Why are Americans so dumb when it comes to geography?

[stormbreaker06]

They don't know where Canada is.

[ChurchOfIron]

Well, our public education system is absolute shit; but, it's not that bad. Either way, I'm sure you could find people of every country who are that dumb.

The thing is, in the media, you Europeans only see the dumbest people in our media.

Consider the fact that we are the dominant economic, military, technological, and scientific leader of the world, then ask that question again.

In a sense, your question is dumb, in itself. Not to mention overgeneralizing.

So I might ask the same question. Why are Spaniards so dumb when it comes to culture and economics? They don't even know that America is home of the Ivy League, NASA, Mensa, etc, etc; and, is also home to a great deal of the world's most genius minds.

That said. We also have a great deal of dumb people. But, there are 325,000,000 Americans. I guarantee you most of them know where Canada is.

[OlderAndWiser]

Americans are not dumb. However, in the rest of the world, jealousy leads to America bashing. It is popular to say that Americans are dumb and not popular to say that they are smart, so guess what you will hear if you ask for opinions in the rest of the world.

[Darklydarkened]

Every single American, save for one individual who's read university in France, are simplistic, really primitive thinking and ignorant in so many ways, I say your notion is bullocks, sir.

[OlderAndWiser]

@Darklydarkened Every woman I have met from the Ukraine is materialistic, shallow, and self-centered.

[Darklydarkened]

How many have you known? Ukrainians are pragmatic, straight forward, a bit petty at times but quite amiable and affectionate towards their loved ones

[Darklydarkened]

But if you have known women who're trying to exploit middle aged men, yeah they'll be shallow, self centred and materialistic

[OlderAndWiser]

@Darklydarkened "How many have you known?" Yes; that is the point of my question. How many Americans have you had submit to a geography quiz?

Are you relying on what CNN has told you? Hahahahaha!

[Darklydarkened]

Most americans I knew, there are about 40-50 seem simplistic, a bit petty and shallow to me.

[OlderAndWiser]

@Darklydarkened Perhaps you have a bias or an inability to appreciate others who are different from you.

[Darklydarkened]

I only appreciate reasoning and things being based on some solid grounds.

Americans are, by the very consumerist, simplistic and self centred culture, tend to have a mindset of their own.

I've just miswrote the initial claim, ''Every single American I've known'' it should've started.

You can deny it all day long. I've never seen a nation that is so shaped by a single ideology. Even Russians aren't that fixated as much as Americans are, to American mindset.

[SueShe]

It seems that when it comes to international geography, Americans indeed lack the basic knowledge and it seems that in schools, the world stops at the borders of the USA.

There is one exception to that rule.

Latest since the election of the current US president, geography knowledge has somewhat increased to a vague knowledge that somewhere, around the borders of continental USA lies a country named Mexico.

[Izumiblu]

Philosophically speaking it’s right next to the rest of the world that isn’t the US.

[FunkyMonkee]

1. No child left behind: so, no matter how stupid your kid is, they graduate to the next grade just so they can be with their peers.
2. Cell phones!! They're too busy fucking around with their phones in class to bother paying attention to the teachers.
3. New rules against teachers even so much as TALKING firmly to a kid!! A kid doesn't pay attention in class or acts up and the teacher admonishes them for it. Next the teacher knows, they're up on abuse charges!! Teachers are also no longer allowed to correct a student they're wrong!
4. Attitude of the students!! They aren't in school to learn anything anymore, they're only there to socialize with their buddies!! If they happen to actually learn something along the way, so be it! It's a bonus!
5, Video games and really stupid t. v. shows. Kids don't even go outside to play anymore! they get home from school and either plop their fat asses in front of the tube all night or are just TOO BUSY playing video games to do their school work! And, if they don't get it done, who cares? If the teacher doesn't like it and says something, "Mommy, the teacher made fun of me in front of everyone else in the class!" "Don't you worry, sweetie!! I'll have them fired for that and you'll never have to see them ever again!!! Nobody's gonna teach MY kid how to spell and get away with it!!"

[SuperManiac]

Just from my experience attending high school in the US, geography was the most boring course I took. They had us memorizing world maps without going into culture, and the teacher even encouraged using memo cards to just remember names of countries and cities chosen at random, and while I aced the quizzes and tests, I must admit I forgot most of it after.

It wasn't taught in an interesting way at all. It wasn't until I started studying and history in university that I started taking more of an interest in geography as it related to these subjects.

[SuperManiac]

[...] until I started studying [cultures] and history in university [...]

[RolandCuthbert]

We have given up on education. We used to like it. But now getting an education has become politicized.

www.theguardian.com/.../us-education-spending-finland-south-korea

[Darklydarkened]

Ignorance. It seems like the culture itself incepts the notion of 'All will be well, you're in America, land of the brave so be calm and happy, by the way, did you try our new frosty ice cream of America? It will make you happy and costs only 1.5 dollars.''

[TonyBologna25]

Most of us know where Canada is. The US is the most ill informed country geographically though. Read that somewhere. If I had to guess, it's what we emphasis within our education system. In all fairness, I really don't need to know where the fuck Uganda or the Dominican Republic is on a globe to be successful in life and what I do for living.

[SarahsSummer]

Please disassociate from any American who doesn't know where Canada is. Stupidity by osmosis may occur.

[TadCurious]

The public schools are largely run by liberals. The standards for achievement and behavior have been watered down and students who don't achieve are still promoted.

[ZeussLightningBolt]

Brits too.

But anyways, schools don't really have good geography curiculums. They just don't think it's an important subject. And there is basically no geography after freshman high school.
And I think some schools don't offer it at all

[Fitness-Fanatic]

I'm sure that won't prevent them from succeeding in life.

[LuvAsh]

The schools I went to never really taught geography like that🤷🏾 I don't know why they don't teach it more

[taleswapper]

For the same reason you're so dumb when it comes to hasty generalizations. Ignorance is usually the result of substandard education.

[Waffles731]

We know where it is, we also know its just a lameass version of the U. S who couldn't even be bothered to properly fight for its independence

[Anonymous]

Probably the same reason people from little insignificant countries think they need to bash the US.

[HeyThere94]

Do not think every American is a inbred racist redneck

[name_is_eric]

What are you talking about? It's the greatest country on Tellus.

[EmbraceThePain]

Canada is in Antarctica right?

[zozo7880]

Because America is the only country that matters.

[FýrdracaDócincel]

Don't know whe-
Who have you been talking to? xD

[bill_towers]

Canada is in Asia right?

[douride2]

It says a lot for the school system does it not.

[CT_CD]

I'm American and I don't know where Canada is

[Anonymous]

I don't know but I for sure know where Canada is

[Anonymous]

Sighhh

[AndreoElias]

Bet!!!