NationStates Jolt Archive

We've all seen the video. But is that a real fact? If it's true, that terrifies me. I can locate at least a large minority of countries on a map, and name quite a few capitals (go on, test me. No Wikipedia, I swear).

Are Americans really this ignorant?

Sadly, yes. I do think that something greater than 80% can find the US on a map, but ask about any other country, they'd be lost.

It actually scares me that quite a few people around here (Alabama) think a "foreign vacation" means going to New York...

It actually scares me that quite a few people around here (Alabama) think a "foreign vacation" means going to New York...

Haha, I live in the Isle of Man out of all places!!!

Haha, I live in the Isle of Man out of all places!!!

HAH! I live under a rock! I occasionally venture out when it gets too messy in order to find a new rock. *nods*

I don't think those people are here on this forum, thank God.
Well I hope not anyway ...

http://www.lukecole.com/Electoral%20Maps/dumfuckistan.gif
It's actually 1/5th of Dumbfuckistani's that can't locate there own country. Americans can do it just fine.

http://www.lukecole.com/Electoral%20Maps/dumfuckistan.gif
It's actually 1/5th of Dumbfuckistani's that can't locate there own country. Americans can do it just fine.

I dunno, New Yorkers are pretty fucking dumb, from what I've heard.

That can't be true!

Sadly, I wouldnt be suprised.

I dunno, New Yorkers are pretty fucking dumb, from what I've heard.

Who did you hear that from...people in New Jersey? ;)

I can't say that I know a single person here that couldn't find the US on a map...I'm sure they're out there, but I'd be hard pressed to find them.

I dunno, New Yorkers are pretty fucking dumb, from what I've heard.

I beg your pardon?

Any country where less than 95% of the population cannot identify the main continetal masses might want to rethink it's spending - less guns more schools. :mp5:

Any country where less than 95% of the population cannot identify the main continetal masses might want to rethink it's spending - less guns more schools. :mp5:

Brilliant post. Needs more smilies. Also, FEWER guns and ITS spending.

I cant even find a map.

http://www.lukecole.com/Electoral%20Maps/dumfuckistan.gif
It's actually 1/5th of Dumbfuckistani's that can't locate there own country. Americans can do it just fine.

ACtually, schools in the midwest are among the best in the country. That makes your map dead wrong.

ACtually, schools in the midwest are among the best in the country. That makes your map dead wrong.

Doesn't stop people from there from being dumbasses.

On a side note, Glad to see the Dakotas in Dumbfuckistan. As a Minnesotan, I would be very dismayed if they weren't.

Doesn't stop people from there from being dumbasses.

On a side note, Glad to see the Dakotas in Dumbfuckistan. As a Minnesotan, I would be very dismayed if they weren't.

Every state has dumbasses. Just like every state has its smart people with people in between.

Doesn't stop people from there from being dumbasses.

On a side note, Glad to see the Dakotas in Dumbfuckistan. As a Minnesotan, I would be very dismayed if they weren't.

Based on a lot of the people I have met over the years, having a college degree doesn't guarantee you aren't an idiot...

ETA - I'm a prime example ;)

Sadly, yes. I do think that something greater than 80% can find the US on a map, but ask about any other country, they'd be lost.

It actually scares me that quite a few people around here (Alabama) think a "foreign vacation" means going to New York...

I know your pain... here in Ohio when I say I'm going to visit my family in New England people say "that's cool, I've never been out of the country like that!" :headbang:
One time I bothered to say "no, that's just the name given to those states - Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont." and the person replied "ooh... way out west then." :headbang::headbang::headbang:

I know your pain... here in Ohio when I say I'm going to visit my family in New England people say "that's cool, I've never been out of the country like that!" :headbang:
One time I bothered to say "no, that's just the name given to those states - Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont." and the person replied "ooh... way out west then." :headbang::headbang::headbang:

that is just as bad as when I was on the PA turnpike heading west towards Ohio and having a family ask how to get to Massachusetts.

Every state has dumbasses. Just like every state has its smart people with people in between.

Yes, but the Dakotas has far more than it's fair share of dumbasses. The reason why is that all the smart people move to Minnesota. :D(Partly true-North Dakota is having trouble keeping people in the state)

Unitihu wins.

And we never have that sort of problem here on Long Island (which is part of New York.)

Yes, but the Dakotas has far more than it's fair share of dumbasses. The reason why is that all the smart people move to Minnesota. :D(Partly true-North Dakota is having trouble keeping people in the state)

In India, around the 70s, there was a big campaign to keep the smart people in the country. My dad moved out, so it failed. :p

Unitihu wins.

And we never have that sort of problem here on Long Island (which is part of New York.)

Of course, because stupid people think Long Island is New York City and the thought of a Long Island beyond confuses them. Therefor, they go visit NYC and believe they've seen all there is to see of Long Island.

The rural states tend to be the best educated, but their number one export is intelligence. They just can't seem to land the jobs that will keep their best and brightest. Growing up in western Nebraska, I never knew there was such a thing as an illiterate person. Never met one until I started teaching at a small college that imported their basket ball team from Kansas City. These kids could hit a basket from anywhere on the court but took an hour to write their own name at the top of the test.

I've also noted over the years that the natives on both coasts don't have a clue what's between Pennsylvania and California. I'll bet most couldn't put those states on a map.

I think the difference is rural people feel a need to travel and experience the things cities have to offer, but city people feel no need to leave home. So rural people are comfortable among tall buildings but city people are intimidated by the openness of rural areas.

As far as the original question is concerned, I've never met someone that couldn't do it, but I'll bet Jay Leno has.

We've all seen the video. But is that a real fact? If it's true, that terrifies me. I can locate at least a large minority of countries on a map, and name quite a few capitals (go on, test me. No Wikipedia, I swear).

Are Americans really this ignorant?

Look at it this way.

The average IQ is 100. That means that half the people in any country have a lower IQ than 100 - and a fair number have to be closer to 80, which is nearing chimpanzee terrirtory.

When you're that low of an IQ, it doesn't matter if you went to school - it won't soak in, and you'll be terminally stupid and ignorant.

1/5 sounds like a reasonable number for idiocy in any nation.

well its 20%

as RO just pointed out, there are stupid people.

there are also dislexics and other people will learning disabilities who may not have been able to read the question well enough to know what was being asked. they may have known the answer if asked in a different forum.

there are those students who work very hard at remaining ignorant no matter how hard their teachers try. so yeah they may have made enough of an effort not to learn that they dont know where the US is on a world map.

there are also those students who when given a test that doesnt go on their "permanent record" will make goofy answers just to amuse themselves. they know where the US is, but its funny to say that its in asia.

so id guess that the answer is closer to 10%. no we dont do map drills in US schools. a kid who wants to learn has plenty of opportunity to do so, those that dont tend to remain ignorant.

Okay, in that case, everyone please imagine an (up-to-date) world map in front of his mental eye and marks the following places and AFTER that checks wikipedia whether it is correct:
United States of America
Japan
Somalia
Iran
China
German Democratic Republic
Estonia
Namibia
New Zealand
Usbekistan
the Vatican
and Indonesia


How many do you have? (if you have all, you are a liar. The GDR does no longer exist)

Okay, in that case, everyone please imagine an (up-to-date) world map in front of his mental eye and marks the following places and AFTER that checks wikipedia whether it is correct:
United States of America
Japan
Somalia
Iran
China
German Democratic Republic
Estonia
Namibia
New Zealand
Usbekistan
the Vatican
and Indonesia


How many do you have? (if you have all, you are a liar. The GDR does no longer exist)
Dunno. I got lost around Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Eritrea.

Okay, in that case, everyone please imagine an (up-to-date) world map in front of his mental eye and marks the following places and AFTER that checks wikipedia whether it is correct:
United States of America
Japan
Somalia
Iran
China
German Democratic Republic
Estonia
Namibia
New Zealand
Usbekistan
the Vatican
and Indonesia


How many do you have? (if you have all, you are a liar. The GDR does no longer exist)

Eh, Namibia I'm not terribly sure *exactly* where it is in Africa, and Uzbekistan I know it's general place(I could find in a couple seconds on a map easy, though), but other than that, I can find everything else very easily.

Come on, give us a hard one, like Tajikistan, or Moldova, or Togo.

If you know where those are, off the top of your head, you have no life.

Okay, in that case, everyone please imagine an (up-to-date) world map in front of his mental eye and marks the following places and AFTER that checks wikipedia whether it is correct:

United States of America--North American Continent
Japan--Far East off the coast of China
Somalia--East Africa south of Eritrea and Djibouti
Iran--Next door to Iraq on the west and Afghanistan to the east in the Persian Gulf area
China--Located in the Far East with Mongolia and Russia to the North, Vietnam to the South
German Democratic Republic--DOES NOT EXIST though it was considered East Germany with the capital in Berlin
Estonia--Eastern Europe
Namibia--Western Africa
New Zealand--Oceania--Australia to the west
Uzbekistan--Central Asia
the Vatican--located inside Rome
and Indonesia--South East Asia

Yep. That's all of them

Come on, give us a hard one, like Tajikistan, or Moldova, or Togo.

If you know where those are, off the top of your head, you have no life.

Too easy. What about Micronesia or the Solomon Islands?

Sadly, yes. I do think that something greater than 80% can find the US on a map, but ask about any other country, they'd be lost.

It actually scares me that quite a few people around here (Alabama) think a "foreign vacation" means going to New York...

Well, to be fair New York is quite foreign to Alabama...

and vice versa.

Too easy. What about Micronesia or the Solomon Islands?

PFFF. Simple.

How about Malawi, Sao Tome & Principe, Lesotho, and New Caledonia.

I love how Democrats think red states are stupid because they blindly follow the lead of an authoritarian party platform... oh wait, Democrats do that too. Vote Libertarian (or Ron Paul) or shut the hell up.

Try this one if you think you're educated.

http://www.rethinkingschools.org/just_fun/games/mapgame.html

On a side note, Glad to see the Dakotas in Dumbfuckistan. As a Minnesotan, I would be very dismayed if they weren't.

Says the man from the state that elected Jesse "The Body" Ventura as governor.

Yes, but the Dakotas has far more than it's fair share of dumbasses. The reason why is that all the smart people move to Minnesota. :D(Partly true-North Dakota is having trouble keeping people in the state)

The reason NoDak folks leave is usually economic. The rural small towns are collapsing into semi-rural larger towns and the farming lifestyle that enables small town life is eroding as well. Believe me, I've met plenty of mental defectives and mouth-breathin' jack-offs from Minnesota.


Namibia--Western Africa

Yep. That's all of them

Not quite. Namibia is better located in southwestern Africa. Western Africa is where you'd find Ghana, Togo, Cote d'Ivoire and the like. Otherwise, bully for yout geographic skills.

Eh, Namibia I'm not terribly sure *exactly* where it is in Africa, and Uzbekistan I know it's general place(I could find in a couple seconds on a map easy, though), but other than that, I can find everything else very easily.

Come on, give us a hard one, like Tajikistan, or Moldova, or Togo.

If you know where those are, off the top of your head, you have no life.

Tajikistan is Central Asia
Moldova I belive is in Europe
Togo is a small AFrican nation next to Benin

Try this one if you think you're educated.

http://www.rethinkingschools.org/just_fun/games/mapgame.html

Pretty easy. Got a little stuck on some of the smaller ones, but was usually only off by an adjacent country on those.

I love how Democrats think red states are stupid because they blindly follow the lead of an authoritarian party platform... oh wait, Democrats do that too. Vote Libertarian (or Ron Paul) or shut the hell up.

Paul's an authoritarian.

Too easy. What about Micronesia or the Solomon Islands?

Both of those are in the Pacific.

Says the man from the state that elected Jesse "The Body" Ventura as governor.


1. I was about 13 when he was elected in. Not my fault.
2. He wasn't as terrible as people thought. A bit misguided, yes. But it could have been a great deal worse. He did try to do some good when he was a governor. Unfortunately, he also screwed us over.


The reason NoDak folks leave is usually economic. The rural small towns are collapsing into semi-rural larger towns and the farming lifestyle that enables small town life is eroding as well. Believe me, I've met plenty of mental defectives and mouth-breathin' jack-offs from Minnesota.


It was a joke, really. Minnesotans don't have that much of a fondness for NoDak'ers, and NoDak'ers know very well why.

*shifty eyes*

Not quite. Namibia is better located in southwestern Africa. Western Africa is where you'd find Ghana, Togo, Cote d'Ivoire and the like. Otherwise, bully for yout geographic skills.

To be fair, I was not going for exact geographic points. Nambia is indeed on the west coast of Africa but if you want to get technical, you are indeed correct :)

For those without a world map available, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:BlankMap-World.png

Results map:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:World-map-2004-cia-factbook-large-1.7m-whitespace-removed.jpg

And for the record, Atma got all of them right except Estonia (he mistakenly picked Latvia instead).

Ah, yes, you elitist posters rejoice in your illusory superiority over those who cannot identify the US on a map. However, is such erudite knowledge necessary? No. It has no pertinence to everyday life. Perhaps the rich "intellectuals" can squander their time by studying a map of the world, but the more worldly people are those who sweat and toil and have no time for such pointless distractions.

http://www.lukecole.com/Electoral%20Maps/dumfuckistan.gif
It's actually 1/5th of Dumbfuckistani's that can't locate there own country. Americans can do it just fine.


I live in North Carolina, and I am not dumb. I certainly can locate my own fucking country on a map, and I can locate most countrys some people shoot at me.

You know whats really dumb? People who want to say a whole country of people are dumb. Obviously, you don't know everyone in that country, so OBVIOUSLY you cant make that assumption. I am from North Carolina, and I am not dumb. And whoever posted that prejudice map, I've been up north (maine specifically) and the intelligence up there is the same as down here, if not extremely dimmer in some people I encountered. I'm writing this assuming my previous post wasn't posted because I forget to bleep my curses. But I can locate my own country on a map, and I've never come across anyone that couldn't locate it on a map. So this study is probally whack. And all you non-americans saying americans are dumb is just like some stupid american saying all foreigners are dumb.

Ah, yes, you elitist posters rejoice in your illusory superiority over those who cannot identify the US on a map. However, is such erudite knowledge necessary? No. It has no pertinence to everyday life. Perhaps the rich "intellectuals" can squander their time by studying a map of the world, but the more worldly people are those who sweat and toil and have no time for such pointless distractions.

Meh, I'm no elitist and I can identify plenty of European, Asian, & South American countries(not as good with Africa, but working on that). The idea that as large a portion of Americans can't locate their own country on a map is kind of pathetic though. I mean, we're supposed to be the most well taught, well fed, mightiest, most democratic, most honorable nation in the world...

...Right?

Ah, yes, you elitist posters rejoice in your illusory superiority over those who cannot identify the US on a map. However, is such erudite knowledge necessary? No. It has no pertinence to everyday life. Perhaps the rich "intellectuals" can squander their time by studying a map of the world, but the more worldly people are those who sweat and toil and have no time for such pointless distractions.

for real

I'm an American and I can find my country on a map. It's this thing on the lower-left corner that looks like a compass rose.

No, wait....

Of course, because stupid people think Long Island is New York City and the thought of a Long Island beyond confuses them. Therefor, they go visit NYC and believe they've seen all there is to see of Long Island.

Well, geographically, if they've been in Brooklyn and Queens they've seen the westernmost part of Long Island.

I love how Democrats think red states are stupid because they blindly follow the lead of an authoritarian party platform... oh wait, Democrats do that too. Vote Libertarian (or Ron Paul) or shut the hell up.

Take your own advice.

"Vote the way I tell you to or my stormtroopers will come and silence you."

Bring it...

Ron Paul? Pfeh!

Ah, yes, you elitist posters rejoice in your illusory superiority over those who cannot identify the US on a map. However, is such erudite knowledge necessary? No. It has no pertinence to everyday life. Perhaps the rich "intellectuals" can squander their time by studying a map of the world, but the more worldly people are those who sweat and toil and have no time for such pointless distractions.

It amuses me that you can be so verbose while criticising elitist intellectuals.

"Knowing things is for the elite. The real people are the peasants. They work the fields and don't think about anything beyond. It is against the natural order when the sheep look beyond their pastures."

"Knowing things is for the elite. The real people are the peasants. They work the fields and don't think about anything beyond. It is against the natural order when the sheep look beyond their pastures."

Wasn't that Lenin's justification for the dictatorship of the proletariat?

Katganistan, your avator is so cute :p

And I just noticed you named yourself after Afghanistan, give me a cookie!

http://www.lukecole.com/Electoral%20Maps/dumfuckistan.gif
It's actually 1/5th of Dumbfuckistani's that can't locate there own country. Americans can do it just fine.

Amen to that. It makes me glad I live in Milwaukee. And it's part of the reason I'll be going to college in an urban area.

Wasn't that Lenin's justification for the dictatorship of the proletariat?

Probably. Pretty close anyway. That's part of why I love the extreme left about as much as I love the extreme right.

Ah, yes, you elitist posters rejoice in your illusory superiority over those who cannot identify the US on a map. However, is such erudite knowledge necessary? No. It has no pertinence to everyday life. Perhaps the rich "intellectuals" can squander their time by studying a map of the world, but the more worldly people are those who sweat and toil and have no time for such pointless distractions.

So all poor people and manual laborers are ignorant rubes who are unable to know basic facts of geography and are so excused? That it's okay for them to be that way since they're nothing more than dumb peasants that won't ever be able to see the world or make decisions on a global scale, so it's best they know their place in society and keep themselves dumb? Allow the educated to make global decisions while they toil for their masters?

Ignorance is never laudable, no matter what you do or who you are. Swing and a miss, FreedomAndGlory.

Ah, yes, you elitist posters rejoice in your illusory superiority over those who cannot identify the US on a map. However, is such erudite knowledge necessary? No. It has no pertinence to everyday life. Perhaps the rich "intellectuals" can squander their time by studying a map of the world, but the more worldly people are those who sweat and toil and have no time for such pointless distractions.

OK, now I know you're a parody. Who are you? LG? DCD? Come on, 'fess up.

OK, now I know you're a parody. Who are you? LG? DCD? Come on, 'fess up.

LG has a great persona; he has no need to assume some poor imitation caricature of a poster.

LG has a great persona; he has no need to assume some poor imitation caricature of a poster.

Good point. It could be DCD, though. He'd do this and think it was funny. After all, we're talking about the guy who found amusement in "Jesussaves".

OK, now I know you're a parody. Who are you? LG? DCD? Come on, 'fess up.
Wasn't DCD banned?

Ignorance is never laudable, no matter what you do or who you are. Swing and a miss, FreedomAndGlory.

Is ignorance the general absence of knowledge? Would you categorize those who don't know the height of the Eiffel tower or the life span of the giant Palouse earthworm as "ignorant"? No; you acknowledge that certain morsels of information are superfluous in life's feast and need not be consumed. The precise geographic location of various nations can be classified as extraneous knowledge that does not apply to everyday life; consequently, those who lack this unnecessary knowledge are not ignorant. Indeed, they may be supremely rational in their focus on critical matters rather than meaningless diversions.

Wasn't DCD banned?

Yes, but people who insist on branding me a "troll" do not let facts get in the way of their zealotry.

Wasn't DCD banned?

Yes he was ... but that would not necessarily stop him from posting here technically

Is ignorance the general absence of knowledge? Would you categorize those who don't know the height of the Eiffel tower or the life span of the giant Palouse earthworm as "ignorant"? No; you acknowledge that certain morsels of information are superfluous in life's feast and need not be consumed. The precise geographic location of various nations can be classified as extraneous knowledge that does not apply to everyday life; consequently, those who lack this unnecessary knowledge are not ignorant. Indeed, they may be supremely rational in their focus on critical matters rather than meaningless diversions.

They are still ignorant as everyone is to varying degrees. The point made was that ignorance is never laudable. That's true no matter what the subject matter

Yes, but people who insist on branding me a "troll" do not let facts get in the way of their zealotry.

How does his being banned get counted as a "fact" against your being a troll of his.

Now I am not saying you are but just because someone is told to keep away does not mean that they have

What percent of the United States population is under the age of 5, blind, mentally-impaired, currently in an institute for the clinically insane, or yet to be shown a map and told where the U.S. is?

Try this one if you think you're educated.

http://www.rethinkingschools.org/just_fun/games/mapgame.html

It was pretty easy. I got them all, first try. Geography and history (and math) are my biggest strengths, though.

What percent of the United States population is under the age of 5, blind, mentally-impaired, currently in an institute for the clinically insane, or yet to be shown a map and told where the U.S. is?

You hit the nail on the head, I knew that statistic had to be misleading somehow

It was pretty easy. I got them all, first try. Geography and history (and math) are my biggest strengths, though.

I hate you :upyours:

The point made was that ignorance is never laudable.

So stating that instead of obsessively poring over the digits of pi and attempting to memorize the number to 100,000 decimal places, you devoted you time to finding a cure for cancer would not be laudable?

So stating that instead of obsessively poring over the digits of pi and attempting to memorize the number to 100,000 decimal places, you devoted you time to finding a cure for cancer would not be laudable?

Working towards something important is indeed laudable but that doesn't make ignorance of another subject laudable. It just makes it justifiable

Working towards something important is indeed laudable but that doesn't make ignorance of another subject laudable. It just makes it justifiable

In your opinion, perhaps; I would call working to cure cancer laudable.

In your opinion, perhaps; I would call working to cure cancer laudable.

As did I

As did I

The necessary implication, then, is that if one's energies and time are devoted to curing cancer, one does not have time for more trivial diversions, such as memorizing many digits of pi.

The necessary implication, then, is that if one's energies and time are devoted to curing cancer, one does not have time for more trivial diversions, such as memorizing many digits of pi.

True but that still does not make me want to applaud someone for not knowing something. It simply makes me want to applaud their goals and justify their lack of knowledge of other, possibly less useful (in their case), information. They would still be ignorant of the other subject

The necessary implication, then, is that if one's energies and time are devoted to curing cancer, one does not have time for more trivial diversions, such as memorizing many digits of pi.

:headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang:

THIS ISN'T ABOUT PI THIS IS ABOUT KNOW WHERE YOUR F%*KING GOD DAMN COUNTRY IS :mad: :upyours:



Freedom
And >:eek::gundge:

Glory

True, etc.

Let me phrase the issue this way: would you consider the act of depriving oneself of (useless) knowledge in order to persevere towards some worthwhile goal "laudable"?

Let me phrase the issue this way: would you consider the act of depriving oneself of (useless) knowledge in order to persevere towards some worthwhile goal "laudable"?

Yes however that does not make the ignorance itself laudable. The ignorance is simply justified by the final goal (which is itself laudable)

:headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang:

THIS ISN'T ABOUT PI THIS IS ABOUT KNOW WHERE YOUR F%*KING GOD DAMN COUNTRY IS :mad: :upyours:
:eek::gundge:

MTAE is trying to say that Americans have far weightier things upon their vast minds than worrying about paltry and irrelevant things like our position in the world.

They are still ignorant as everyone is to varying degrees. The point made was that ignorance is never laudable. That's true no matter what the subject matter

Yep.

I bet you are ignorant of something that you don't even know about.

I know I am.


Don't try to make sense of that, it will be a painful experience.

MTAE is trying to say that Americans have far weightier things upon their vast minds than worrying about paltry and irrelevant things like our position in the world.

That knowledge has few tangible, practical applications for the average, hard-working American.

Yep.

I bet you are ignorant of something that you don't even know about.

I know I am.


Don't try to make sense of that, it will be a painful experience.

Not particularly. You basically said i'm ignorant of something i'm ignorant of. True

Yes however that does not make the ignorance itself laudable. The ignorance is simply justified by the final goal (which is itself laudable)

So you have stated that the act of depriving oneself of knowledge may be laudable, but the end result (ie, the absence of that knowledge) is not laudable. Don't worry -- you double-speak good.

Not particularly. You basically said i'm ignorant of something i'm ignorant of. True

I know, that was the beauty of it.

So you have stated that the act of depriving oneself of knowledge may be laudable, but the end result (ie, the absence of that knowledge) is not laudable. Don't worry -- you double-speak good.

Purposefully being obtuse isn't laudable either.

The final goal is laudable. Ignorance is not laudable. It can only be justifiable

Simple enough yet. I should have known that this debate wouldn't end well when it started with such a high point

So you have stated that the act of depriving oneself of knowledge may be laudable, but the end result (ie, the absence of that knowledge) is not laudable. Don't worry -- you double-speak good.

He said 'justified', not laudable.

In India, around the 70s, there was a big campaign to keep the smart people in the country. My dad moved out, so it failed. :p

Reminds me of what an Indian said, "fastest growing economy in the world and less than 20% have a shitter" - sums it up nicely. If an Americans want to see bone head decisions, have a look at India, which sits close to the top.

The final goal is laudable. Ignorance is not laudable.

But as you yourself admitted, ignorance is a vital component in achieving the final goal. In my mind, if x is necessary to achieve y and y is good, then x is also good. It's a relatively simple position to take; it oughtn't confuse you so.

Reminds me of what an Indian said, "fastest growing economy in the world and less than 20% have a shitter" - sums it up nicely. If an Americans want to see bone head decisions, have a look at India, which sits close to the top.

The key word is "growing".

If I made $1 a year, and my salary suddenly improved by 100%, I still wouldn't be able to afford a house. I would consider that very rapid growth of my financial situation.

I updated my post, it is a work of art

The necessary implication, then, is that if one's energies and time are devoted to curing cancer, one does not have time for more trivial diversions, such as memorizing many digits of pi.

:headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang:

THIS ISN'T ABOUT PI ,THIS IS ABOUT KNOWING WHERE YOUR F%*KING GOD DAMN COUNTRY IS :mad: :upyours:



Freedom
And >:eek::gundge:

Glory

He said 'justified', not laudable.

I asked the following question.

Let me phrase the issue this way: would you consider the act of depriving oneself of (useless) knowledge..."laudable"?

The answer to my query was "yes."

But as you yourself admitted, ignorance is a vital component in achieving the final goal. In my mind, if x is necessary to achieve y and y is good, then x is also good. It's a relatively simple position to take; it oughtn't confuse you so.

If x (bad) is necessary to achieve y (good) then x may be cancelled out by y. That depends on how good and bad each is though

I've given you my position as simply as I can so i'm going to stop.

I asked the following question.

Let me phrase the issue this way: would you consider the act of depriving oneself of (useless) knowledge..."laudable"?

The answer to my query was "yes."

Nice of you to take that out of the context it was in :p

United States of America--North American Continent
Japan--Far East off the coast of China
Somalia--East Africa south of Eritrea and Djibouti
Iran--Next door to Iraq on the west and Afghanistan to the east in the Persian Gulf area
China--Located in the Far East with Mongolia and Russia to the North, Vietnam to the South
German Democratic Republic--DOES NOT EXIST though it was considered East Germany with the capital in Berlin
Estonia--Eastern Europe
Namibia--Western Africa
New Zealand--Oceania--Australia to the west
Uzbekistan--Central Asia
the Vatican--located inside Rome
and Indonesia--South East Asia

Yep. That's all of them

Interesting, almost every person who replied to my review on MacOS X 10.4 thought New Zealand was located in the Netherlands. Oh, and when Americans hear my accent they think I'm from the UK. Some people live very sheltered lives.

If x (bad) is necessary to achieve y (good) then x may be cancelled out by y. That depends on how good and bad each is though

I've given you my position as simply as I can so i'm going to stop.

So, hypothetically, if you could eliminate all suffering in the world if and only if you kill a specific person, would you consider such an act "good" or "bad"? Any rational person would immediately and unhesitatingly classify it as "good."

So, hypothetically, if you could eliminate all suffering in the world if and only if you kill a specific person, would you consider such an act "good" or "bad"? Any rational person would immediately and unhesitatingly classify it as "good."

Read the last 4 words of that which you quoted

Read the last 4 words of that which you quoted

Yes, you have pushed your argument to an obviously illogical extreme and cannot continue debating without exposing yourself to ridicule. I understand.

Yes, you have pushed your argument to an obviously illogical extreme and cannot continue debating without exposing yourself to ridicule. I understand.

Spin it as you will.

MTAE is trying to say that Americans have far weightier things upon their vast minds than worrying about paltry and irrelevant things like our position in the world.

And Americans wonder why there is festering hatred against them - clue for the clueless, you're not hated because of some jealousy over 'freedoms'.

People hate the US because people within the US refuse to realise that the world doesn't revolve around them, and that American 'culture' isn't the only culture worth appreciating.

Dear god, I talk to some Americans and they're as dumb as a bag of hammers - you might consider them 'trivial' but for me, they're a benchmark for your refusal to learn for the sake of learning. Which also explains why morons like GWB are voted in.

Christ, we might not have the brightest people in New Zealand but atleast the average New Zealander knows that choosing a person brighter than them is desirable for the position of PM than wanting the 'common touch' which the US longs for in their president.

...your refusal to learn for the sake of learning.

Learning that for which you have no practical application is an elitist pastime.

What percent of the United States population is under the age of 5, blind, mentally-impaired, currently in an institute for the clinically insane, or yet to be shown a map and told where the U.S. is?

I dont know where the statistic comes from but if it is a standard poll/survey there is normally what is considered a sampling bias against them ... if anything they would be under-represented in the statistic not over represented

And Americans wonder why there is festering hatred against them - clue for the clueless, you're not hated because of some jealousy over 'freedoms'.

People hate the US because people within the US refuse to realise that the world doesn't revolve around them, and that American 'culture' isn't the only culture worth appreciating.

Dear god, I talk to some Americans and they're as dumb as a bag of hammers - you might consider them 'trivial' but for me, they're a benchmark for your refusal to learn for the sake of learning. Which also explains why morons like GWB are voted in.

Christ, we might not have the brightest people in New Zealand but atleast the average New Zealander knows that choosing a person brighter than them is desirable for the position of PM than wanting the 'common touch' which the US longs for in their president.

I'm sensing some rage issues from the sheep herder...

Learning that for which you have no practical application is an elitist pastime.

lol does anyone seriously think this guy isn't a troll?

btw I do think F A G is da man :cool:

lol does anyone seriously think this guy isn't a troll?

btw I do think F A G is da man :cool:

He has a long and storied history. He was banned for trolling probably a year ago, he's come back as various names since, always pretending not to know his previous incarnations.

lol does anyone seriously think this guy isn't a troll?

btw I do think F A G is da man :cool:

Seriously is that your sig?

And Americans wonder why there is festering hatred against them - clue for the clueless, you're not hated because of some jealousy over 'freedoms'.

People hate the US because people within the US refuse to realise that the world doesn't revolve around them, and that American 'culture' isn't the only culture worth appreciating.

Dear god, I talk to some Americans and they're as dumb as a bag of hammers - you might consider them 'trivial' but for me, they're a benchmark for your refusal to learn for the sake of learning. Which also explains why morons like GWB are voted in.

Christ, we might not have the brightest people in New Zealand but atleast the average New Zealander knows that choosing a person brighter than them is desirable for the position of PM than wanting the 'common touch' which the US longs for in their president.

You're right, people don't hate America because of jealousy of our freedoms. They are way to stupid for that. They hate us because of presence in their countries (weather the reason is good or not for us being there), and they hate us simply because we were more successful than they using principals which they disagree with.

For example, this is why communist countries hate capitalist countries - it is simply because the capitalist use ideals that the communists hate and despise, and it works - all of our stuff is better.

People only get mad at our culture, because they are mad that theirs is not more popular. Do you think we went around the world and threatened to nuke countries who didn't play American music in their grocery stores? No, probably not. But they play a majority of American music in, for example, many German establishments. It's because people like it better, and that pisses other people off. Like when an Apple fan listens to everyone talk about how great Microsoft is, or looks at the market share, they get irritated.

You are right - we have stupid Americans. You have stupid citizens too. We even have average citizens, like you do, if you can believe that. However, unlike New Zealand, we have many more geniuses and innovators here.

The elections are set up in a way that you basically have to choose between two people. We either had Bush or Gore. Most people did not think Gore would be better (which is why he didn't win), me included - I still think so. It does not mean I think Bush is great, or ever did.

Learning that for which you have no practical application is an elitist pastime.

Which explains why a moron was voted in twice, and each time American disowns any responsibility for the decision they made.

You've shat in your bed, now put up with the smell.

Allow me to go a tiny little bit off-topic:

In response to the whole: "People shouldn't waste time finding bigger numbers of pi, but devote their time in doing something contructive"

Well...if you really want to be ignorant, you start spreading such kind of non-sense. Whatever doesn't seem usefull now can be extremely important later on. Such is the nature of any sort of abstract science.

For example finding out the exact number of pi up to 100 digits. Sure if I want to create a round table it isn't usefull, but if I wish to create nano-chips that have to be a perfect circle then it will make all the difference in the world.

Same goes for prime numbers which many people find to be blatently useless aswell. Never mind that the pentagon itself offers a cash reward of $10.000 if you are able to find the next highest prime number since they are usefull in security logorithims.

The theory of gravity might have seemed pretty damn useless for your average english farmer at the time when Newton discovered it, but during the space age it just might come in handy.

Also, what is just wrong with knowing something just for the sake of knowing it. It just seems pretty wastefull to me if you die without knowing anything about this world.

Also, what is just wrong with knowing something just for the sake of knowing it.

Because it serves no useful object save creating an abstract barrier of knowledge that separates you (the elitists) from them (the common people).

Which explains why a moron was voted in twice

Luckily, the US came to its senses after reelecting Clinton and we have had 7 years of dizzying prosperity in the US.

Because it serves no useful object save creating an abstract barrier of knowledge that separates you (the elitists) from them (the common people).

So basically you're an agro marxist who loaths the ide of intellgience because it requires some effort beyond brut force?

What next, going to do what Mao demanded and send all the academics out into the fields to work?

Luckily, the US came to its senses after reelecting Clinton and we have had 7 years of dizzying prosperity in the US.

Ah yes, the joys of a fiscal expansionist policy - I'm sure China is rubbing their hands with glee as with each year their share of government bonds increases.

US balls, meet Chinese hands. Maybe a gentle squeeze is in order.

So basically you're an agro marxist who loaths the ide of intellgience because it requires some effort beyond brut force?

What next, going to do what Mao demanded and send all the academics out into the fields to work?

No, I decried learning for the sake of intellectual superiority. However, I am an advocate of learning to better humanity -- that's why I distinguished between persevering to find a cure for cancer (a positive application of knowledge) and memorizing pi to 100,000 digits (a useless application).

Try this one if you think you're educated.

http://www.rethinkingschools.org/just_fun/games/mapgame.html

Easy. Got them all right.

And yes, I can place the Solomon Islands and Micronesia on a world map without hesitation.

It always amuses me when people despise education.

And Americans wonder why there is festering hatred against them - clue for the clueless, you're not hated because of some jealousy over 'freedoms'.

People hate the US because people within the US refuse to realise that the world doesn't revolve around them, and that American 'culture' isn't the only culture worth appreciating.

Dear god, I talk to some Americans and they're as dumb as a bag of hammers - you might consider them 'trivial' but for me, they're a benchmark for your refusal to learn for the sake of learning. Which also explains why morons like GWB are voted in.

Christ, we might not have the brightest people in New Zealand but atleast the average New Zealander knows that choosing a person brighter than them is desirable for the position of PM than wanting the 'common touch' which the US longs for in their president.

In my opinion, learning for the sake of learning is one of the most idiotic practices out there. Unless you plan on using what you learn, it's just information jammed into a organic chip with a finite amount of space. Knowledge and application are far more important.

I wasn't aware that people hated me...

Thanks for making a nice generalization-shish-kebab out of a largely disparate population.

Maybe the 1/5th counts for the under 5 years old, the US Army, and the mentally disabled?

Because it serves no useful object save creating an abstract barrier of knowledge that separates you (the elitists) from them (the common people).

And which group would you fall into? You seem to use unnecessarily obtuse or obscure synonyms at every opportunity, which smacks of your description of elitism(after all, why bother learning anything more than the most simple method of expressing one's self? Anything more serves no useful object), yet you refer to the "elitists" as "you".
I updated my post, it is a work of art
<snip>
Your sig is far too large. Sigs are limited to 8 lines of standard sized text.

In my opinion, learning for the sake of learning is one of the most idiotic practices out there. Unless you plan on using what you learn, it's just information jammed into a organic chip with a finite amount of space. Knowledge and application are far more important.

If you don't have a good general knowledge, how then are you going to make an educated decision when voting? hope that the person running is being completely honest? hope that the media actually does their job and investigates?

I wasn't aware that people hated me...

Thanks for making a nice generalization-shish-kebab out of a largely disparate population.

But ultimately, you are all Americans, and Americans voted in GWB twice; first time the world said, "hey, bad luck, all the legal problems, shit happens" - the second election was for the US to redeem itself and prove they're not jerks. Well, the second election came and went and proved all the anti-American crowd right. The average US citizen lives under a rock and fails to grasp the impact of the decisions they make on the rest of the world.

If you don't have a good general knowledge, how then are you going to make an educated decision when voting? hope that the person running is being completely honest? hope that the media actually does their job and investigates?



But ultimately, you are all Americans, and Americans voted in GWB twice; first time the world said, "hey, bad luck, all the legal problems, shit happens" - the second election was for the US to redeem itself and prove they're not jerks. Well, the second election came and went and proved all the anti-American crowd right. The average US citizen lives under a rock and fails to grasp the impact of the decisions they make on the rest of the world.

Lucky we're not all Joe Average then, because that guy is a stupid bastard. Not all Americans are a homogenous mass, you know. ;)

He has a long and storied history. He was banned for trolling probably a year ago, he's come back as various names since, always pretending not to know his previous incarnations.

I knew MTAE, but was he anyone before that?

In my opinion, learning for the sake of learning is one of the most idiotic practices out there. Unless you plan on using what you learn, it's just information jammed into a organic chip with a finite amount of space. Knowledge and application are far more important.
.


Yet it still beats watching real-life tv programs. No, of the many kinds of things people do to waste time, learning things just for the heck of it is most certainly not the most idiotic. At least you are training your brain and the information you learn might come in handy one day.

Compare that with knowing the daily habits of random dude #14 in the big brother house and im sure you can put it now into perspective.

Also even though your brain can contain only a finitive amount of information, I can assure you that knowing the name, location and capitol of every nation upon this earth isn't nearly enough to cause it to melt down. If anything, people tend to let their brain go to waste all too often.

Also even though your brain can contain only a finitive amount of information, I can assure you that knowing the name, location and capitol of every nation upon this earth isn't nearly enough to cause it to melt down. If anything, people tend to let their brain go to waste all too often.

Well said. I find it so sad that there are countries some people have never heard of. That means countless ways of life and societies that they know nothing about and have never conceived of. Limited knowledge limits what the mind can conceive of, the new possibilities and alternatives it can imagine.

Limited knowledge limits what the mind can conceive of, the new possibilities and alternatives it can imagine.

Name one way in which knowing of Malawi has helped you in life. Go on, I dare you.

Luckily, the US came to its senses after reelecting Clinton and we have had 7 years of dizzying prosperity in the US.

You know I really wonder sometimes if you manage to post this stuff with a straight face.


As for the OP I can definately believe it, when I meet people who think that North America is a country, you know that stupidity is an issue for America.

Lucky we're not all Joe Average then, because that guy is a stupid bastard. Not all Americans are a homogenous mass, you know. ;)

And GWB was voted in on 56%. If there was such grave disatisfaction, Kerry should have won by a land slide.

Look at some of the pig shit ignorant comments on this board alone; claiming there has been 'great economic growth' whilst ignoring it has been all created through 'big government' programmes and deficit spending. Deficit spending which ends up eventually causing a credit crunch as the money is plowd into government bonds rather than into parts of the economy which generate real jobs.

And GWB was voted in on 56%. If there was such grave disatisfaction, Kerry should have won by a land slide.

Look at some of the pig shit ignorant comments on this board alone; claiming there has been 'great economic growth' whilst ignoring it has been all created through 'big government' programmes and deficit spending. Deficit spending which ends up eventually causing a credit crunch as the money is plowd into government bonds rather than into parts of the economy which generate real jobs.

That's because voters had to choose between two piles of shit, one they knew, and one they didn't. Natural instinct, go with what you know.

Reminds me of what an Indian said, "fastest growing economy in the world and less than 20% have a shitter" - sums it up nicely. If an Americans want to see bone head decisions, have a look at India, which sits close to the top.

Yeah, no denying that. The Minister of Railways, Lalu Prasad, said they had the best railway system in the world. Just to prove his rectitude, a train crashes in his home state of Bihar, and the passengers have to get out and push. Oy.

If you don't have a good general knowledge, how then are you going to make an educated decision when voting? hope that the person running is being completely honest? hope that the media actually does their job and investigates?

But ultimately, you are all Americans, and Americans voted in GWB twice; first time the world said, "hey, bad luck, all the legal problems, shit happens" - the second election was for the US to redeem itself and prove they're not jerks. Well, the second election came and went and proved all the anti-American crowd right. The average US citizen lives under a rock and fails to grasp the impact of the decisions they make on the rest of the world.

A "good general knowledge"? I wasn't aware that such a knowledge included the twists and turns of politics/policy. The media, as a reliable investigative force is largely overrated. But then, we really don't have much else to go by.

"Ultimately, you are all Americans" Awww... deep down inside, we all have that grand American spirit.

"The average US citizen lives under a rock and fails to grasp the impact of the decisions they make on the rest of the world." Well, we are a 'developed' nation, so we don't exactly live under rocks. At least, I don't. I was not able to vote in the past two elections.

At any rate, being openly hostile towards Americans is not going to engender the right kind of ideas. If someone was basically insulting me and blaming me for all their problems, I would not be very willing to help them out. Unless they were hungry... for a sidekick sandwich.

You know I really wonder sometimes if you manage to post this stuff with a straight face.



I LOL'ed when I read it.

But by "dizzying prosperity" I think he meant the kind of dizzy you experience from a lack of oxygen.

You know I really wonder sometimes if you manage to post this stuff with a straight face.

A good troll can.

What percent of the United States population is under the age of 5, blind, mentally-impaired, currently in an institute for the clinically insane, or yet to be shown a map and told where the U.S. is?

Don't know.

But a group of 510 18 to 24 year old men and women randomly selected from across the continental United States, interviewed in-person with questionnares, flashcards and maps (thus verifying that they have vision, hearing, speech and presumably enough mental capacity to use each) has performed extremely poorly when tested on basic knowledge of geography and current events (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/roper2006/findings.html). For example, 37% can't find Iraq (location of a major and ongoing war) on a map. Half can't find New York (location of 2001 terrorist attacks) on a map.

So, are Americans ignorant about basic knowledge that can be gleaned from watching 30 minutes of world news on the boob tube a day, or do they just prefer to behave like mentally challenged 5 year olds?

Either way, the prognosis is not good.

Name one way in which knowing of Malawi has helped you in life. Go on, I dare you.

The issue isn't one of people knowing the location of a distant country to which they have probably never been. The issue is one of people not knowing were their own damn self is located. Careful review of the OP will reveal this to be the case.

It is possible for a person to become lost, during travel for instance. One would think, however, that after spending presumably one's entire life living in a given location, the miracle of human intelligence would allow for being able to point at that very same location on a map while saying "I am here."

In my opinion, learning for the sake of learning is one of the most idiotic practices out there. Unless you plan on using what you learn, it's just information jammed into a organic chip with a finite amount of space. Knowledge and application are far more important.


American foreign policy presently consists of marching troops off to other countries of which the population has little or no knowledge. One would presume that this knowledge is necessary for the voting public, and thus elected leaders, to make intelligent decisions regarding such policy. In the light of widespread ignorance, as already pointed out (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13006346&postcount=130), there seems to be excessive application and not enough knowledge.

Surely, excessive application with a lack of knowledge is at least as bad as an excess of knowledge and not enough application, yes?

In fact, the situation of too much application and not enough knowledge is probably far more dangerous than the opposite situation. Acting without sufficient knowledge can get people killed. Spending your life with your nose in a book doesn't kill anyone.

There is no such thing as useless knowledge because the mind twists and turns knowledge in order to come up with new ideas and applications. Aristotle called it a storehouse of knowledge. When a problem comes up the mind starts reaching into the storehouse and selects a bit here and a bit there and puts those bits together in a new way to develop a solution. When there's nothing in the storehouse it becomes harder for the mind to find the information it needs for the best solution. It can only use the information it has. The more information the better the solution.

Also, a wide range of knowledge gives a person what Aristotle calls ethos. Ethos deals with believability. If you are talking with someone and the don't have the ability to intelligently discuss any subject they bring up, you have less believability. You might be the absolute best in the world at your job, but no one will hire you because you lack ethos due to lack of general knowledge. This is why when you go in for an interview the person will usually ask you some general questions before he gets to the questions about the job. He is looking for your ethos. Your believability. He also doesn't want to send someone out to meet his customers if the customers are going to think the guy is less than knowledgeable. Why should anyone think you know your job if you can't even show any knowledge of the basics?

Don't know.

But a group of 510 18 to 24 year old men and women randomly selected from across the continental United States, interviewed in-person with questionnares, flashcards and maps (thus verifying that they have vision, hearing, speech and presumably enough mental capacity to use each) has performed extremely poorly when tested on basic knowledge of geography and current events (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/roper2006/findings.html). For example, 37% can't find Iraq (location of a major and ongoing war) on a map. Half can't find New York (location of 2001 terrorist attacks) on a map.

So, are Americans ignorant about basic knowledge that can be gleaned from watching 30 minutes of world news on the boob tube a day, or do they just prefer to behave like mentally challenged 5 year olds?

Either way, the prognosis is not good.

Knowing that, it is pretty pathetic.
I'm surprised that more know where Iraq is than where New York is.. being as NY is actually a part of their own country.

There is no such thing as useless knowledge...

So, what practical application will knowing the 100th digit of pi have on your life?

We've all seen the video. But is that a real fact? If it's true, that terrifies me. I can locate at least a large minority of countries on a map, and name quite a few capitals (go on, test me. No Wikipedia, I swear).

Are Americans really this ignorant?

Bull fucking shit

I can go to any country in the world and find a large group of brain dead retards over the course of a day. However, because they're Americans it is believable. After all, we're all under educated barbarians trying to take over the world.

I'm sick of this shit.

Hell, I don't even know which state I live in.

So, what practical application will knowing the 100th digit of pi have on your life?

Quiet you.
You have run that example to the ground, dug a shallow grave, kicked it in, and urinated on its corpse.

Knowing where your own country is located on a map is, dare I say, a tad more significant than that.

So, what practical application will knowing the 100th digit of pi have on your life?

Helps keep you mentally flexible

Quiet you.
You have run that example to the ground, dug a shallow grave, kicked it in, and urinated on its corpse.

Knowing where your own country is located on a map is, dare I say, a tad more significant than that.

The poster whom I quoted stated that all knowledge is useful, not simply the location of one's nation.

Bull fucking shit

I can go to any country in the world and find a large group of brain dead retards over the course of a day. However, because they're Americans it is believable. After all, we're all under educated barbarians trying to take over the world.

I'm sick of this shit.

Hear hear.

One study isn't grounds for assuming that all Americans are inherently lacking in knowledge or education.

But being a barbarian is kind of cool.

*rips a lizard off a wall and bites off its head*

Hear hear.

One study isn't grounds for assuming that all Americans are inherently lacking in knowledge or education.

But being a barbarian is kind of cool.

*rips a lizard off a wall and bites off its head*

Well it could be if it were done right ... maybe I missed it but I have not seen a solid study in reality something I can actually dig into

The poster whom I quoted stated that all knowledge is useful, not simply the location of one's nation.

That doesn't make your example an less pathetic.

The poster whom I quoted stated that all knowledge is useful, not simply the location of one's nation.

I know, just stop using that example.

Anyway, the 100th digit of pi is a great conversation peice.

For example:

Host: "Now, how many slices of pie do you want?"
You: "The amount that is equal to the number of the 100th digit of pi."
Host: "Smartass..." *tosses pie at you*

The poster whom I quoted stated that all knowledge is useful, not simply the location of one's nation.

Well it is all useful in its own respect. the 100th digit of pi would be very important to a mathimatical genius.

I know, just stop using that example.

Anyway, the 100th digit of pi is a great conversation peice.

For example:

Host: "Now, how many slices of pie do you want?"
You: "The amount that is equal to the number of the 100th digit of pi."
Host: "Smartass..." *tosses pie at you*

Only the greedy would want more than one slice. Trick question!!!

Click Stand;13006611']Only the greedy would want more than one slice. Trick question!!!

Apparently you haven't met LG.

Who did you hear that from...people in New Jersey? ;)

I can't say that I know a single person here that couldn't find the US on a map...I'm sure they're out there, but I'd be hard pressed to find them.

Pardon me, but New York and New Jersey are two of the most well educated states in the union. NJ has the highest rate of students attending four year colleges and their advance placement scores are off the charts.

So, what practical application will knowing the 100th digit of pi have on your life?

The person who would know that might need to use it for extremely precise scientific study. When science now looks deep into space very precise angles need to be figured. And precise angles require precise arcs which require precise circles, which require precise derivatives of pi.

Had I not had a general study of math in my storehouse of knowledge, I would not have been able to throw this out.

The person who would know that might need to use it for extremely precise scientific study. When science now looks deep into space very precise angles need to be figured. And precise angles require precise arcs which require precise circles, which require precise derivatives of pi.

Had I not had a general study of math in my storehouse of knowledge, I would not have been able to throw this out.

don't confuse the flat earth people.

Pardon me, but New York and New Jersey are two of the most well educated states in the union. NJ has the highest rate of students attending four year colleges and their advance placement scores are off the charts.

Key words bolded.

Nothing compared to Texas, we are like a separate state.

Not only boundary-wise, but a separate state of Being.

Nothing compared to Texas, we are like a separate state.

Not only boundary-wise, but a separate state of Being.

You mean you're like...zombies? :eek:

Heh, just heard a good one. An American TV show referred to Queensland, Australia as "a small, quiet farming town."

With a 15% illiteracy rate and 65% of what's left reading at only the second grade level (Dr. Seuss — barely), I'm not entirely surprised.

Yes, most of us can find the contiguous United States on a map, but anywhere else? Heh.

Don't tell me we don't have enough money to ed-joo-mah-kate all those people. Thailand is considered a Third World country and they have a 100% literacy rate. If we can just get the religious nuts, censors and the PC police to back off and give teachers some breathing room, and quit with the simplified English, we could do that, too.

that is just as bad as when I was on the PA turnpike heading west towards Ohio and having a family ask how to get to Massachusetts.

I had one once when I was in central Oregon filling up for gas. A gal came in asking how far Texas was from there. The clerk looked dumbfounded. I looked at her and asked her where she was coming from. She said Los Angeles. I told her she was in Oregon and Texas was not even close to there. She still didn't get it. So I grabbed a US map from the station and showed her where she was and where she wanted to go. She just jumped on the freeway in Los Angeles and started to drive. Instead of taking hwy 10 she took the 5 all the way to Oregon. The look on her face was priceless when she realized that she had to drive all the way back and then to Texas. She drove about 800 miles or 1280km before asking anyone for directions. I just shook my head and got in my SUV and headed out. I still wonder if she ever made it to Texas.

With a 15% illiteracy rate and 65% of what's left reading at only the second grade level (Dr. Seuss — barely), I'm not entirely surprised.

I highly doubt most Americans can only read at a second-grade level. I'd have to see some proof for that.

Interesting, almost every person who replied to my review on MacOS X 10.4 thought New Zealand was located in the Netherlands. .

Maybe they confused it with Zeeland?

Don't tell me we don't have enough money to ed-joo-mah-kate all those people. Thailand is considered a Third World country and they have a 100% literacy rate. If we can just get the religious nuts, censors and the PC police to back off and give teachers some breathing room, and quit with the simplified English, we could do that, too.

You know you are asking for a miracle don't you?

I highly doubt most Americans can only read at a second-grade level. I'd have to see some proof for that.


I doubt that statistic too. I would think society would grind to a halt if it was that bad.

I doubt that statistic too. I would think society would grind to a halt if it was that bad.

Well, considering that at least 20% of Americans have a college education, I'm even more skeptical. I mean, a second-grader can barely read the paper, let alone handle the material that most Americans deal with every day of their lives.

I just realized why GW has a 30% approval rating. They think he's the Queen of England, and since they never plan to travel to China it's no big deal.

Well, considering that at least 20% of Americans have a college education, I'm even more skeptical. I mean, a second-grader can barely read the paper, let alone handle the material that most Americans deal with every day of their lives.

I agree 100%. This nation was not built by idiots. At least most of it. ;)

I just realized why GW has a 30% approval rating. They think he's the Queen of England, and since they never plan to travel to China it's no big deal.

I got a chuckle. :p

I doubt that statistic too. I would think society would grind to a halt if it was that bad.

Wiki says the US has a 99.9% But I looked on other sources on google and it runs from 55% to 98.5% depending on what you call literate. example: Write a letter, read a newspaper, read road signs, write your name, read children's books, etc.

So take your pick. Personally I didn't run into an illiterate person until I was teaching at a community college and the entire basketball team could barely write their name. They all had diplomas from Kansas City Schools.

And as far as I know I haven't ran into an illiterate person since.

I actually kinda felt sorry for the girl. Anyone with a trace of social anxiety will be able to recall a time when they blustered their way through an answer after being 'put on the spot'. Besides, the follow-up interview made it seem she wasn't quite as dumb as made out.

(Sorry, no gun smiley as this isn't really my first post). :)

Try this one if you think you're educated.

http://www.rethinkingschools.org/just_fun/games/mapgame.html

I got most of it...I'm no expert on central Africa, but my only problem is that Bahrain was a tiny little speck and that I got the 'stan' countries mixed up.

I honestly don't think that someone who can't locate America on a map is stupid. There are a lot of people out there that 1) haven't had a decent education, and/or 2) are just geographically retarded. I actually know a guy that is scholasticly "stupid", but reworked the entire electrical system of my car. So just as many of us are quick to call someone stupid for not knowing something that's easy, there are about 100 Steven Hawkings out there that think WE are stupid for not grasping the (in their mind) simple concept of quantum physics.