck at geography. ;p

[Shuft]

I guess I'm part of the 1/5th. :gloomy: I can't find the US on this map anywheres!
(map of middle earth)
HALP
If it's not on Risk (the board game), I don't know where it is. I can find Kamchatka, but not Turkey.

[h2orowe]

PSSST! JOEY!












They map is marked with the names over the countries!
I meant on a map without the names ;p like if someone were to hand me a blank map and go "Find Finland" I'd find it, then Russia's to the right, Sweden to the left. Then under Sweden is Denmark, and to the left of Sweden is Norway. Then the little island to the left or Norway is Iceland. Then the other island in northern Europe is the U.K. Then under Denmark is Germany. Then at the bottom left of Europe there's Portugal which is the small thing to the left of Spain. Then above that is France. The boot is Italy. ;)

[whispering]

There's no such thing as a right to work. It's not the government's job to tell private employers how to run their companies; as long as they're staying within the bounds of anti-discrimination laws, let them fire whomever they want for whatever reason. If they abuse that right, they'll eventually fail, anyway.
Yeah, viva la corporate America.

I however i'm glad i can build up a future and depend on the fact that i have a fairly stabil income, and they cant fire me just because they feel like it. But hey, doing 2-3 jobs just to pay the bills, getting fired for the smallest things or if the employer just doesnt like you, can be good too? Each to their own.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4897820.stm
How stupid can people be, fighting for their rights and stuff :rolleyes:

[Trump]

It is easy to skew the results of a poll like this. All they have to do is go to an area that doesn't focus education as much. Not to be stereotypical, but I'm sure there are some farming communities around where people honestly don't care where the US is on the map because they are never going to leave their parents farm. Take a poll outside the general store and the results would probably be worse than 1/5. On the other hand, ask people in a college town outside the university and it would be skewed the other way. The other question you need to ask is whether these people care if they can find the US on a map. If people don't care they won't remember.

Oh, and this is why beauty pagents are sterotyped... sigh...

[Daishikaze]

True, I watched a Jeremy Clarkson video where he went Las Vegas and asked people if they could name any European countries, and no one could. Problem is, it was Las Vegas at night, and I'll bet it was a friday, so everyone was probably hammered already. So the results shouldn't have been surprising.

[Excel-2008]

I never took geography in high school. I took and barely passed AP Human Geography. I'm sure I couldn't located the United States on a non-US-centric map.

[Your Mom]

(except for Portugal's, which is fail).
Have you ever tried reading Portuguese?

And I feel special because I was an over-achiever in elementary school and have a fairly decent grasp of world geography. 8D

Except for most of Africa.
But they don't count, because they change their countries like every other week. ];

[4letterwords]

I never took geography in high school. I took and barely passed AP Human Geography. I'm sure I couldn't located the United States on a non-US-centric map.

You've gotta be freaking kidding me.

[Your Mom]

http://wps.ablongman.com/wps/media/objects/579/592970/BlankMaps/World%20Map.gif
Readysetgo.

[Ivor's Tinfoil Bandana]

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/7021/worldmapgm7.gif

:watson: :watson:

[Candyvan Stan]

I meant on a map without the names ;p like if someone were to hand me a blank map and go "Find Finland" I'd find it, then Russia's to the right, Sweden to the left. Then under Sweden is Denmark, and to the left of Sweden is Norway. Then the little island to the left or Norway is Iceland. Then the other island in northern Europe is the U.K. Then under Denmark is Germany. Then at the bottom left of Europe there's Portugal which is the small thing to the left of Spain. Then above that is France. The boot is Italy. ;)

Congratulations, here's a C+ for your 4th grade geography test! ;p

[Black fist]

Have you ever tried reading Portuguese?

And I feel special because I was an over-achiever in elementary school and have a fairly decent grasp of world geography. 8D

Except for most of Africa.
But they don't count, because they change their countries like every other week. ];
We had a spelling test on all the countries in Africa in fourth grade. I failed real hard because it was also a geography test.

[4letterwords]

When I was in fifth grade we had to not only name the European countries, but there weren't territory lines drawn.

It didn't stick, cause I think I know where Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Portugal, and Croatia are. I know the general area of some others though ;).

[Citizen]

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/570/usagn1.jpg

[Eddie Echoplex]

When I was in fifth grade we had to not only name the European countries, but there weren't territory lines drawn.

It didn't stick, cause I think I know where Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Portugal, and Croatia are. I know the general area of some others though ;).

But where's Andorra?.

[Excel-2008]

I've found that one of the best ways to make your user interface much more classy is to put a backdrop of a monochromatic world map on it.

[phenyl]

Well, it's not that hard to locate the US:

http://home.arcor.de/xelnaga/america-sees-world.jpg

or

http://frecklescassie.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/consumer-map.jpg

and also some US-local geography can be taught easily:

according to Reagan

http://strangemaps.files.wordpress.com/2006/11/800px-reagan-digitised-poster.JPG

or according to Japan:

http://www.yukihime.com/photos/060131/tm4-map-annotated.jpg

Now, we've learned something today... :dj:

[Cherub Rock]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/crocmike24/WorldMap.png

US is the one eatin' Cuba.

[rainman]

or according to Japan:

http://www.yukihime.com/photos/060131/tm4-map-annotated.jpg

Reminds me of those Disney amusement park maps.

[Jay]

Have you ever tried reading Portuguese?

Uh, honey, it should be fairly straightforward for those people born in Portugal.

But don't worry about the poll, it just shows that 90-94% of Portuguese... err... what's that word again... oh yeah, natives... funny word, that... are literate.

Portuguese natives.

People born and bred in Portugal.

Geddit?

But where's Andorra?.

Tiny little buttfuck country that always does well in Eurovision, sandwiched in between France and Spain. I think my hometown covers more sq km than Andorra. :D

[Jetsetlemming]

Uh, honey, it should be fairly straightforward for those people born in Portugal.

But don't worry about the poll, it just shows that 90-94% of Portuguese... err... what's that word again... oh yeah, natives... funny word, that... are literate.

Portuguese natives.

People born and bred in Portugal.

Geddit?
Jay doesn't get humor. :O


Also, I love how Japan is in the shape of a car in the Reagan world. :watson:

[Mastiker]

In eleventh grade I took Honors World history... I thought "Hey, and honors course... this'll be full of smart and educated people."

Our first day we had to fill in a map of Europe and America... I was one of the only three people that finished it in class, and a lot of people were still stuck on American states. Someone had forgotten how to spell Massachusetts -_-;;

So... I can believe that 1/5th or 1/15th, whatever the number is... can't find the U.S. on a map =_(

[Roxie]

I'm pretty good at geography.

But yeah, all I could think about Andorra was "western Europe?"
I do have trouble with some of the west-mid-west states.

[Excel-2008]

In eleventh grade I took Honors World history... I thought "Hey, and honors course... this'll be full of smart and educated people."

Our first day we had to fill in a map of Europe and America... I was one of the only three people that finished it in class, and a lot of people were still stuck on American states. Someone had forgotten how to spell Massachusetts -_-;;

So... I can believe that 1/5th or 1/15th, whatever the number is... can't find the U.S. on a map =_(
As an AP Human Geography student, I know exactly what you mean.

[Citizen]

Our first day we had to fill in a map of Europe and America... I was one of the only three people that finished it in class, and a lot of people were still stuck on American states. Someone had forgotten how to spell Massachusetts -_-;;

So... I can believe that 1/5th or 1/15th, whatever the number is... can't find the U.S. on a map =_(

Not being able to remember all of Europe, which is full of microstates, and how to spell Massachusetts (not that anyone cares about Massachusetts) is still quite a bit different than not being able to find your own country on a map.

And Andorra is a fun little place. It's one of those microstates near France that has one of the highest standards of living in the world due to tourism and being full of rich people. Like Monaco. In fact, at the moment, Andorra has the highest life expectancy in the world.

So remember, kids. Don't move to France, move to one of the microstates near France. If you can afford it.

[Knife-Fingered Sue Sanderson]

In eleventh grade I took Honors World history... I thought "Hey, and honors course... this'll be full of smart and educated people."

Our first day we had to fill in a map of Europe and America... I was one of the only three people that finished it in class, and a lot of people were still stuck on American states. Someone had forgotten how to spell Massachusetts -_-;;

So... I can believe that 1/5th or 1/15th, whatever the number is... can't find the U.S. on a map =_(


Not everyone finds geography to be the most interesting or useful subject. I wouldn't necessarily chide someone for not being able to fill out a map of the U.S. states or of Europe. If you're not looking at maps everyday, or if you find more interest in studying other subjects, what's the big deal? Once you start specializing into majors or subjects that interest you, it's a lot harder to remember things like that. I just took the GRE the other day (like the SAT's, but for grad school) and the math section for it is ridiculously easy. But I hadn't seen the material for years and before hand had to re-learn how to find the area of circle and stuff like that.

*I'm just talking about filling out the maps, not finding the U.S.

[Lea]

My uncle is in his 40s and can't read because he has dyslexia. Yet he made it through high school... or at least I think he did. The system wins!

And about someone forgetting how to spell Massachusetts... I'm a pretty bad speller so I could see myself doing that. If that incident actually happened in Massachusetts, well then... That's kind of dumb. Other than that though, I'm actually pretty good at geography.

[Eddie Echoplex]

Tiny little buttfuck country that always does well in Eurovision, sandwiched in between France and Spain. I think my hometown covers more sq km than Andorra. :D

Yup. Hell, my state is bigger than Andorra. But then again, I'm sure the andorrans live better. Lucky bastards... :bored: .

[Fermented Yeast Paste]

In eleventh grade I took Honors World history... I thought "Hey, and honors course... this'll be full of smart and educated people."

Our first day we had to fill in a map of Europe and America... I was one of the only three people that finished it in class, and a lot of people were still stuck on American states. Someone had forgotten how to spell Massachusetts -_-;;

So... I can believe that 1/5th or 1/15th, whatever the number is... can't find the U.S. on a map =_(
Had you said the last day of class I would understand what you mean, but since it was the first day I'm willing to give many of those students the benefit of a doubt. You go to a class like that to learn.

[Mastiker]

Not being able to remember all of Europe, which is full of microstates, and how to spell Massachusetts (not that anyone cares about Massachusetts) is still quite a bit different than not being able to find your own country on a map.

It gave all the names to every country we had to fill in... we just had to find them and put them on. Not only did we have our books to use, but um... most people couldn't point out Europe...

And I live in Massachusetts. The school is in Massachusetts. Every single student in my class has lived in Massachusetts their entire life. I hold it on the same level ^.^



Not everyone finds geography to be the most interesting or useful subject. I wouldn't necessarily chide someone for not being able to fill out a map of the U.S. states or of Europe. If you're not looking at maps everyday, or if you find more interest in studying other subjects, what's the big deal? Once you start specializing into majors or subjects that interest you, it's a lot harder to remember things like that. I just took the GRE the other day (like the SAT's, but for grad school) and the math section for it is ridiculously easy. But I hadn't seen the material for years and before hand had to re-learn how to find the area of circle and stuff like that.

*I'm just talking about filling out the maps, not finding the U.S.

That's the thing; in my school you not only have to pick Honors courses on your own free will, but you have to be suggested for it and submit an essay of some sort. These kids should know a LITTLE bit on the subject of filling in maps... especially by eleventh grade. The teacher gave us the assignment because it was something we had all done before in middle school and elementary and wanted us to have it as a warm up.


And about someone forgetting how to spell Massachusetts... I'm a pretty bad speller so I could see myself doing that. If that incident actually happened in Massachusetts, well then... That's kind of dumb. Other than that though, I'm actually pretty good at geography.

As stated above, I live in MA... =3


Had you said the last day of class I would understand what you mean, but since it was the first day I'm willing to give many of those students the benefit of a doubt. You go to a class like that to learn.

But it's not the first day of middle school, where geography is mandatory and chances are they won't know it.

World History Honors. We had to choose it and be accepted, and the assignment was meant as a warm-up. Some kids had trouble remembering the capitol of 49 of the states... only remembering Boston is the capitol of Massachusetts because they'd been there once or twice -_-;;

[Citizen]

most people couldn't point out Europe

I'll take your word for it on the other stuff, but I refuse to believe that that part is true. I live in a little hick town in Wisconsin and even the biggest retards in my normal (I never took honors or AP anything) geography classes could at least find every continent and the major countries (USA, Mexico, Canada, Russia, UK, France, Spain, Australia, China, Japan, etc.)

And if, by some horrifying turn of events, it is true, then I suppose I should be happy, because that must mean my area has a pretty good educational system.

[stsparky]

Stupid people are everywhere.

I'm a geography nerd. I have old maps from the National Geographic with old radio relay naval ship station locations.

[Mastiker]

I'll take your word for it on the other stuff, but I refuse to believe that that part is true. I live in a little hick town in Wisconsin and even the biggest retards in my normal (I never took honors or AP anything) geography classes could at least find every continent and the major countries (USA, Mexico, Canada, Russia, UK, France, Spain, Australia, China, Japan, etc.)

And if, by some horrifying turn of events, it is true, then I suppose I should be happy, because that must mean my area has a pretty good educational system.

DAMNIT I meant England >.< Here I am trying to be all high and mighty about being smarter than my class and I screw up Europe with England... Still pretty farfetched, but it's true. The educational systems in some of the highly populated areas was worse than the ones with less population. I guess it has something to do with overcrowding classrooms, underpaid teachers, and a multitude of other things, but a lot of people in my area simply aren't educated, especially about things in other countries.

[Your Mom]

DAMNIT I meant England >.< Here I am trying to be all high and mighty about being smarter than my class and I screw up Europe with England...
You mean there's a difference?! O:

[Mastiker]

You mean there's a difference?! O:

I KNO rite?

[Pierrot le Fou]

I'm awesome at geography, but I doubt I could find us on a map. We're too small!

ETA: And moving!

[japanat]

I'm awesome at geography, but I doubt I could find us on a map. We're too small!

ETA: And moving!
You could probably find me: I'm large and unmoving :whoops:

[Pierrot le Fou]

Yes, but "1/5 of ME can't find ME on a map" doesn't make a very good thread title, now does it?

[Shuft]

...Human Geography...Isn't that just Anatomy?

[Citizen]

Isn't that just Anatomy?

No. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_geography)

[Knife-Fingered Sue Sanderson]

I live in a little hick town in Wisconsin

:clap:

[Citizen]

Ew, get out of my state.

[Trump]

Not everyone finds geography to be the most interesting or useful subject. I wouldn't necessarily chide someone for not being able to fill out a map of the U.S. states or of Europe. If you're not looking at maps everyday, or if you find more interest in studying other subjects, what's the big deal? Once you start specializing into majors or subjects that interest you, it's a lot harder to remember things like that. I just took the GRE the other day (like the SAT's, but for grad school) and the math section for it is ridiculously easy. But I hadn't seen the material for years and before hand had to re-learn how to find the area of circle and stuff like that.

*I'm just talking about filling out the maps, not finding the U.S.

Heh, GRE...

I got that and all of the sudden had to do long division without a calculator. Wow.... that was a wakeup call.

[Knife-Fingered Sue Sanderson]

Ew, get out of my state.


I was here first, punk.

[Citizen]

Yeah, but I'm more important.

[Knife-Fingered Sue Sanderson]

Wait, shouldn't we be fighting who gets to leave Wisconsin?...

I mean, if you want to stay, go right ahead. I'm moving anyway :innocent:

[Citizen]

Why would I want to leave? I'm not a trendfag, so I have no desire to go to Cali, Florida, or New York. I'm not a weeaboo, so I have no desire to go to Japan. And I'm not an angsty teen, so I have no reason to want to leave America because bush iz stoopit.

It's a nice, calm blue state. Not too far right or too far left.

[Knife-Fingered Sue Sanderson]

...I mean that it's too cold.

[Citizen]

I never even considered that. The cold never bothered me. I go out in a t-shirt, jeans, sneakers and an unzipped Fall jacket in Winter.

[Knife-Fingered Sue Sanderson]

I don't like having to unbury my car, and driving in snow scares me. Come winter, I'm a hermit.

[stsparky]

Why would I want to leave? I'm not a trendfag, so I have no desire to go to Cali, Florida, or New York. I'm not a weeaboo, so I have no desire to go to Japan. And I'm not an angsty teen, so I have no reason to want to leave America because bush iz stoopit. It's a nice, calm blue state. Not too far right or too far left.

Come here bc Bush is evil - the bad kind though - no cookies.

Tube Map (http://www.boingboing.net/2007/08/29/tube-map-for-miss-sc.html)

http://www.morningtoast.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads//missmap.gif
Many BoingBoing readers sent in copies of this lovely Tube Map, composed for Miss South Carolina after her most inspirational speech at a recent beauty pageant about the people of Iraq and Such As. Link to full-size at Morning Toast blog, and better grab a hanky before you watch that video Mark posted earlier. (thanks, Method77, Nev Cornforth, Rick P.)

[Citizen]

Stop having a picture for every situation. D:

[h2orowe]

Congratulations, here's a C+ for your 4th grade geography test! ;p
I still know more than 95% of my school :D Only country they'd be able to find other than the US, Mexico, or Canada is Vietnam because they were born there ;) Lawl.

[RandomPasserby]

Btw. I'm betting that the way you guys make fun of the words "U.S. americans" killed the canadian carrot top and the only mexican we had here. Neither have posted in a while.

[Fermented Yeast Paste]

Btw. I'm betting that the way you guys make fun of the words "U.S. americans" killed the canadian carrot top and the only mexican we had here. Neither have posted in a while.
People from the United States are Americans. What do you want us to call ourselves? Columbians?

[RandomPasserby]

I meant the "haha, no need to use the US infront of American, Americans are all from USA!"-type mocking, Fermy. Calling yourself americans is totally fine, thinking that americans means only citizens of USA (this is how I understood the "haha, she said U.S. americans!") isn't not fine.

[Jetsetlemming]

Americans does only mean citizens of USA. The name for Canadians and Mexicans (oh look I just used them :O!) and all those wonderful south american peoples is different. We called American first, nah nah nah. Silly foreigners. ;O

[Knife-Fingered Sue Sanderson]

Americans does only mean citizens of USA. The name for Canadians and Mexicans (oh look I just used them :O!) and all those wonderful south american peoples is different. We called American first, nah nah nah. Silly foreigners. ;O


Well, to be more specific, as far as North America goes, the U.S. is the only country with the word "america" in it. I could understand Canadians and Mexican being upset if someone said "North Americans" and someone else thought it implied only people from the U.S., but if you're just saying "Americans" than yes, it pretty much means people from the United States of America.

[RandomPasserby]

Hmm.. well, I decided to try to see if if I had just prejudices from reading this forum and check the word on wikipedia and various online dictionaries.
American
[Show phonetics]
noun, adjective [C]
(a person) of or coming from the United States, or of or coming from North America or South America

Is what they said. Wikipedia said that it's better that you don't use "American " at least when talking spanish in Latin America also. It also said that quebecians get pissed off if you call them Americans?

This was aimed only at JSL, Knifey is too pretty to be argued with.

[stsparky]

Stop Making Fun (http://fakesteve.blogspot.com/2007/08/stop-making-fun-of-this-young-woman.html)

Really. It's just wrong. People are sending this video all over the Internet and laughing at her and I think it's just deeply wrong. So please. Stop the hate. I beg you.

[Roxie]

I guess, I didn't say here, but I think that question itself was aweful.

[Excel-2008]

As is your spelling.

[Excel-2008]

Stop Making Fun (http://fakesteve.blogspot.com/2007/08/stop-making-fun-of-this-young-woman.html)

Really. It's just wrong. People are sending this video all over the Internet and laughing at her and I think it's just deeply wrong. So please. Stop the hate. I beg you.
I have to agree with this. It isn't that funny and it's just asking too much to expect a beauty pageant contestant to be able to speak at length about this in the first place.

[Roxie]

As is your spelling.
Ah yes, but I'm not asking anyone for anything.

I state again, the question was simply horrid.

[Trump]

I'm sad this was still making the CNN news almost a week later. I didn't think it was news to start with but it has just gotten out of hand.

[Ichisan]

I can't fathom how anyone could be unable to find their own country on a map.

[Y.T.]

Duh.

I bet more than one 1/5 of my countrymen wouldn't be able to find my own country on a blind map of Europe.

Even though they see the shape every evening when they view weather forecats, at least the half million Gypsies wouldn't connect it, and we have
an ample pool of other idiots too (chiefly the people who elevated the current most loathsome slimeball to the post of premier) ..

But .. US is renowned for the lack of geographical acumen on part of its inhabitants. My uncle swears he played chess over the 'net with someone
who claimed to be a geography teacher from the US and could'nt even say
which continent Slovakia is on ...

[Civilization Phrase III]

I laughed at that beauty pageant vid. I'm obviously a horrible person.