NationStates Jolt Archive

Well how IS it pronounced? And if it is not spelled "Skull Kill", I would like to know how it is spelled also.

Schuylkill. Troglodyte.

If yer mum was transported back to when English acutally 'came from' England, she wouldn't understand a word. :p

Yes, because English evolved and changed with time, mostly before the 17th century, and starting (if I'm not mistaken) with Beowulf.

Um...no. English comes from America, you subversive pinko tea-drinker. :)

No, you're wrong; English comes from England; that's how it got to be called English.

Schuylkill. Troglodyte.

Troglodyte? WTF?

Troglodyte? WTF?Because not knowing the name of the world famous river in world famous Pennsylvania, of all places, and all the world famous counties, neighborhoods and expressways named after that river makes you dumb. :rolleyes:

Because not knowing the name of the world famous river in world famous Pennsylvania, of all places, and all the world famous counties, neighborhoods and expressways named after that river makes you dumb. :rolleyes:

It's true.

And it's "School Kill".

Because not knowing the name of the world famous river in world famous Pennsylvania, of all places, and all the world famous counties, neighborhoods and expressways named after that river makes you dumb. :rolleyes:

Clearly. God can't you guys laugh a little? I was kidding. Should I have thrown in a few :D :D :D s and :p :p :p s to get the message across? Yeesh.

A tourist once asked me while walking around Jackson Heights, Queens, "Why doesn't this look like the Broadway they show on TV?"

"Because that's the Broadway in Manhattan, not the one in Queens...."

Bumpkins lost in New York are a never ending source of amusement for me.

Today was a fun one.

So a nice New York couple approach me, maybe mid 40's, with their late-teen son lagging behind, presumably just came to look at BU, as he had all the usual tour papers and such.

Now, it is 2 degrees (F) out, -14 (again, F) with wind chill. I have on a hat, glittens, headphones, and haven't showered. I am miserable, just going to class, and already late. I look pissed. its 10 AM.

They approach me. Because, clearly, I am the most approachable person out of the hundreds on the street.
dad"Excuse me, sir? Could you help us?"
me"Uh...hang on a second. *pauses ipod, removes headphones* I'm sorry, what was that?" (okay, so I actually heard them the first time...I was hoping they'd take the hint.)
mom"Would you be able to help us?"
me"Yeah. What do you need?"
*They start unfolding a subway map*
mom"Well, we were looking for two things. First, we want to go visit Quincy Market. Could you tell us how to get there?"
*takes of glittens*
me"Yeah, hop on the T here, and get off here, at Haymarket"
dad"No. We want Quincy Market"
me"Yeah. I know. The T station for Quincy Market is called Haymarket"
dad"That sounds odd. Are you sure?"
me"Yeah. Positive. You said you needed a second thing?"
dad"Well, we were looking for a nice place to eat tonight"
me"I'd head to the North End if you don't mind walking around a little in the cold. Otherwise, I'd go to the theater district. If you want the North End, go to North Station T stop, if you want the theater district, go to Boylston"
dad"What line is that?"
me"Green"
dad"But our hotel is on the red line"
me"You can transfer at Park Street"
dad"Are you sure?"
me"yes"
dad"what line is this?"
me"green BC line"
mom"Wait...we're at BC?"
me"No, you're at BU. the T line ends at BC and is named for the last station."
dad"But you said it's the green line"
me"It is"
dad"But our hotel is on the red line"
me"okay..."
dad"Well, how did we get on the green line?"
me"did you come by subway?"
dad"No, by taxi"
me"then the taxi drove you here."
dad"But when did the line change?"
me"I'm not sure what you're asking sir"
dad"How did we get from the red line to the green line?"
me"Sir, the subway doesn't change location to follow you..."
dad"Well, how do we get to the red line?"
me"Transfer at park street"
dad"And then we can get to Quincy Market?"
me"No. You would take the green line to Haymarket"
dad"But our hotel is on the red line"
me"So I've heard"
dad"Are you sure we can't take the red line? What about these stops with the word Quincy in them?"
me"Those are for the town of Quincy. You are going to Faneuil Hall, which is also called Quincy Market, which is on the Green Line"
dad"But...our hotel..."
son"dad...please"
dad"one second"
son"Oh, for the love of...let me. Okay. So, get on the green line here and take it to Haymarket to go to Quincy Market, North Station if we want to walk a little for dinner, Boyleston if we want a quick dinner. Transfer to the red line at Park Street to get to the hotel. That sound right"
me"yep"
son"sorry. dad's a little slow. So's mom. I don't think I'm related"
me"just remember, that won't hold up in court."
son"don't remind me. thanks alot. peace."


at this point, I was about 20 minutes late for class, and frozen. They were from the city...subways should NOT be that confusing for someone from the city.

I've always seen it as my place in the world to regulate what people can and cannot complain about, so here we go:

Upstate New Yorkers: That's what you get for living in the area attached to one of the biggest, most important cities in the world.
New Yorkers: Why would people know where Broadway is? They don't live there. Unless you can tell them where certain streets in their home city are, then you don't have much of a leg to stand on.

Britons: When you are asked if you leave near London, just say yes. Because, on the sort of scale the tourists are working on, you do.

People asked about the temperature: More often than not, the questioner is probably just trying to make conversation.

However, if anyone expresses doubt as to whether your nation has cars, television, the internet, food or trees, then you are permitted to complain.

Clearly. God can't you guys laugh a little? I was kidding. Should I have thrown in a few :D :D :D s and :p :p :p s to get the message across? Yeesh.Well, you never know on here... <.< But no, generally, 6 smileys are overkill, even for me.

Today was a fun one.

So a nice New York couple approach me, maybe mid 40's, with their late-teen son lagging behind, presumably just came to look at BU, as he had all the usual tour papers and such.

Now, it is 2 degrees (F) out, -14 (again, F) with wind chill. I have on a hat, glittens, headphones, and haven't showered. I am miserable, just going to class, and already late. I look pissed. its 10 AM.

They approach me. Because, clearly, I am the most approachable person out of the hundreds on the street.
dad"Excuse me, sir? Could you help us?"
me"Uh...hang on a second. *pauses ipod, removes headphones* I'm sorry, what was that?" (okay, so I actually heard them the first time...I was hoping they'd take the hint.)
mom"Would you be able to help us?"
me"Yeah. What do you need?"
*They start unfolding a subway map*
mom"Well, we were looking for two things. First, we want to go visit Quincy Market. Could you tell us how to get there?"
*takes of glittens*
me"Yeah, hop on the T here, and get off here, at Haymarket"
dad"No. We want Quincy Market"
me"Yeah. I know. The T station for Quincy Market is called Haymarket"
dad"That sounds odd. Are you sure?"
me"Yeah. Positive. You said you needed a second thing?"
dad"Well, we were looking for a nice place to eat tonight"
me"I'd head to the North End if you don't mind walking around a little in the cold. Otherwise, I'd go to the theater district. If you want the North End, go to North Station T stop, if you want the theater district, go to Boylston"
dad"What line is that?"
me"Green"
dad"But our hotel is on the red line"
me"You can transfer at Park Street"
dad"Are you sure?"
me"yes"
dad"what line is this?"
me"green BC line"
mom"Wait...we're at BC?"
me"No, you're at BU. the T line ends at BC and is named for the last station."
dad"But you said it's the green line"
me"It is"
dad"But our hotel is on the red line"
me"okay..."
dad"Well, how did we get on the green line?"
me"did you come by subway?"
dad"No, by taxi"
me"then the taxi drove you here."
dad"But when did the line change?"
me"I'm not sure what you're asking sir"
dad"How did we get from the red line to the green line?"
me"Sir, the subway doesn't change location to follow you..."
dad"Well, how do we get to the red line?"
me"Transfer at park street"
dad"And then we can get to Quincy Market?"
me"No. You would take the green line to Haymarket"
dad"But our hotel is on the red line"
me"So I've heard"
dad"Are you sure we can't take the red line? What about these stops with the word Quincy in them?"
me"Those are for the town of Quincy. You are going to Faneuil Hall, which is also called Quincy Market, which is on the Green Line"
dad"But...our hotel..."
son"dad...please"
dad"one second"
son"Oh, for the love of...let me. Okay. So, get on the green line here and take it to Haymarket to go to Quincy Market, North Station if we want to walk a little for dinner, Boyleston if we want a quick dinner. Transfer to the red line at Park Street to get to the hotel. That sound right"
me"yep"
son"sorry. dad's a little slow. So's mom. I don't think I'm related"
me"just remember, that won't hold up in court."
son"don't remind me. thanks alot. peace."


at this point, I was about 20 minutes late for class, and frozen. They were from the city...subways should NOT be that confusing for someone from the city.Love it. :p

I've always seen it as my place in the world to regulate what people can and cannot complain about, so here we go:

Upstate New Yorkers: That's what you get for living in the area attached to one of the biggest, most important cities in the world.
New Yorkers: Why would people know where Broadway is? They don't live there. Unless you can tell them where certain streets in their home city are, then you don't have much of a leg to stand on.

Britons: When you are asked if you leave near London, just say yes. Because, on the sort of scale the tourists are working on, you do.

People asked about the temperature: More often than not, the questioner is probably just trying to make conversation.

However, if anyone expresses doubt as to whether your nation has cars, television, the internet, food or trees, then you are permitted to complain.
It's the truth.*nods*

oh your Australian do you fight Crocodiles

oh your Australian do you fight Crocodiles

they have crocidiles? i thought they didn't grow those in Europe.

Svalbard is Norwegian territory, and has polarbears, but is not connected to the mainland at all. I come from northern Norway, where the polar circle crosses the coast. (Still fucking far away from Svalbard!) A person from southern Norway managed one day to ask me: "Do you have polarbears outside your house?" I don't know how this person managed to get thru 9 years of school without the smallest idea that his own country doesn't have polarbears?!? How stupid is it allowed to get...?!? :confused:

You know, I've heard people talk about the igloo comment a million times, yet have never actually met an American who's ever asked me that, and I've been stateside plenty of times.

It's gotta be part myth.
How far down did you go?

My mom does logistics for a warehouse. She has heard a good deal of idiocy. "Isn't Canada up near that Alberta country?" has to be the funniest she's told me.

"You've been to Hershey, PA? Did you eat any chocolate?"

"You've been to Hershey, PA? Did you eat any chocolate?"

Hell yes. I go to Hershey Park every winter with my family. They have the best fresh-made chips and apple cider anywhere.

That's right. I drive an hour and a half for fresh-made chips and apple cider. They make them right in front of you.

"You're from Seattle? Oh ... do you know Nirvana?"
"Have you heard of Nirvana?"
"Do you like Nirvana?"

No ...

Hell yes. I go to Hershey Park every winter with my family. They have the best fresh-made chips and apple cider anywhere.

That's right. I drive an hour and a half for fresh-made chips and apple cider. They make them right in front of you.
They have the greatest rollercoaster, too. *nods*

I've never had the chips n' cider.. :(
"You're from Seattle? Oh ... do you know Nirvana?"
"Have you heard of Nirvana?"
"Do you like Nirvana?"

No ...

Nirvana? Who?

Not a question, but a comment, from my half-sister no less (you'd think a person with a PhD would be more intelligent). She constantly refers to me as "my sister from L.A." At the time I lived in Riverside, California - a good 70 miles from L.A.

Svalbard is Norwegian territory, and has polarbears, but is not connected to the mainland at all. I come from northern Norway, where the polar circle crosses the coast. (Still fucking far away from Svalbard!) A person from southern Norway managed one day to ask me: "Do you have polarbears outside your house?" I don't know how this person managed to get thru 9 years of school without the smallest idea that his own country doesn't have polarbears?!? How stupid is it allowed to get...?!? :confused:

Svalbard...do the polar bears wear armour?

Svalbard...do the polar bears wear armour?

Yeah, sure. And once a month they gather up a hunting party to kill Santa. It's a glorious quest, and all the baby polarbears dream of Santa's head on the wall.

A German living about 6 miles (!) from Luxembourg: Where are you from?
Me: Luxembourg
German: So does that mean your French or German?
Me: :confused:

Another time on the internet:
Me: I'm not German, I'm from Luxembourg
German: Oh.. I thought Luxembourg still belonged to us?
Me: Not since 1945...

Yeah, sure. And once a month they gather up a hunting party to kill Santa. It's a glorious quest, and all the baby polarbears dream of Santa's head on the wall.

No, I was thinking for helping out in the war against The Authority.

No, I was thinking for helping out in the war against The Authority.

good for the polar bears helping out in the war agianst terror. that's why all the terrorists are in teh deserts; know the polar bears won't tolerate that kind of crap and will pop a cap in them if they try.

This was a good 6 or 7 years ago.

I was either 13 or 14 years old and was at one of the club meds in Mexico, over the course of Spring Break. There was this American kid maybe a year or two older talking to this fairly attractive girl of about the same age. (He was obviously hitting on her, but was put off upon finding that she was Canadian)

The gist of the conversation.
Boy: So where you're from?
Girl: Victoria, Canada.
Boy: What's the white house up there? Is it a pink house? No, no it must be an outhouse.
Girl: (still smilingly) No, its the Parliament buildings.

I tuned out after this since I am from Ottawa and go by the Parliament Buildings everyday. I felt like interjecting or slapping the kid, but that isn't my nature.

The other day I was on the Star Ferry. It's the one that crosses Victoria Harbour from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island.
A bunch of Americans were sitting behind me talking loudly. One of them looked out across the harbour towards Hong Kong and asked, "Is that Macau?"

Hong Kong island from Kowloon is less than 1km away. It takes under 10 minutes on a very slow ferry.
Macau island from Kowloon is approx 60 km away and takes 55 minutes on a very fast catamaran.

I know other countries can be confusing, but really.
How can someone with such an appalling lack of geography even find his way out of bed in the morning let alone get himself onto a plane to take him 1/2 away across the world.

good for the polar bears helping out in the war agianst terror. that's why all the terrorists are in teh deserts; know the polar bears won't tolerate that kind of crap and will pop a cap in them if they try.

Hmmm....a disturbing lack of Philip Pullman loving around these parts...

My (Bahamian) cousin was asked whether he rode a dolphin to school.

I lived in Puerto Rico for two years:
"Can you bring me back some Puerto Rican currency?" (from an American)

My (Bahamian) cousin was asked whether he rode a dolphin to school.

:eek:

I went to Spain in high school with a bunch of people from other schools. We were touring the Alhambra. Our guide was giving us a brief history of the Moors and their role in Spanish culture and art. The moron of the group raised her hand and asked (and I quote) "Wait...so this is like some Arab church or something? And it's like so old. Wow."

I wanted to walk away and cry after beating her over the head with a shovel. :(

I live in Hong Kong, so I get them all the time, my favourite two though are:

"So all you guys live underwater there, right?"

and

"Hong Kong, so you speak Japanese their?"

Oh, somebody else who lives in HK... Awww, I don't feel special any more

Oh, somebody else who lives in HK... Awww, I don't feel special any more
Ah...but where in HK do you live?
HK
Kowloon
NT
the islands

pls don't tell me Disco Bay. ewww...