Americans, is it really this bad?

[thearabianmage]

But you would no longer have a clip, you would have a movie. Hmmm.

But is it fair to say it would be far better representative of the Average American than asking random Joe's in the street?

---Edit---
America is a large country, after all. How can the knowledge of a few individuals fairly represent 300+ million??

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

And would you care to share the rest of your study, so all of us can see the facts in what you are saying?

Facts, I don't need no sticking facts.

----------------------------------------------------------

http://www.cnn.com/2006/EDUCATION/05/02/geog.test/


http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2007-03-07-teaching-religion-cover_N.htm

-----------------------------------------------------------

Arabian Mage. I agree. I would love to see a serious study on this.

On the other hand, I don't see the need for shame in any comments in this thread so far.

By the way, my brother & sister are both fatheads of sorts, but my Mom & Dad are not. So it is not all about education as we went to the same high school.

There are people all over the world that don't care to learn about others, but that doesn't stop them from making false pronouncements as if they were the truth.

America is a large country, after all. How can the knowledge of a few individuals fairly represent 300+ million??

Hey, now you're having a go at polls!

 

[thearabianmage]

Facts, I don't need no sticking facts.

----------------------------------------------------------

http://www.cnn.com/2006/EDUCATION/05/02/geog.test/


http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2007-03-07-teaching-religion-cover_N.htm

It's still got to be said - this is representative of a small group of people.

I made a point 5 minutes ago about America having a population of over 300,000,000 people. Not including Mexicans. Is asking 10 people, 20 people, even 1,000 people a 'truly representative' approach to diagnosing an entire society with ignorance?

 

[thearabianmage]

On the other hand, I don't see the need for shame in any comments in this thread so far.

No, I don't think there is any shame here, either. This is all just good friendly discussion :beer:

 

[just strum]

Facts, I don't need no sticking facts.

----------------------------------------------------------

http://www.cnn.com/2006/EDUCATION/05/02/geog.test/


http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2007-03-07-teaching-religion-cover_N.htm

-----------------------------------------------------------

Arabian Mage. I agree. I would love to see a serious study on this.

On the other hand, I don't see the need for shame in any comments in this thread so far.

By the way, my brother & sister are both fatheads of sorts, but my Mom & Dad are not. So it is not all about education as we went to the same high school.

There are people all over the world that don't care to learn about others, but that doesn't stop them from making false pronouncements as if they were the truth.

I must work with the only smart people in America because no one I work with seems to have difficulty identifying countries and the different parts of the world.

Oh, I should note that in addition to work, I am a member of this forum that contains a number of Rhode Scholars, but then again this is a mix of several countries, so the US might be excluded again.

BTW, what country begins with a "T" or an "A"?

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

Here are two good questions to ask those around you given it's importance to our foreign policy right now.

Is Iran an Arabic country?

What language do they speak in Iran?

 

[just strum]

Here are two good questions to ask those around you given it's importance to our foreign policy right now.

Is Iran an Arabic country?

What language do they speak in Iran?

Give me a break. If they don't know this, we can assume they are dumb Americans or dumb Canadians or dumb...

No

Persian

I think you are hell bent on proving people as stupid.

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

Give me a break. If they don't know this, we can assume they are dumb Americans or dumb Canadians or dumb...

No

Persian

I think you are hell bent on proving people as stupid.

You've certainly gotten the whole intent wrong, maybe a few smilies were called for, but I didn't think that you needed them.

They are good & important questions & are not intended to label people dumb in any way.

I've asked these questions of people & have been surprised to find that some think that Iran is an Arabic country.

Strum, I am not hell-bent on anything.

Half-bent or fully-bent or just bent in general that goes without saying, but hell-bent. Nope, that's not really part of my alien genetic makeup.

All abooOOOOAAAaarrd.

It's time to move on.

 

[Spudman]

Why don't you folks just go conduct your own study? Get a set of what you feel are simple easy to answer questions and start polling people and for the next few weeks keep a tally of how they do and then fill us in.

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

Why don't you folks just go conduct your own study? Get a set of what you feel are simple easy to answer questions and start polling people and for the next few weeks keep a tally of how they do and then fill us in.

That is a good idea Spud, but I'm too busy as I've got a train to catch...

 

[just strum]

I'll just file this under life is too short. By expressing an opinion or taking a different stand I feel as if I am being thought of as trying to stir something up. I forgot opinions around here are only good if they go with the majority or the rulers.

So life is too short.

So, what strings are the best for a guitar?

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Ok Strum, take a breath buddy. I do not think anyone intentionally disregarded your views. I think there has been some respectful discussion and disagreement. Your views are welcome as far as I am concerned. However, not everyone will agree with any one member's views.

The thread was really intended (according to Robert's statement) to be a bit funny.

 

[just strum]

Ok Strum, take a breath buddy. I do not think anyone intentionally disregarded your views. I think there has been some respectful discussion and disagreement. Your views are welcome as far as I am concerned. However, not everyone will agree with any one member's views.

The thread was really intended (according to Robert's statement) to be a bit funny.

Steve, like I said earlier, I thought the video was/is funny, but it was the comments that I was responding to. It's really that simple.

 

[thearabianmage]

Why don't you folks just go conduct your own study? Get a set of what you feel are simple easy to answer questions and start polling people and for the next few weeks keep a tally of how they do and then fill us in.

Because sweeping generalizations aren't my thing

What I feel is simple and easy can be complex to the next person, but they may have an IQ 10 points higher than mine. So what does any of that mean?

There are many different types of intelligences and remembering the names of countries is only indicative of a couple. A thorough IQ test would be needed to prove that America is dumbing down, and giving a fair representation of 300,000,000 people a thorough IQ test is expensive in both time and money and is a lot of work, and for what? Squat.

That's why I'm not going to go around making sweeping generalizations about 300,000,000 people, but rest assured, if I did, I would do it right. :beer:

And Strum, sorry if I contributed to your feeling disregarded. :dude:

A good lively debate is healthy every now and again, isn't it?

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

Because sweeping generalizations aren't my thing

What I feel is simple and easy can be complex to the next person, but they may have an IQ 10 points higher than mine. So what does any of that mean?

There are many different types of intelligences and remembering the names of countries is only indicative of a couple.

And Strum, sorry if I contributed to your feeling disregarded. :dude:

A good lively debate is healthy every now and again, isn't it?

Very good points & I agree with all of them.

After all Germany was considered the most highly educated society just prior to WWII. Many could probably point exactly to Poland on a map.

Strum believes that the state of American ignorance has been greatly exaggerated & that is most likely true.

As usual with these things the truth probably resides in between

"O my God! The sky is falling" &

"What problem? There is no problem."

As far as Rulers of the Fret & opinions go Strum I have no idea.

I am not one of them.

You are certainly entitled to state your opinions as far as I am concerned.

 

[thearabianmage]

You are certainly entitled to state your opinions as far as I am concerned.

Agreed. Opinions are meaningless if they are all the same.